Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 2

TJIK IIAlttTOItl) DAILY COUKANT: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18. 1894. STORY OF TTi: MURDEIJ. the autopsy. It was found that the bullet, which was of thirty-two caliber, had entered the left side of the back four inches below the axilla tor armpit) three inches liehind the axillary litw and two inches In-low the angle of the scapula ur shoulder blade.) It thence agcd downward one and a quarter Inches, penetrated the ninth rib, passed Into the lower lobe of the left lung, into the abdominal cavity, through the spleen and Into the diaphragm.

Two holes were made In the stomach In Its downward progress. Heath resulted from internal hemorrhage. The bullet was not found, probably Imbedding It-S'-lf In the tlefhy part of the bg after having passed entirely through the region of the thorax, diaphragm and abdominal cavity. The evidence at the Inquest detailed the facta of the murder as above and an interesting development bearing upon the motive of the murder, as In-ilicatrd In the opening of this story of the crime, was the testimony of Robert W. Skinner, a stepson of the murdered psan, his mother having first married a cousin of Albert J.

Skinner. This was to the effec that some six weeks previous to the shooting, Cronln. who bad been drinking, went into the house of Skinner with whom he had been boarding for a tlm and loaded a revolver. Mrs. Skinner, becoming alarmed, called her husband and her son to the house.

They looked in at the window and saw what Cronln was about, and then entered the house. Cro- the well-known secretary of the prison association of the stae, and Is in the line of reform which haa long been demanded The story of executions in the various county Jails of the state in the past have1 revealed many bungling Jobs and the excitement attending the transportation of the famous Hillhouse gallowu from town to town for the purpose of taking oft muderers has been most unhealthful. Then again, the sheriffs of the counties have been besieged by "persons desirous of witnessing the gruesome performance until the whole matter had become a public nuisance. The new law provided that all executions should hereafter occur at the state prison. In a house specially constructed for the purpose, and that a proper cell be placed in the house for the aecommoda-tion of the condemned man during the death watch.

An appropriation of $3,000 was granted for thiB purpose by the Legislature. The machinery for executions which was used in Cronin's case will hereafter be used for all murderers In the state who have the fortune to get a death sentence In court. In carrying out the instruction of the act of the Legislature, the state prison directors and Warden Woodbrldge met with an unexpected obstacle in the opposition of the State Board of Charities, which objected to the method as proposed by the Introduction of the automatic gallows. During the visit of Warden Woodbrldge to the West in June he saw the hydraulic gallows used in executions In Colorado Springs, Colorado, and determined that It was the most effective instrument for car- appreciation of what the counsel was trying to bring out. Margaret Callahan, the youngest child of William and Mary, and the mother of John Cronln, was a nervous, excitable girl, who went to Wales with her older sister.

Catherine. There she married Peter Cronin, a Welsh miner, of a boisterous nature and a man who drank to excess. His wife drank with him daily and they lived In a state of perpetual trouble. At last Peter was murdered in a drunken row and Margaret became Insane for a time. Her sister Catherine took her home and adopted John Cronin, who was one year old at the time.

He lived with his aunt until he was eight years old, when he was put out to work. His mother, Margaret, came to this country and married a man named Moran, who Is now dead. There wen three children by this marriage, one dying In early life and two daughters surviving. One of these, Mrs. George Somers, is subject to epileptic fits, is a bard drinker, and has attempted suicide.

She haa been in the county Jail in this city for drunkenness. Margaret Moran. the mother of John Cronln. is well known to the authorities of Hartford. She has been a drinking, troublesome woman during her long residence In and about Hartford and was surrendered to the authorities by her brother, Thomas Callahan, after be had endured her boisterous and wild ways, while under the Influence of drink, as long as he could.

is now an Inmate of the almshouse in this town, where she has been for nearly five years. This brief sketch ft Cronin's ancestry shows that his 'ather and mother cutlons, the date being fixed for August 24. 194. After Cronln had been found guilty and was on his way to the Jail with Iwputy Sheriff rinney, the latter said to him: "John, the Jury was cut so long, I didn't know but you were going to get clear." "I thought so, myself," said Cronln. "I saw your brother Ed.

In the court room and I waa going to ask htm for a Job planting tobacco." In a few days after sentence Cronin was taken to the state prison, where he has been under Warden Wood-bridge's care during the long months since, only leaving the prison when he waa before the board of pardons on the first Monday In this month for a few hours. In the Supreme Court. Counsel for Cronln, however, were not satisfied with the finding of the Jury and determined to take the case to the supreme court of errors and, It was heard on exceptions taken before the superior, court. The reasons of appeal were two: First, that the court refused to strike out the declaration of the deceased to Mrs. Page, witness for the state, "I am shot: I shall die; Iord have mc-rcy; Lord have mercy; I shall die," the counsel for the defense holding that it waa not admissible aa a dying declaration.

Second, because the court heard the evidence of Burnham and Smith, witnesses for the state, to the effect that Cronln had said, "There Is a little cur (meaning one Edwin Whaples) that owes me I47.DO, and if my neck Is stretched I suppose he thinks he will get rid of paying me," It being held that this was an Incriminating state lL I nr it 'k 1 rt it-m mm ilLl i Mww ittle lll The Execution Room and the Automatic Gallows. i fSnal instructions and assigned them to duly. Keeper Reld was assigned to puari the front yard and direct those entitled to be present at the execution to enter at the warden's residence. Keeper Smith was put at the main entrance to the prison with instructions to admit only ollieers there. Riley was assisned to duty In the directors' room to attend to the telephone and answer calls, Lehr at the front door to admit those entitled, Chatfleld, Mildren, (' dv.

Adams and others to the yard. Murphy at the hack irate, Hull at the gate of the outside yard, with Fulton. Bogue and others. Hewes to the hospital. Keeper Du Hols was excused to Illness and Keeper Horton as he on duty at 4 a.

tn. F.very other keeper In the prison was assigned to 3uty until after the execution and eiven explicit Instructions what was expected of him and how to act tn an jmergencf. -Mr. Uhlttleney Refused. Warden Woodbrldge had hardly dismissed his keepers when Hetnan C.

Whittlesey of Middletown, secretary of the state board of charities, waa announced. He made application to Warden Woodbrldge to be permllted to be present st the execution In his official ity. Mr. Whittlesey was also fortified with a letter from Attorney Mildeberger. Cronin's self-appointed counsel since the trial, asking Cronln to designate Mr.

Whittlesey to represent him at the event. Warden Wnodhrldere told Mr. Whittlesey that the law did not provide for a representative of the state board of charl tics to be present and at that hour he could not consent to troubling Cronln, who had said that the only friends he desired to be present wre his spiritual advisers. Warden WooObrtdge emphatically declined to present Milde-bergcr's letter to Cronln and was supported in this decision by Director Fred A. Spencer of Waterhury, who was present at the Interview.

The warden commented upon the fart that Mlldeberger had not visited bis client, and the lateness of the day )in he nominated a substitute. After a rather animated conversation. Colonel Woodbrldge finally agreed to submit the matter of presenting MlUle-berger's letter to Cronln to the meet. of the state prison directors to be held at 8 o'clock. When the directors met Mr.

Whittlesey failed to put In an appearance and it was said he had returned to Middletown. The directors voted to sustain the warden in his decision. Those Present. The evening wore away without Incident. The newspaper men present before, the execution were In the directors' room and were: George I).

Curtis, representing the "New York William C. Pell. H. T. Smith end George W.

Make, "New York Frank H. Stanyon, "Boston Warren T. Billings. "Boston F. CI.

Rcusswig, "Saturday C.lobe," lUlea, N. Elwood P. Ida. "Manchester tef rare K. Wilcox, "Coneotlout J.

C. Leach, "New Britain Record," J. H. JjMte, "Farmlngtmi Valley Herald and H. A.

Stocking. "New Britain City Editor K. Park-liuist, Joseph Mullen and George C. Iaeinpof the William It. Pill ('f the 12.

S. Smith of the "Telegram." and Alfred W. Green and W. 1 Freer of "The Courant." There ware also present the following state prison directors; President Charles F. Bollman.

New Haven; Frank C. Sumner, Hartford; Michael W. Law-ton. Middletown; Frederick A. Spencer, Waterhury, and John N.

Chit-li-nden, Madison. Directors Chapln of Pine Meadow and Sanford of Slmsbury petit word that they could not be present. Sheriff Miles B. Preston was present In the room assigned to the iiewmHr men and entertained them with stories of crimes and the capture of criminals. Thomas A.

Jameson of Boston was another visitor, and Warden Woodbrldge. his son, H. Kirk Woodbrldge, Deputy Warden Baisden and Superintendent n. P. Martin of the Postal Telegraph Company also passed in and out of the room.

"This Is what they yanked a prisoner out of a cell with In the olden time," paid Warden Woodbrldge, while the reporters were preparing their early copy. He held in his hand a wicked looking instrument of rusty Iron about six feet long. On the end was a big hook extending out several inches from the bar and curving downward. Two feet from that hook was another one that curved In tha opposite direction. The hook on th end was used to pull nut an unruly prisoner from a cell and the second one prevented hlmt from rushing towards tha officer.

It looked as If It could perform the use for which It waa made. "I use a little chloroform on a sponge, now," said the warden, "and when the man is out of the cell he Is handcuffed." All agreed that the modern method was the better. The warden also showed a weapon that the officers carried about them when they walked through the prison many years ago. It was a. sort of a battle-axe.

with a sharp point on the end and picks on each side. A man could be Jabbed in front and cut on the elda at the same time and It was a moat formidable looking weapon. Not satisfied with this the wardens of long ago carried two pistols strapped to their waists. Tho Last Honrs. At 11 o'clock Warden Woodbrldge called up Keepers Mlldrum, Murphy, Cowdry, Adams, Chatfleld and Hull and assigned them to duty on the wall and at the inner and outer gates.

The warden then called the roll of th nine newspaper men who were to be present at the execution and directed them to assemble in his private reception room, where the prison directors were already gathered. Three of the keepers were directed to patrol the walls, armed, and the others were directed to permit no one to enter the gates unless by order of the warden or deputy warden. Superintendent R. P. Martin had a relay of six wires at the Wethersfleld station of the Valley road to send out dispatches to the New York and Boston papers.

Boys carried the dispatches to the station. Mrs. Woodhridge provided a generous lunch with coffee for the newspaper men and other guests, which was served in the warden's private dining room. Father Lynch and Father Broderlck reached the prison at 11:41 o'clock. They were shown to a private room in the warden's apartments and robed themselves in their priestly garments.

Vicar-General James Hughes and two sisters of mercy visited Cronln about 3:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon and spent some time with him In his cage. A Surprise for Mr. Gnatt's Cook. (Winnsboro, 6. C.

News and Herald.) Mr. Longstreet Gantt had a peculiar find at his house on Wednesday. He had purchased a turkey and kept it in the coop to fatten it. When the cook was dressing it to be cooked she found some foreign substance in the gizzard; the knife kept striking against it, and tinon close inspection it proved to be a gold scarf pin. There were places for three sets of stones on the end of it, but the sets were gone.

The pin had entered the gizzard its entire length, about two inches, and the flesh had grown around it. It was In a state of 1 -re-feet preservation; was not even tarnished by contact with the it must be pure gold. The turkey fattened and thrived, so the pin surely caused no Interruption of nature. This turkey was bought by an express messenger for Sir. Gantt, eo it is likely the pin fcelocsed to- eotaeone neac Whitg Oak.

CANAAN. Through a defective flue a small firs occurred In the low attic of the tea and coffee store of W. X. Rogers on Railroad street Saturday forenoon. The fire- was extinguished, as was supposed -entirely, and the defect In the chimney repaired, but Sunday morning about o'clock fire broke out again and consumed the building and contents.

A heavy stream of water cheeked the flames and prevented other buildings closely adjacent from burning. The building was a small one-story structure, formerly the law office of the lata Colonel J. L. Hardc-nbergh. William Briggs, a resident of thlj place and a brakeman on the locai freight running between Pittsfleld and Bridgeport, had a narrow escape from death at Newtown Saturday morning.

While switching he fell between tha moving cars and but for the assist, ance of Conductor Thorpe his body would have been ground into pieces by the wheels. As it was. Thorpe succeeded in getting him from the rails, one wheel passing over the heel of hla foot. Fuller Peet are growing sensitive; on the free distribution of clothing, while the idea is growing more and more popular with the tramps in this vicinity. During the past six weeks from ten to fifteen suits have surreptitiously disappeared from the counters of the clothing department.

By far the most honest attempt to obtain a free suit was made one evening during1 the past week. A one-armed colored, man entered the store and informed the son of the senior member of the firm that he wanted some clothing. Ha was shown the and selected A full suit, including rubber boots and all, and arraying himself in the samo to ensure a perfect fit he sauntered out toward the door. He, was followed by the clerk who, busy with a pencil and note book, informed him that his purchase amounted to $11.25. "Urn, yes," replied the man, and kept edging" toward the door.

"We want $11.25, urged the clerk." Um, yes," replied tha customer, who was getting nearer ta the door. "We want it now," yeled the excited clerk. "Haven't you got it?" "Um, yes," was the response. "Well, let's have It!" shouted the clerk. Th negro looked carefully through the articles which had been removed from his old garments into the pockets of hla new ones and selected a tobacco pouch partly full and tendered it as payment for his suit.

By this time the attention of one of the proprietors had been attracted to the scene and the negro was hastily dragged Into the back room and divested of bis new suit and turned out Into the darkness a bewildered and disappointed man. SOUTH MANCHESTER. F. E. Watklns, of Watklns started Sunday evening on a short va-i cation trip to Maine.

Mr. Watklns ln-i tends to go about fifty miles north of Augusta in search of large game. John McNally, a naval veteran of tha late war, has, through the efforts of tha selectmen, Deen admitted to the National Soldiers' Home a Togus, Me. John Russell, a resident of Oak street, was found dead in bis bed Sunday morning. The cause of death was probably heart disease.

His funeral will take place to-day. T. B. Andrews of Coventry found last Thursday morning that his barn had been broken Into during the night and a large quantity of turkeys and other poultry stolen. Suspicion was directed toward Arthur House, who is well-known hereabouts, and Sheriff Treat was called Into the case.

The turkeys were found by Sheriff Treat at the farm house of Joseph Daggett on the Coventry road, but House had disappeared, Mr. Treat started after him Friday. House was tried by Justice Kingsbury of Coventry Saturday, and placed under $1,000 bonds for trial at Tolland. He la now In Tolland Jail. TJNIONVILLE.

The annual meeting of the Womah'a Relief Corps was held Friday. Officers1 were elected as follows: President, Mrs. E. Burnham; senior vice-president. Mrs, A.

Driggs! Junior vice-president, Mrs. E. Payne; conductress. Miss Anna Bust; guard, Mrs. S.

Horsfall; organist, Miss Bessie Wadsworth. A letter for E. E. Barber was advertised at the post office December 8 aa uncalled for. The Sons of Veterans will be organ- i Ized to-morrow evening.

The comman- der-in-chief and staff of the Connectl-1 cut Division will be present. Supper' will be Berved. Frederick Heacox has accepted a posUj tlon in Manchester with tha Mathe', Electric Company. The mock trial to be presented hers by the ladies of the Southington i Grange, under the auspices of thai Woman's Relief Corps, will be poeb poned to January 14. BUFFI ELD.

The fall term of the Literary Instltu tlon closes December 21, and the wlntetj term will open January at 9 a. m. The Hon. Thomas Duncan gave ant address on "Paper Making from at the Institution December 11. The Cogswell extemporaneous speak ing contest will be held at the Institution to-morrow evening at 7:30 p.

There are seven competitors. i Term examinations will be held De cember 19, 20 and 21 and are open to thai public. The schedule is printed. The Phlla May concert, December 12, under the auspices of the senior class of the Institution, was a complete success. The "Masque of Culture" was given by the Lesbian Society before th-; Adelphl and Calliope societies last: night.

POQUONOCK. The primary and Intermediate depart ments of the school In the Ninth trict closed last Friday. The kinder garten will close next Friday. School in the Eighth and Tenth districts win close this week. The high school wilt close Friday; the winter term will begin January 8.

The Ladles' Benevolent Society of tha) Congregational Church will hold a social in the chapel to-morrow evening. David Marshall is 111 with typhoid? fever. The grange will hold Its annual election of officers this evening. NORFOLK. The Norfolk Congregational Sunday School Is' fortunate in having so liberal a superintendent as Miss Mary El-drldge.

Her custom has been for many vears to provide an elaborate Christmas festival, and the treat of spending a day in New York, which Is to ba given free to all members this year, will surpass anv known effort of a Sunday school given in this country. Hartford People In New York. (Special to The Courant.) New York, Dee. 17. Hartford people are registered at hotels here to-night as follows: Grand Cnlon-H.

L. Brlneru F. W-Warner. E. S.

Belden. E. E. Hurlburt U. Frazier, C.

H. Street. L. Collard. A.

A. Olds. B. O. Tilden, C.

F. Sweet, W. H. Campbell. Metropole H.

Emmett. Devonshire C. May. Murray Hill Mrs. S.

Colt. Mrs. C. N. Beach.

Park Avenue-J. B. Cone, I. Pomeroy.1 Fifth Avenue E. S.

Yergason. 7 flroadwaci- Central-H. Hitter. -St. Denis B.

G. Richards, C. M. Latin son. i Westminster H.

Billings. St. Cloud F. P. Furlong.

Normanille K. Z. Marvin. 3 Waldorf L. F.

Heubleln. i HolUnd-S. Hollander, L. S. Gol sclmudt.

Albert Skinner Referred to Cronin as His "Dog." UNDOUBTED MOTIVE FOR THE SOUTH WINDSOR MUBDFR, Miot In old Mood While Katlna Jlrxakfnot with His Little (jfrl Caso Keforo the Court ami Board at Pardons. On morning In the early hunting season of the autumn of 1RS3 Albert J. Skinner, a carpenter and Joiner, living on the main road from South Windsor to Kllington, about a mile from the rond leading to Buckland from the former place, was passing along with a gun on his shoulder on a hunting expedition. About twenty feet behind him was John Cronln, his companion In the sport, als with a gun. Skinner was accosted by a who afked him: "Going hunting, this morning "Yes.

I thought I would," replied Sklnnr. "Where's your dog?" To thla Skinner made no verbal re- The Steel Cage In ply, but turning his head In the direction of Cronln, nodded If to say: "There's my dog," That nod of Skinner's head cost him his life, and furnished the undoubted motive behind the crime of his murder by John Cronln on the morning of October 6, 1R93. On that morning Albert J. Skinner was seated at his breakfast table, In the kitchen of the one-story wooden farm-house In which ho lived In South Windsor, eating with his little daughter, Irene, a child of five years. His wife was In another room attending to her household duties.

Suddenly John Cronln entered the room, drew a. Smith tk Weseou six-shooter from his pocket and discharged five of lis chambers. One phot took effect in the back of Skinner, who arose from the table, placed his hand to his side, exclaiming "oh. Mother, I'm shot," and started to go through a small hallway to the room whe re his wife, whom he always called "Mother," waa busy. He did not get through the ha.llway before he turned to come back to the kitchen and fell to the iloor, unconscious.

Mrs. Skinner, who had In ai the shots rushed Into the kitchen and seeing her husband upon the floor ran out into the yard and screamed for help. C. C. Vinton and Arthur dowdy, teamsters, were passing by and Mrs.

Skinner called to Mr Vinton to come In. Vinton saw Cronln In the road and asked "What Is the matter in the house? I don't want to get off. I'm In a hurry." Cronln replied. "If you want to know what Is the matter there, you had better go in and see." Vinton then went into the house, accompanied by his men. one of whom was John Horton.

He Inquired of Skinner what the matter was. but he was unconscious and Mrs. Skinner was so frantic that she could not give any Information. Vinton and the others lifted Skinner, carried htm to a bedroom, and laid him on the bed. This was at ten minutes past seven o'clock.

Skinner regained consciousness and to Horton he Bald, In reply to a question, "Jack shot me," and to Mrs. Page, a neighbor who had come In he said, "I am shot. I shall die. Oh, Lord, have mercy, have mercy. I shall die." He then turned over In the bed and pulling his clothing away showed the bullet hole in his back to both Mr.

Horton and Mrs Page. Dr. Rlakeslee was summoned, but before he reached the house Skinner was dead, having survived the shock of the bullet something less than an hour. Cronln's I'aly Speeches. John Cronln, meanwhile, was hanging about the yard and the road near by, and answering questions put to him by those who had been attracted to the scene with great ugliness of speech and apparently In sullen temper.

In reply to a question by Henry A. Page he said. "I shot the dog and I want to go in and finish the son of a To Alfred W. Moulton who had told him he would very likely have to stretch hemp for the deed, he said, "I don't care a if I do. There are two or three more I would lika to tlx.

One I would like to plve two pills and another three." Afterwards he attempted to get into the -Skinner house and force his way to the bedroom where he could finish his victim. In this he was flustrated by Mr. Vinton, who threw him out of the door and fell upon htm on the outer stens. Cronln said to him In threatening wav, "Don't hurt me." At last, to quell Cronin's excitability and to prevent further acts of violence. Mr.

Page slipped an old pair of handcuffs upon his wrists and Constable K. M. Burnham arriving soon after, the murderer was put under arrest. As to what happened In the kitchen where Skinner was murdered, the little pirl, Irene Skinner, said at the time that no word passed between the men and that Cronin drew his pistol and fired before her father knew anythirg about his being there. The Coroner's Inquest.

Assistant Coroner James r. Andrews, acting in the absence of Coroher Henry E. Taintor, conducted the inquest, and Dr. Blakeslee of South Windsor and jpr. A.

G. Cook of this city piacle i 4 111 wit Aw1 i rftfir JsUL (5) Which Cronln Waa Confined. nln, who was In the bedroom, began barking like a dog, Intimating that he was the "dog" referred to by Skinner on the morning of the hunting expedition. Tho two Skinners attempted to take the revolver away from Cronln and a tussle ensued. In which Albert J.

the murdered nun, waa thrown to the floor, with his back against a trunk. Robert W. then assisted his stepfather to get Cronln under control and the affair ended by Albert J. Skinner choking him Into submission. He threatened at that time, however, to kill Skinner, saying: will shoot you." "Take care," said Skinner, you have threatened my life." "I will shoot you with common sense." replied Cronln, adding In an undertone "with bullets." Cronln was brought to the Jail In thla city and after the coroner's Inquest had been held he was examined before Justice Seth Vinton ef South Windsor, the evidence being practically the same as was given before Coroner Andrews.

He was held for trial before the superior court without bonds as a result of the Justice trial. When he arrived at the Jail here he showed no signs of intoxication and during the time he was confined, awaiting his trial, he showed the same stolid Indifference that has characterized him whenever he has been In court. He waa not a troublesome prisoner In any way. Trial tn tho Superior Court. At the December term of the criminal court the grand Jury found a true bill against John Cronln, for murder In the first degree, he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty and counsel was assigned to him.

He was aked if he had any preference and requested that Hugh O'Flaherty of this city be Ms counsel. Mr. O'Flaherty afterwards associated Henry D. Mlldeberger with him In the case and It is due to him that the board of pardons heard the case, Mr. O'Flaherty practically retiring from it after the supreme court had rendered its decision against his client.

Cronin's trial did not occur until the March term of the court 1894. Judge Ralph Wheeler was the presiding Jus. tiee and the Jury was made up of P. H. Woodford of Avon.

Kprlah H. Andrews of Southington, Arthur J. Churchill of Southington, Charles H. Hillings of Wetherstleld. S.

Phelps of Windsor, Henry M. Pinney of Windsor Locks. Jonas H. Sllsby of Hartford. Judah D.

Viets of Bloomfield. William Begg of Knfield. Heman A. Whittli-eey of Newington, Henry Kellogg of Newington, and George W. Tuller of Hartford.

The evidence occupied three days, from March IS. It was practically the same as that given at the Inquest and the Justice trial, for the state. The defense waa that Cronin was so intoxicated at the time of the homicide that he was incapable of exercising the mental power of deliberation, or of forming the specific attempt to kill. Cronin took the witness stand tn his own behalf and testified In an almost Inaudible tone of voice, having to be frequently prompted by his- counsel to speak up so the Jurors could hear him. He said that he had never had a hard word with Sktnner and bore him no malice; that he had no recollection of what oeourrd on the morning of the murder, but that when" he came to himself he was In the county Jail.

Othet testimony In his behalf was to the effect that he was harmless and of a peaceable disposition. The case was conducted for the state by Judge Arthur F. F.ggleston, state's attorney, assisted by George A. Conant. then assistant attorney, now clerk of the court.

Judge Kggleston made the argument In behalf of the people and It was characterized by clearness of statement and an inexorable appeal to the Jury to perform Us duty. Mr. O'Flaherty made the plea in behalf ef Cronln. which was an impassioned effort and had many of the elements of eloquence in it. The Jury was charged by Judge Wheeler and retired to its room at 1:20 o'clock in the afternoon, remaining out until when It Hied into the court room and rendered a verdict of "Guilty of murder in the flirt degTee." Cronln stood in the prisoner a dock and faced the Jury, not flinching iyi atom as his doom was pronounced.

following Wednesday, March SI, hvvas brought down to tho court room assd sentenced to death by Judge Wheeler, in accot d- ment which could not be made against the prisoner by himself. The bupremo court heard the caaej at the May term In this city, thw arguments being by counsel on both sides, Messrs. Rggleeton and Conant and Messrs. O'Flaherty and Mlldeberger. The arguments consumed an entire afternoon and the lower court was sus tained by the full bench, the decision being that there was no error.

Cronln did not appear In person be fore the supreme court. ronln Reprieved. On petition of Henry D. Mlldeber ger, of Cronln'i counsel. Governor Morris, on August 9, granted a reprieve) to Cronln until October 24, In order that the case might be brought before the board of pardons with a view to a pos sible commutation of his sentence to life in prison rather than to die on the gallows.

The board of pardons was called in special session on the first Monday in October, but as no action could be taken without a full board being present, and Dr. Francis Bacon of New Haven was In Europe, Cronln was granted another reprieve until December 18. until after the board should meet In quarterly session. Mr. Mlldeberger was counsel on this occasion and Cronln made his last appearance in public, a large crowd of people being present In the supreme court room to see? him.

He sat immovable as a Btatue during the proceedings, which lasted nearly three hours. Mr. Mlldeberger introduced evidence as to Cronin's family history and Dr. T. D.

Crothers, who had examined the prisoner as to his sanity made a lengthy statement to show that by heredity and his long habits of drink'ng his mental faculties were so impaired that he was Incapable of premeditating the deed of murder. One of the Jurors in the trial before the lower court, Mr. Plnney of Windsor Locks, voluntarily testified that if Crontn'a case was to come before him now he would not vote as he did tn the Jury room for a conviction of murder in the first degree. Judge Egglea-ton made his third plea in the case for tha state and Mr. Mlldeberger spoke at some length on the subject of his client's mental powers, their impairment by drink, and the consequences of heredity.

Judge Eggleston made a remarkably clear statement of the facts connected with the murder, saying as he closed that no man ever deserved the full penalty If John Cronln did not. The board of pardons, with very short deliberation, decided that there was no ground for clemency. This Is a review (with sketch of all legal proceedings) of one of the most brutal murders ever committed in Hartford county, the victim being an Inoffensive, easy-going man; the murderer being a man of sodden and brutal instincts, who, taking a slight at a careless reference to himself, deliberately planned and for weeks thought out the murder of the man who made It. JOHN CRONIN. Ills Family of Tcrenerate Character Bi'iinUards and Iusaue.

John Cronln presents an Interesting study in psychology and heredity. He was an undoubted degenerate, the last of a dying family, and had little or none of those sensibilities which form the highest distinction between man and the lower order of animals. He never, from the moment of the murder, expressed any contrition for the deed, nor did he show by his conduct that he was affected by the transaction In any way. He was to all appearances In a semi-comatose state whenever he was before the courts and waa particularly in that state when he was before the board of pardons the first Monday In December. He sat Immovable in his chair with his eyes downcast, partially or wholly closed, and did not In any way show the slightest interest the proceedings, of which he waa the central and most Important figure.

He might have been In a hypnotic state for all that there was to show otherwise. When on his feet he appeared to be a small-sized man, well ballt. with a heavy shoulder and a "chuck" neck, and as he walked he had a shamble in his gait peculiar to men who work out of doors far from any formulatlve Influences aa to style or carriage. His hair was wavy, of a dark brown, and abundant, his mustache taking on a decided sandy hue. His eyes were blue gray and small and absolutely without expression.

His nose was of good shape and his forehead about normal In Its contour. Cronin's ancestry Is one of degeneracy. His rear relatives on both his father's and mother's side were hard drinkers and on his mother's side insanity and epilepsy appear frequently. None of his relatives exhibited anything more than a very low order of intelligence. His maternal grandparents were William and Mary Callahan of County Antrim, Ireland.

William died in middle life and Mary-lived to be 60 years old. and was insane for some years before her death. Catherine, the oldest daughter, the aunt of John Cronln, became Insane from the death of her child and the desertion of her husband, recovering in part and coming to this country, where she died In middle life. Michael, the second child, was early addicted to drinking intoxicants, and his mother tried to kill the appetite by mixing snuff with his drinks. He enlisted Jn the English army, was discharged Insane and wandered about in the woods and finally died of exposure.

Thomas Callahan, the second son, lives In Hartford and is a respectable man. He drank until he was 50 years of age, since which time he abandoned the habit. He testitled as to the facts of bis nephew's ancestry' before the board of pardons, and appeared to be a quiet Vmth InohiHatea sn lincla nnd aunt were insane, and a half sister is a .1 J. -1. drinking, epileptic uegeiieiaie.

ji mo Ai, rxt tia father. John Cronln. was the last, and of his mother the worst. John Cronin's career In this country tn Mnf rioafiv knnwn. 'He ban said but little about It.

He gave his age as 37, wnen ne was arresieu, aim il ia tuonm i. V. flrviA ulnoa Hnvhrtnd IIIUL IIIOI5V I 1 1 iiiitu he has been In this country. He was in the western mining country ior nunw time and appeared about South Windsor, where his crime was committed, a little more than seven years ago. He was usually employed as a farm hand.

I .1 narlnff fm tnVtflCCV and III iaittoiB nut. was subject to long sprees. He had thB power or Beil-COnirui, nunrvn, iui on one occasion he swore oft and drank lloiliiiiH i 1 quarrelsome when In liquor and was re garded as a Wortniess son 01 itimn, T) a rt-nnA an 1nlicntlnn of Cl0 nln's characteristic stolidity and utter lack or sensitiveness to nm bhuhuuu a condemned murderer, was given In the investigation as to his sanity made bv Mr. Crothers, a few weeks ago at the state prison. In the presence Ul lilt Binic a r.

gleston. his own counsel, and Drs. H. G. Howe and rc.

a. irawn. if tions and answers serve to show. Dr. Crothers being the only interrogator: "Well, John how do you feel to-day?" "Pretty well.

I guess." "Got a pain in the back of your head, haven't you?" "No." "Been a hard drinker, haven't you, John?" "No." "Drunk when you were fifteen years old. weren't you?" "No." "Been drunk most of the time in your life?" "Swore off four years ago. Dldn drink for two years." "F.xpect to go to heaven when you die?" "Hope to pull through." "Suppose you don't?" i.Th. nd the law have their own way. I've made up my mind." "If this wan snouiu mu uomn would try to escape, wouldn't you?" "What would be the use? They would catch we again." These answers reveai nm mum Cronln He showed by them that he was perfoctlv resigned to his fate, and that he didn't care enough about making an effort to save his neck from the gallows to acknowledge that he had ever been a hard drinking man.

or that he had anv sort of anxiety about the after death, or any of those nicer questions which concern the hereafter, inaeea. ne phi wim ioo head resting on his hands, and between his fingers there was an occasional plav of a smile on his face as tf the effort in his behalf was not worth making. His mind never moved ahove the range of a brutal force, of "getting even" with events. ALBBHT J. SKINNER.

The Victims of the Vengence of John ronln. Albert J. Skinner, the victim of John Cronin's revenge, was a native of South Windsor, where he lived until he was murdered. He was a carpenter and Joiner by trade, but lived on a small farm which he carried on. He had employed Cronln about the place and for some weeks prior to the shooting the murderer had boarded with him, but was not boarding at the house at the time of the murder.

Skinner was about 42 years old when he was killed, and left a widow, who was, before her marriage, ith him, a widow of his cousin. He also left two children, a boy 7 years old and a girl years. He was thought well of in the community, an industrious, inoffensive man, who had little push and energy In his nature. He was buried the Sunday after he was killed ft Dm the Methodist Church in Wapping. a large crowd of country people being in attendance.

THE AUTOMATIC GALLOWS. Protest Against Its Use-now It Operates the Steel (ne. The ha-nging of John Cronln at the state prison In Wethersfleld, In compliance with a law passed at the last session of the Legislature transferring all executions from county to state authorities. ThiB law was framed and rying out the death penalty and that there would be less danger of accident or a "bungle" than by any other device. He, therefore, had a model made by one of the prisoners, James H.

Rabbett, an Ingenious mechanic. It was during one of the regular Inspections of the prison by the president of the state board, of charities, Dr. Tracy of Merlden, that he saw the model and reported to the board. The board addressed a formal communication to Warden Woodbrldge In which specific complaints were made that the gallows, as designed, was less humane in operation than the ones heretofore used tn the state, that it was constructed In such a manner as to evade responsibility by the official charged with the execution, that there were not sufficient precautions against unforeseen mishaps, and that the condemned man virtually hangs himself, thereby adding suicide to his crime of murder. This communication was addressed to the warden June 7, and on July 4 a formal vote of the state board of charities was forwarded, again protesting against the gallows and requesting the warden to abandon the Intention of using It.

Another model was constructed by Rabbett in which an arrangement of shot in a cylinder was substituted for the hydraulic feature. The committee of the board of state prison directors, Frederick A. Spencer, M. W. Lawton and E.

M. Chapin, invited Dr. Harmon G. Howe and Dr. William W.

Knight to the prison as experts, and they witnessed several tests of the model. They agreed that the proposed gallows was humane, inasmuch aa it was quick and sure in Its action, and as to the self-execution by the condemned agreed that nothing of the sort would occur, Inasmuch as he did not voluntarily step upon the platform or place the noose about his neck. The warden and the prison directors also took counsel of Gross. Hyde Shipman as to the legality of their action, and in a lengthy opinion It was sustained. Thus ended the controversy over the gallows, which was confined entirely to the models prepared in advance of the construction of the gallows Itself.

The gallows, at finally constructed, lifts the victim suddenly into the air about six feet. This movement Is caused by the rapid descent of a weight of 312 pounds at the other end of the rope, furthest from the noose. The knot of the noose Is adjusted Just behind the left jaw, and as the rope becomes taut by the falling of the weight, the full force of a blow of 312 pounds Is- concentrated upon the knot, breaking the neck instantly. The body then falls to within two feet of the platform upon which the condemned man stood. This device Is a common one and has superseded the trap "drop" In almost all modern gallows.

The peculiarity of the gallows at Wethersfleld Is In the method of controlling the drop of the weight. The condemned man standing upon an Iron plate two feet square, by his weight rel-ases a sliding valve, at the bottom of a cylinder containing fifty pounds of shot. As the shot run out a lever connection holding the weight In place is released, the weight drops and all is over. The movement of the shot is indicated by a dial, connected with the cylinder by a cord, and can be accelarated or retarded by the nressure of the foot upon a lever. From the time the noose is adjusted and the condemned man is on the plate, to the drop of the weight.

Is three or ten seconds as the official in charge may determine. The steel cage In which the murderer Is confined during the time or tne death watch is from the Akron bteet and Iron Works of Akron. is twelve feet square and is of hardened steel, which cannot be cut with a file. It is arranged with all the sanitary conveniences fosslble in such a place, has a carpet on the floor and is a very comfortable room. It Is separated from the room in which the gallows is erected by a partition.

SOMEBSVILLE. A. C. Hulburt of this place collected $50 without a suit as damages from A. D.

Bridge, president Of the Hazardvllle Water Company, on account of being tipped over into the ditch when the water pipe was laid last summer near the Scitico railroad station. NAUGATUCK. The national bank of this place has made a good loan to the town of En-field at 4 per cent, interest and received back a portion of the same money, t3 jer seni; Jakcrfjt, ance with tha new 1 aw gov ruic e-, map, UucK.ia mtiuorj-, anj in,.