The Crime of the Century; Or, The Assassination of Dr. Patrick Henry Cronin
E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
From a Photograph taken just before the Murder.
Copyright 1889, BY H. L. & D. H. KOCHERSPERGER.
This volume is not intended as an addition to the criminal literature of the country. It has not been published solely for the pleasure of those who delight in devouring morbid tales of crime and criminals. It rather owes its existence to a general demand from all parts of the United States, from the Canadas, from Great Britain, and from many points on the continent of Europe, for a complete, concise, and accurate story of one of the greatest of modern crimes and the events connected therewith. The reports of the public press, while of the most searching and elaborate character, have nevertheless been of necessity so disjointed, fragmentary and confusing, covering a period of over seven months, each day and week replete with new discoveries and new sensations, as to make it well-nigh impossible for even the most careful reader, with unlimited time at his disposal, to grasp or comprehend anything more than the barest outline of this remarkable case. The object of this volume therefore, is to present in consecutive form and as a complete narrative all the facts which have been brought to light from the day of the disappearance of Dr. Cronin, to the close of the trial of those accused of his murder. Many circumstances have combined to make the task a difficult and laborious one, but the results are submitted in the belief that as the only effort of its kind, it will prove not only a story of thrilling interest to the general reader, but also valuable, by its accuracy and continuity, as an historical work.
The Author.
A CRIME THAT SHOCKED THE CIVILIZED WORLD—THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER—A SUDDEN SUMMONS—THE INSTINCTS OF HUMANITY TRIUMPH OVER PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS—LAST MOMENTS AT HOME—PARTING WORDS WITH A FRIEND—DR. CRONIN'S EVENTFUL LIFE—HOW HE WORKED HIS WAY UPWARD ON THE LADDER OF HONOR AND FAME.
Henry M. Hunt
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THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY
OR,
The Assassination of Dr. Patrick Henry Cronin.
HENRY M. HUNT,
THE NOTED JOURNALIST.
PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED WITH ORIGINAL ENGRAVINGS.
PREFACE
CONTENTS.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
THE DISAPPEARANCE.
THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.
A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
FINDING THE BLOODY TRUNK.
SEARCHING FOR CLUES.
"JUST LIKE HIS HAIR."
WAGON TRACKS LEAD TO THE WATER'S EDGE.
THE SEARCH REVEALS NOTHING.
WOODRUFF'S LURID STORY.
WOODRUFF GOES OVER THE ROUTE.
DR. CRONIN AS A PROPHET.
CRONIN AND THE CLAN-NA-GAEL.
THE "TRIANGLE" IN POWER.
VICTIMS OF A "PHYSICAL FORCE" POLICY.
CRONIN TO THE FRONT.
THE "TREASONABLE" LETTER.
CHARGES AGAINST THE TRIANGLE.
SULLIVAN ON TRIAL.
SULLIVAN'S CELEBRATED PROTEST.
A STREET CAR "CLUE."
CONDUCTOR DWYER ADDS A "LINK."
BOGUS "INTERVIEWS" FROM CANADA.
A CHAPTER OF INFAMY.
CRONIN'S ENEMIES IN HIGH GLEE.
STAUNCH FRIENDS TO THE FRONT.
A BIG REWARD OFFERED.
WHERE THE BODY WAS FOUND.
"MURDER WILL OUT."
THE BODY AT THE MORGUE.
FRIENDS IDENTIFY THE REMAINS.
THE STORY OF THE AUTOPSY.
A SISTER'S GRIEF.
THE LONELY SCENE OF THE MURDER.
"BLOOD, BLOOD, EVERYWHERE!"
FORMING A THEORY.
THE BLOOD EXAMINED BY EXPERTS.
THE CARLSONS TELL THEIR STORY.
O'SULLIVAN AND "FRANK WILLIAMS."
THE FURNITURE TRACED.
IN THE CLARK STREET FLAT.
WHEN THE FLAT WAS RENTED.
MILKMAN MERTES' STORY.
THE EXPRESSMAN IS FOUND.
ICEMAN O'SULLIVAN SUSPECTED.
COUGHLIN HIRES THE RIG.
DINAN GOES TO SCHAACK.
SCHAACK'S PECULIAR MOVEMENTS.
COUGHLIN UNDER ARREST.
THE SMITH STORY DISPROVED.
THE CASE AGAINST O'SULLIVAN.
INDICTED BY THE GRAND JURY.
LYING IN STATE.
A GREAT PROCESSION.
A SOLEMN CATHEDRAL SCENE.
A VOICE FROM THE PULPIT.
AT REST IN CALVARY.
ALEXANDER SULLIVAN AND DR. CRONIN.
SELECTED FOR A FOREIGN MISSION.
ALEXANDER SULLIVAN'S SPECULATIONS.
LUKE DILLON'S PLAIN WORDS.
CRONIN'S PRIVATE PAPERS IN EVIDENCE.
THE VERDICT.
ARREST OF ALEXANDER SULLIVAN.
ALEXANDER SULLIVAN'S EVENTFUL LIFE.
THE OTHER ACCUSED MEN.
STARKEY'S SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS.
A CHAPTER OF COINCIDENCES.
WOODRUFF'S SECOND CONFESSION.
ARGUING ON THE PETITION.
SULLIVAN RELEASED ON BAIL.
TWO ARRESTS IN NEW YORK.
BURKE'S PICTURE IDENTIFIED.
THE FLIGHT AND CAPTURE.
HOW BURKE WAS CAPTURED.
BURKE IN COURT.
THE IDENTIFICATION COMPLETE.
THE PRESIDENT ACTS.
FIGHTING TO THE LAST.
CANADIAN JUSTICE TRIUMPHS.
BURKE'S JOURNEY TO CHICAGO.
PREPARING FOR THE TRIAL.
A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
IDENTIFYING THE CLOTHING.
A MURDERER'S SHIRT.
A PIECE OF CARPET FOUND.
THE CONSPIRATOR'S PLANS THWARTED.
JUDGE SHEPARD'S PLAIN WORDS.
THE GRAND JURY'S INQUIRY.
PAT COONEY UNDER SUSPICION.
THE TRIAL IN CAMP 20.
SEVEN SUSPECTS INDICTED.
KUNZE'S SUPPOSED PART IN THE CRIME.
THE PROMINENT CITIZENS PRESENT.
JUDGE PRENDERGAST'S VIGOROUS SPEECH.
THE GATHERING AT CHELTENHAM BEACH.
DENOUNCED AT OGDEN'S GROVE.
"THE STATE IS READY."
HOT WORDS FROM LAWYERS.
SENSATIONAL TURN IN THE CASE.
A JURY-BRIBING PLOT.
WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS.
THE SCENE IN COURT.
LONGENECKER'S MASTERLY EFFORT.
THE LAW IN THE CASE.
THE EVIDENCE MAINLY CIRCUMSTANTIAL.
ALL ARE GUILTY.
AN APPEAL FOR JUSTICE.
A DRAMATIC SCENE.
INSIDE OF CAMP TWENTY.
THE BLOODY TRUNK PRODUCED.
THRILLING SCENES IN COURT.
SURPRISES FOR THE DEFENSE.
HEARD HIS DEATH CRY.
THE STATE RESTS ITS CASE.
THE STATE ON REBUTTAL.
CRONIN'S KNIVES FOUND.
REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE.
CAMP 20'S MYSTERIOUS MEETINGS.
PURPOSE OF THE SECRET COMMITTEE.
THE MEETING OF FEB. 8.
THE MURDER OF DR. CRONIN.
HISTORY OF THE CONSPIRACY.
THE BEGGS-SPELMAN LETTERS.
VIOLATIONS OF CAMP RULES.
THE CONNECTION WITH THE MURDER.
THE PLOT TO MURDER CRONIN.
THE LAW OF CONSPIRACY.
THE PURCHASE OF THE FURNITURE.
THE MEETINGS IN CAMP 20.
RENTING THE CARLSON COTTAGE.
KUNZE MAKES AN OBJECTION.
ENTICING CRONIN TO HIS DEATH.
JUSTICE MAHONEY'S PART IN THE PLOT.
ALL ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETED.
BEGGS' ENMITY TOWARD CRONIN.
MAJOR SAMPSON'S PART IN THE SCHEME.
TRUE TO THE IRISH CAUSE.
THE FATAL 4TH OF MAY.
THE MAN WHO DROVE THE WHITE HORSE.
THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE HORSE.
THE MURDER IN THE COTTAGE.
DISPOSING OF THE BODY.
DR. CRONIN IS FIRST MISSED.
COUGHLIN SEARCHES FOR THE BODY.
THE FINDING OF THE BODY.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE COTTAGE.
THE EXISTENCE OF AN INNER CIRCLE.
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY.
JUDGE LONGENECKER CLOSES.
An Appeal for Coughlin.
Counselor Ingham's Speech.
Counselor Donahoe Talks.
Hynes' Great Effort.
Foster's Plea for Beggs.
Forrest's able Plea on Behalf of his Clients.
Longenecker's Closing.
THE JURY RETIRES.
A VERDICT AT LAST.