d at the disposal of Coroner Henry L.
Hertz, was crowded to suffocation at every session. Six men, all
well-known citizens, and of a high grade of intelligence, were sworn in
on May 28 to determine as to the cause of the physician's death. Their
names were: R. S. Critchell, Victor U. Sutter, Justus Killian, John H.
Van Husen, H. H. Haughan and Rudolph Seifert. On the first day, May 28,
the jurors visited the Carlson cottage, the catch-basin, and the spot
where the trunk was discovered. They also examined the furniture left in
the cottage, the trunk, cotton batting, and other links in the chain of
circumstantial evidence. Several adjournments were then taken at the
instance of State's Attorney Longenecker, who held to the wise opinion
that in a case of so much national importance it was best to "make haste
slowly," and it was not until June 3d that the taking of evidence
commenced in earnest. Mrs. Conklin, Frank T. Scanlan, Patrick Dinan (the
liveryman), Jonas Carlson, Justice Mahoney, John T. Cronin (brother of
the dead man), and the employes of A. H. Revell & Co., were among the
first witnesses examined. They gave their evidence clearly and without
reserve and produced a favorable impression upon the jury. A profound
sensation was created when the blood-stained trunk was brought into the
room. Police Captain Schaack was upon the stand, and his testimony
developed so strongly the fact, that, through willful disobedience of
instructions and gross mismanagement, the murderers had been enabled to
escape, that before the close of the day an order was issued by Chief of
Police Hubbard suspending him from the service for an indefinite period
for "apparent wilful neglect of duty." From his own evidence, it was
clear that he had failed to obey the Chief's instructions to ascertain
the livery stable from which the white horse had been hired, that he had
failed to call upon several witnesses whose names had been given him,
and that he had allowed Detective Coughlin to pull the wool over his
eyes in the most extraordinary fashion. The examination of the officer
who had made himself famous by his work in the Anarchist case, was
thorough, searching and merciless. He reluctantly admitted, that for ten
days following Dr. Cronin's disappearance he did little or nothing on
the case, because he did not believe that the doctor was dead. He had
also allowed wilful disobedience to his orders by Detective Coughlin to
pass unrebuked. After the