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SERVED HIS TERM.ii-he ; Patrick O’Sullivan, On© of the Cro-on 1 nin Murder Conspirators,UP itoir-u-chGOES TO MEET HIS MURDERED VICTIM.His Life Term Cut Short by RapidConsumption Supposed to HaveesidDied Without Making theExpected Confession.1C* .... ry j .Toliet, 111., May 6.— Patrick O'Sulli*:h ' van, one of the three men sentenced to id , state’s prison for life for the murder of I)r. Cronin, died in the prison here at 7:40 last evening. For five days he had been delirious and unable to recognizehis friends and relatives who have beenat his bedside during the last hours. Ever since he entered tiie prison his health has been delicate and as he gaveup hope of securing a new trial he has been declining rapidly, and when a month ago he had an attack of the grip, it quickly developed into rapidconsumption. It had been known for two weeks that his death was only aquestion of days.Of the three men convicted O'Sullivanhad been tlie one most likelv to make*a confession, but there is little doubt that he died without unsealing his lips, unless he told the storv of the crime tohis confessor.O'Sullivan rested quietly throughout Wednesday night, and yesterday morning Dr. Ferguson, his physician, reported his condition as slightly improved. During the day he continued in a slightly improved condition, but as the sun began to sink behind the walls which have imprisoned him so long, thepulse beats became fainter and fainter.Miss Annie O'Sullivan, the prisoner's sister, was at his bedside throughout the day and at 7 o’clock his brother ilenrv. from Iowa, arrived and wentimmediately to the sick room.At 7:k0 o'clock Capt. Kane of thenight watch went to O’Sullivan's ward; and saw he was dying. O'Sullivan raised his eyes as the captain entered and apparently recognized him for he ■ motioned feebly for him to come to hisside. Capt. Kane put his ear to the dying man's lips and could barely hear, the words coming faintly and siowlv.“Captain. he grasped, “bring bring me—a drink.''I These were the last words he spoke. 11 is brother and sister each took a handinf the dying prisoner and a look of recognition passed over his features. His ! eyelids then closed and a faint smileillumined his features, his limbs gave a convulsive twist and the soul f Patrick O'Sullivan escaped from hisbody.a 7O'Sullivan maintained h' innocencer; to the last, and up to an hour before i his death he said he was guiltless.Father Daniels. \\ ho attended thesick man during his illness, said O'Sul- | livan never spoke a word of confession i to him. hut fullv main! dm . he was in- :nooent. 'O'Sullivan was Id years old ami en-*tered the Joliet pen'.tertiary JanuaryIt. 1 S(.M. The body will be shipped today to Wiseonsin. where it will be in- iWterred.Patrick O'Sullivan's c«»ni;e *tion withithe conspiracy that resulted In the murder of Dr. P 11. Cronin was so obvious (hiring the trial and the evidence so light tending to clear him has been adduced since that the insinuations rather vigorously sent out from Chicago in tin*last few weeks appear hollow to the m *nfamiliar with the cas From all the evidence he seems to have entered taeelan from patriotic motives, somewhat diluted by the belief that the affair was a good thing* to do in a business wav. Iliv assoeintes in the elan fnrred him I along* to the fore of the eonspiraey. and ) finally he found himself hip-deep in I* f:'d imurder.He was the main ii trnment ri bringing Dr. Cronin fn in th» Onnkln’s houseon the night of May I, issb, and t •accomplish the end of the conspiracy ho deliberately made friend4- with the doctor by a cunning use of Cronin’s hu- j mane sensibilitiesand completely threw him off his guard against the butchery. The evidence against O'Sullivan was circumstantial, but so strong as to j leave no doubt of hi- guilt. In un- j not as strong as the evidence* against Coughlin and Hurke. and if O'Sullivan hud gone on the stand, as he after-ward* wished ho had ho might have j turned its foree* Hut standing ahso j lutolv uneontradiiteu t was MitVieient Iii.in tin* jury s mind t«establish ids guilt, jO'Sullivan was not of Irish birth. IiftAaanolt;♦ .\ «Iwas born in America of 1 ri h parent*a ire
Newspaper Details
Jacksonville Illinois Courier
Jacksonville, Illinois, US
Fri, May 06, 1892
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
WI, USA 12 Jul 2021
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