"THE STATE IS READY."
"May it please the Court and gentlemen of the jury: We are here to try the charge of murder lodged against Burke, who sits back behind that man there, with his hand up to his left ear; Patrick O'Sullivan, who sits in the bend of the table there; Daniel Coughlin, who sits behind Mr. Ames, his attorney, and Beggs; one Patrick Cooney, who is indicted jointly with them, and Frank J. Woodruff, who is not on trial in this case. John Kunze sits there behind the table, and John F. Beggs sits there with Coughlin. These men are all charged in this indictment with the murder of Dr. Patrick H. Cronin. It is alleged that they murdered him the night of the 4th of May, 1889, in this town."
Thus State's Attorney Joel M. Longenecker addressed Judge McConnell on the morning of Friday, August 30th. Less than four months had elapsed from the day that the physician was lured to his death; but the mystery surrounding the tragedy, at one time believed impenetrable, had been solved to the satisfaction of the officers of the law, and five of the accused were confronted with the bar of justice to answer for their participation in the crime. The court room was crowded to suffocation, although admission was restricted to members of the bar, jurors, representatives of the press, and others having orders from the Sheriff or State's Attorney. Outside the court room a great crowd of people of both sexes and all conditions of life clamored loudly but vainly to be admitted, and the officers on duty were compelled to draw their clubs in order that comparative quiet might prevail. The five prisoners, all neatly dressed and clean shaven, and looking fairly at ease, occupied positions as indicated in the remarks of the State's Attorney. They were well represented by counsel. Counselors Forrest and Judge Wing looked after the interests of Coughlin; Messrs. Donahue and David were there in behalf of O'Sullivan, the iceman, and Kunze; and Senator Kennedy of Wisconsin, with Messrs. Foote and Foster, were on hand for Martin Burke. At the same table with the State's Attorney sat Hon. Luther Laflin Mills, George C. Ingham and William J. Hynes. The three eminent counsel in question had been retained to assist in the prosecution, but the announcement of the fact was the signal for a vigorous protest from Attorney Forrest, who claimed that they had been employed by private parties. The protest, however, was promptly overruled, and the first ten men of the special venire took their seats in the jury box. Their names were William E. Cribben, A. P. Richardson, A. P. Hall, L. Brackenhoff, W. L. Bigley, A. W. Roth, F. E. Wheeler, R. F. Ridden, William Newman, Emery L. Lillibridge, George M. Fish and J. W. Bridger. They had hardly been sworn, however, when Lawyer Donahoe, on behalf of Kunze, again objected to the participation of Mills, Ingham and Hynes. He claimed that they had been engaged by private parties to appear in the case, that they had received money, or the promise of money from such parties, who were solely actuated by a desire to secure the conviction of the defendants, and that Attorney Hynes in particular was actuated, however, by a personal ill-will toward one of the defendants. The counsel offered to prove these allegations by calling the three lawyers in question to the stand; but the objection was again overruled, and, without further opposition, the State's Attorney proceeded with the examination of the talesmen. This proved to be a task of the most wearisome character, continuing throughout the month of September and on to the commencement of the fourth week of October. Five out of every six men that were called had formed opinions based upon what they had read in the public press, or upon what they had been told; that made it impossible for them to try the case fairly and on its merits. Many were opposed on principle to secret societies; others were particularly antagonistic to the Clan-na-Gael. It was evident from the start that the counsel for the defense intended to avail themselves of every possible technicality, and the questions propounded to the talesmen on the first day were so broad in nature that Judge McConnell was compelled to interfere. At the next session of the court a list of questions was submitted, which, so it was argued by Mr. Forrest, should be asked of every man in the interest of the defendants. The questions were as follows:
Have you now, or have you ever had, an opinion that during the year 1889 a secret committee was appointed by Camp 20 of the so called Clan-na-Gael Society, or some officer of said camp, to try the deceased, Dr. Cronin, for any supposed offenses?
Have you formed any opinion as to whether or not the alleged murder of Dr. Cronin was in pursuance of the action or finding of a secret committee, appointed by said Camp 20, or its officers, or any of them, to try said Cronin for any supposed offense?
Have you formed any opinion as to whether or not Dr. Cronin was killed in the Carlson cottage?
Have you an opinion as to whether or not a trunk was used in removing the supposed remains of Dr. Cronin from the Carlson cottage to a catch-basin.
Have you formed an opinion as to whether the tenant or tenants of the Carlson cottage had anything to do with said murder?
Have you formed an opinion as to whether or not Dr. Cronin was taken to the Carlson cottage by the horse and buggy engaged by Daniel Coughlin from Dinan, the liveryman?
Have you formed an opinion as to whether or not Daniel Coughlin knew when he engaged the horse and buggy from Dinan that the horse and buggy was to be used to take Dr. Cronin to the Carlson cottage to be murdered?
Have you formed an opinion as to whether or not Patrick O'Sullivan made a contract with Dr. Cronin for professional services. If you have formed such an opinion, I wish to ask you also, have you formed an opinion as to whether or not Patrick O'Sullivan made such a contract for the purpose of using said contract as a scheme to entice Cronin away to be murdered?
Have you an opinion as to whether or not Martin Burke, one of the defendants, was the tenant of said cottage?
Have you an opinion that the Clan-na-Gael Society is in any way to blame for the death of Dr. Cronin? If you have such an opinion, state further whether or not you entertain an opinion that any particular camp of the Clan-na-Gael had to do with the murder of Dr. Cronin, and further state if you have an opinion that the defendants, or any of them, are members of said camp?
We desire to further inquire, in instances where jurors state they hold opinions upon the above topics, as to the sources of said opinions, and further as to whether these opinions have been expressed or otherwise.
One entire day was occupied by the defense in arguments and quotations from legal authorities tending to demonstrate their right to submit these questions, but after considering the matter over night, the court decided to narrow them down to the following points:
1. Have you formed an opinion as to whether or not the alleged murder of Dr. Cronin was in pursuance of the action or finding of a secret committee appointed by Camp 20 of the so-called Clan-na-Gael society, or its officers, or any of them, to try Dr. Cronin for any supposed offense?
2. Have you formed an opinion as to whether or not Dr. Cronin was taken to the Carlson cottage by the horse and buggy engaged by Daniel Coughlin from Dinan, the liveryman?
3. Have you formed an opinion as to whether or not Martin Burke, one of the defendants, was a tenant of the Carlson cottage?
4. Have you formed an opinion as to whether or not Dr. Cronin was killed in pursuance of a conspiracy?
5. Have you formed an opinion as to whether or not any of these defendants was concerned in said conspiracy, or was a member of said conspiracy?
This matter disposed of to the satisfaction of all concerned, the effort to secure twelve acceptable men was resumed. Day after day went by, however, and little progress was made. Both the city and the country were drawn on for material. Some of the venires were composed of the finest looking men that had ever tramped into the dingy court room. There were heavy manufacturers, business men of standing and influence, and wealthy farmers from the suburbs. One man after another expressed his belief that the prisoners were guilty, and the five men became gloomy and morose when confronted with the substantial proof of the terrible prejudice which existed against them. For a long while it looked as though there were not twelve American business men of independent means in Chicago who had not already formed a positive opinion, and one which could not be removed by any evidence, as to the guilt of the prisoners. The number of talesmen that passed through the mill each day ranged from twenty to thirty. A large proportion were excused from cause, while the others were peremptorily challenged by the State or the defense. Freeman Gross, a capitalist; was the first man who enjoyed any prospect of being a juror, and his selection was the net result of seven day's labor and an expenditure by the State of over $2,000. After however, he had been passed by both sides, matters were brought to the attention of the State's Attorney which warranted him in using a peremptory challenge upon the solitary occupant of the jury box and the second week opened with seven venires exhausted and the first selection still to be made. A bold move was made by Attorney Forrest on a side issue at this stage of the case. Failing to obtain an order of the Court which would enable him to secure possession of the blood-stained specimens from the Carlson Cottage, and which were held by the prosecuting authorities; in order that a microscopic examination might be made by experts in behalf of the defense, the lawyer, with three other men, invaded the Carlson cottage, disarmed old man Carlson and Lindgren, his son-in-law, who were in the place and who presented revolvers at their heads; and, with a jack-knife, cut several pieces out of the floor where the blood spots were thickest, and also out of the base-board just beneath the spot on the wall paper where the blood had splashed when the physician was leveled by a blow upon his head. No cognizance of these proceedings, however, were taken by the court, but on the following day an order was issued permitting certain experts to examine the specimens held by the State in the presence of other witnesses. By the end of the second week fifty-one of the one hundred peremptory challenges credited to the prisoners had been exhausted, and still the first of the jurors was not within sight. Up to this time 327 veniremen had been examined. Of these nearly 90 per cent. had already made up their minds; 8 per cent. were violently antagonistic to the Clan-na-Gael; 2 per cent. were opposed to secret societies of all kinds, and one per cent. were conscientiously opposed to capital punishment. On the latter question the point was raised as to whether a man who had conscientious scruples against the death penalty, where the evidence was purely circumstantial, was qualified to sit as a juror in a murder case in Illinois. It was at first ruled by Judge McConnell that such a venireman was qualified, but, after elaborate arguments by the prosecution and the citing of innumerable authorities, the Court decided to withdraw from its position. When the nineteenth venire was issued on September 19th, four men, Messrs. Pearson, Culver, Hall and Dix had been practically accepted by both sides. But this slow progress was not agreeable to little Kunze, and, becoming excited, he arose and asked permission to address the court. His counsel tried to get him to sit down, but the young German insisted upon being heard.
O'SULLIVAN AND KUNZE,
FROM PHOTOGRAPH
TAKEN DURING THE TRIAL.
"Shudge," he cried, waving his hand toward the bench, "I must speak mit you meinself."
"Your attorney will speak in your behalf," said the court.
"Nein! Nein!" exclaimed Kunze. "Mein attorney no speeg for me; I like mit mein own interest to talk mit you. Last Saturday Shudge Longenecker told I looze notings by being in chail, und I vas guilty not, und I looze notings by dat. But mein healt I looze by der chail, und dat is somedings; but it will maag me vell und I proof meinselef guildy not at all. Ein doctor no man can heal und he don'd know the woondt; und I vant der chudge to tell me vat I am chail in for to-day anyhow?"
Kunze, much excited, sat down amid the laughter of his colleagues.
"I have your matter under consideration," said the court in kindly tones, and the prisoner subsided.
New tactics were attempted by the defense in the fourth week. It was broadly hinted by Mr. Forrest that the right sort of men were being neglected by the bailiffs and a demand was made that all future venires, instead of being special, should be drawn in the regular way. In support of this demand he said, among other things:
"We are very much dissatisfied with the class of jurors obtained thus far; they do not come from the body of the county. We are getting a class jury from the smallest class in the county. We have had five Englishmen to one Irishman. According to the school census of 1884 there were 114,000 Irish persons and only 20,000 English in this city. If the jurors were taken from the box these nationalities would come in due proportion. Yesterday there were seven English and Scotch veniremen. Now we look upon the English as a class as a most reputable portion of the community, but it so happens that if there should be a strong prejudice against the defendants, we might expect to find it right there. I believe the non-church going community in this county exceeds the church-going people; and I am satisfied also that the members of the Catholic church exceed in number all the persons in the so-called evangelical churches. Yet of those we have had here, twenty to one were Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists. We do not say that we should have a Catholic jury, but we claim we should have a jury drawn from the body of the county by lot. Another thing: The mechanics, the laboring men, exceed the mercantile class. The salesman class depends more on the daily papers for intellectual food than any other class in the community. My experience of mechanics is that they do less newspaper reading, but devote themselves to works on history, philosophy and political economy. They are better posted to-day than any other class. All the evils resulting from the present system would disappear were the jurors drawn by lot from the box, which is the fairest method of obtaining jurors."
Mr. Mills replied at some length. He said:
"I will not deign to answer the insinuations and animadversions made by the distinguished counsel, directed or intended against the integrity and fidelity to the law of the gentlemen of the prosecution or the sheriff of Cook County. Your honor, in the interruption made, expressed an answer to such insinuations and animadversions. Counsel has talked much of classes, lines of men, divisions of the community. He has talked of the employer class and the laboring class; he has even brought into this discussion the element of religion as suggesting classes of men. I submit that there are no classes recognized by the law of this State. What statute recognizes a distinction between the laborer and the man who hires him? What statute draws a line between the salesman and the head of a business? At no time has the State made a special demand for any class of men. We stand to day with the regular panel exhausted and in need of a jury, and we appeal to the statute to help us out."
"We will continue as we have been going on," said Judge McConnell after the arguments had been concluded; "the court has been diligent and cautious and intends to see that nothing but a fair and impartial jury is impaneled in this case."