Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-18
In Second Letter to New
York Paper Crones Tells
"Why He Did It."
POLICE SECURING CITY
Burden of Chase Is Thrown
on Sleuths of Eastern
Metropolis.

Chicago, Feb. 1s-Following the
publication this morning in New York
newspapers Of another letter believed
to have been written by Jean Crones,
former chef at the University Club Of
Chicago. local police officials put on
the New York authorities the burden
of responsibility for Crones' arrest.
Crones is charged with putting poison
in the soup served at the Mundelein
banquet.
The federal government operatives
here today continued to assist local au-
thorities in tracing reports that the
poisoning was the result of an anti
clerical plot Of nationwide proper
tons. 1t was learned today that Sec
ret service agents received warning
of such a conspiracy more than three
months ago. At that time 1t was re-
ported that anarchistic leaders had
been holding secret meetings at salida,
Colo, discussing plans for reign OF
terror" to be created throughout the
United States by the destruction Of
churches and public buildings. It was
reported that the new $2,5OO,000 fed i.
eral building at Denver, Col, was
among those slated for destruction.
Letters from Salida, Col, were found
among Crones' belongings.
Officials of correspondence school
have identified the signature of Jean
Crones on an application for their
chemistry course as the same attached
to the letters published in New York
paper, in which Crones confessed pois-
oning soup served at the Archbishop
Mundelein banquet here last week. The
Identification removes all doubt, &C.
cording to Captain Hunt, that Crones
wrote the first New York letter and the
captain believes he also wrote the Sec
tond, published today.
Letters Mailed In New York.
New York, Feb. 18.-Believing that
Jean Crones, the Chicago chef accused
of poisoning the soup at a dinner of
Catholic clergymen and laymen in that
city, is in New York city or nearby. the
police made every effort today to run
him down. The authorities think
Crones is the author of two letters
mailed in this city to the New York
Times, in which the writer boasts that
he has escaped arrest and makes yelled
threats.
The Identification by John NJ Nc
Court, assistant United States district
attorney at Scranton, Pa, Of the fac
smile of the first Crones letter re-
ceived here as the handwriting Of the
man wanted in Chicago stimulated po-
lice efforts here. Crones' writing was
identified by examination papers he
had sent to correspondence school in
Scranton.
/ The second letter, apparently signed
by Crones, received by the New York
/ paper last night, contained what pur-
ported to be his finger prints. The po-
lice are endeavoring to learn by these
prints whether Crones had record In
the police bureau of Identification.
Attacks Social Conditions.
In this letter the writer attempted
| to tell in an incoherent manner man
ner why did it." Many of the words
are misspelled as was the case In the
previous letter. The writer asserted
that while at Europe millions OF
Christians are schlauchtering each
other in the most bloddy massacre,
and in these free country thousands
of men and women are tramping the
streets without food and shelter at the