The Crime of the Century Part 22

The closing scenes of the coroner's inquest were of a nature calculated to impress themselves upon the memories of the partic.i.p.ants.

The morning session had been replete with sensational testimony. At the noon recess word went around that the jury had heard enough upon which to frame a verdict, and that the prolonged investigation was nearing its close.

This, of itself, was sufficient to bring to the building a throng, that not only crowded the court room and the outside corridors, but extended away down the three broad flights of stairs and out into the street.

Nearly two hours were spent in the reading of papers relating to the Clan-na-Gael and its English operations. When the last sheet had been read there was a pause. Chief Hubbard came in through a private entrance and a long consultation ensued between that official, the State's Attorney, and the coroner. Then the latter turned to the jury.

"Gentlemen" said he "are there any more witnesses that you would wish me to call?"

"No sir," was Foreman Critch.e.l.l's emphatic reply.

"That is all the testimony that we have at present," resumed the coroner, "I can furnish you with a good deal of corroborative testimony if you wish me to."

"I think the jury has heard enough corroborative testimony. If there are no witnesses on any new points we would like to retire."

It was five o'clock when Foreman Critch.e.l.l led the little procession down stairs to the coroner's office. A Deputy Sheriff and Deputy Coroner went along as a body guard. The silence that had prevailed in the court room was broken by a loud hum; while everybody commenced at once to speculate on the probable verdict and the people it would implicate. Six o'clock came, seven, eight, nine, and still no word from the jury room.

But the crowd kept its seats or its standing room with examplary patience. Shortly after nine supper was sent in to the jurors, and the rumor went out that they were unable to reach a conclusion. This, however, as was to be developed an hour later, was wide of the mark.

THE VERDICT.

One hour later, just as the hands of the clock were pointing to ten, Coroner Hertz was summoned to the jury-room. He was absent but a few minutes, and when he returned Foreman Critch.e.l.l and his a.s.sociates filed in after him. A death-like stillness prevailed as Critch.e.l.l commenced to read the verdict. When he reached that point which recommended that

ALEXANDER SULLIVAN, the lawyer, P. O'SULLIVAN, the Lake View iceman, DANIEL COUGHLIN, the detective, and FRANK WOODRUFF, _alias_ Black,

be held to the grand jury as princ.i.p.als in or accessories to the foul crime, there was considerable stir, coupled with exclamations of satisfaction, and no little confusion was caused by a number of those present scampering from the room to spread the news around the city. The verdict, as taken from the official doc.u.ment, was word for word as follows:

We, the undersigned, a jury appointed to make inquiry according to law as to how the body viewed by us came to his death, state from the evidence:

First--That the body is that of Patrick H. Cronin, known as Dr.

Cronin.

Second--That his death was not from natural causes but from violent results.

Third--That the said P. H. Cronin was decoyed from his home on North Clark street the evening of May 4, 1889, by some person or persons, to the Carlson cottage, situated at No. 1872 North Ashland avenue, in Lake View, Cook County, Ill.

Fourth--That at said cottage the said Cronin was murdered by being beaten on his head with some blunt instrument in the hands of some person or persons to us unknown, the night of the said May 4, or between May 4 and May 5, 1889.

Fifth--That the body, after the said murder was committed, was placed in a trunk and carried to Edgewater on a wagon by several persons, and by them placed in a catch-basin at the corner of Evanston avenue and Fifty-ninth street, Lake View, where it was discovered May 22, 1889.

Sixth--That the evidence shows conclusively to our minds that a plot or conspiracy was formed by a number of persons for the purpose of murdering said Cronin and concealing his body. Said plot or conspiracy was deliberately contrived and cruelly executed.

Seventh--We have had careful inquiry into the relations sustained by said Cronin to other persons while alive to ascertain if he had any enemy or enemies sufficient to cause his murder.

Eighth--It is our judgment that no other person or persons except some of those who are or have been members of a certain secret society, known as the United Brotherhood or "Clan-na-Gael," had any cause to be the instigators or executors of such plot and conspiracy to murder the said Cronin.

Ninth--Many of the witnesses testifying in the case have done so with much evident unwillingness, and, as we believe, with much mental reservation.

We find from the evidence that a number of persons were connected with this plot and conspiring to murder the said Cronin, and that

DANIEL COUGHLIN, PATRICK O'SULLIVAN, ALEXANDER SULLIVAN, FRANK WOODRUFF, alias BLACK,

were either the princ.i.p.als, accessories, or have guilty knowledge of said plot and conspiracy to murder said Cronin and conceal his body, and should be held to answer to the grand jury.

We also believe that other persons were engaged in the plot, or have guilty knowledge of it, and should be apprehended and held to the grand jury.

We would further state that this plot or conspiracy in its conception and execution is one of the most vile and brutal that has ever come to our knowledge, and we would recommend that the proper authorities offer a large reward for the discovery and conviction of all those engaged in it in any way.

We further state that in our judgment all secret societies whose objects are such as the evidence shows those of the Clan-na-Gael or United Brotherhood to be, are not in harmony with and are injurious to American inst.i.tutions.

We hope that future vigor and vigilance by the police force will more than compensate for past neglect by a portion of the force in this case.

R. S. CRITCh.e.l.l, H. A. HAUGAN,

JOHN A. VAN HOUSEN, JUSTUS KILLIAN,

RUDOLF SEIFERT, VICTOR U. SUTTER.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ALEXANDER SULLIVAN.]

ARREST OF ALEXANDER SULLIVAN.

Just as soon as the verdict had been read, Foreman Critch.e.l.l called the State's Attorney and Coroner inside the latter's private room for a consultation. A moment later they were joined by Police Captain Schuettler and Detectives Palmer, Amstein, Miller, Broderick, Schifter, McDonald, Williams and Hedrick. It was decided that the arrest of Alexander Sullivan should be effected without delay, notwithstanding the late hour, and the Coroner, having made out his mittimus, entrusted it to Detective Palmer. The latter selected as his a.s.sistants Detectives Williams and Broderick, and the trio entered a carriage. Well on toward midnight the elegant residence of the ex-President of the Land League, at 378 Oak street, on the North side of the city, was reached.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ALEXANDER SULLIVAN'S RESIDENCE.]

Palmer was the first to alight.

He rapidly ascended the steps and rang the bell. Henry Brown, Mr.

Sullivan's clerk, opened the door.

"Is Mr. Sullivan at home?" inquired Officer Palmer.

"He is," said Brown.

"I want to see him," said Officer Palmer, as he entered.

Brown closed the door. Fearing some scheme to give Sullivan a chance to escape, Palmer at once gave instructions to Williams to go to the rear of the house, and the officer ran back to the alley.

But the noted Irish Nationalist had no thought of escaping. At that very moment he was sound asleep in bed. It was characteristic of the strong will-power of the man. The drift of the testimony for a week had indicated to him, as to everybody else that heard or read it, that the Coroner's jury would name him either as a princ.i.p.al or as accessory to the crime. The paper that he had in his hand as he drove home that evening, chronicled the fact that the jury had retired, and was deliberating upon its verdict. And yet, well aware, as he must have been, that this verdict would be of terrible personal import--he had retired at nine o'clock and was as sound asleep as a worn out child.

"Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Sullivan," shouted Brown.

"What is it?" came a voice from the bed room, "I'm here."