the man pointing the
pistol, and these are the circumstances of that case, although you
saw the acts that brought about the circumstances which led you to
believe he was killed by the bullet. That is one way of
illustrating circumstantial evidence." Here the State's attorney
gave another illustration on the same line, and proceeded: "That is
circumstantial evidence. Circumstances are truths. Nearly every
case that comes into court rests almost exclusively upon
circumstantial evidence. Of course, there is direct evidence making
up the circumstances, but after all, the crime itself, the act
itself, is proved by the circumstances in the case.

"So that, while we must rely upon the circumstances in this case,
yet we propose to show to you evidence enough to convince your
minds thoroughly upon the question of the guilt of these accused.
We shall prove this by circumstances just as much as if there had
been an eye-witness of the scene. You stated, gentlemen, as I said
before, that you would not convict unless your minds were satisfied
beyond a reasonable doubt, from the evidence, of the guilt of these
defendants. You stated further that if you were satisfied beyond a
reasonable doubt--every man of you satisfied--that the crime was of
such a character as to deserve the highest penalty you would then
have no conscientious scruples against capital punishment--that you
were not opposed to capital punishment. It does not matter whether
your minds are satisfied by circumstantial evidence or direct
evidence as to the guilt of the men on trial--you stand pledged on
your oaths to execute the law as you believed it ought to be
executed in the case.

"On the night of May 4th, soon after seven o'clock, was the last
time that Dr. Cronin was ever seen alive, except by the men who
assassinated and beat out his life. Until the 22d day of May his
body was not seen by his friends or any one except those who thrust
it into the catch-basin in Lake View.

"We claim in this case that the murder of Dr. Cronin--as we shall
prove it was a murder--was brought about by a conspiracy. These men
are charged with having murdered Dr. Cronin. The evidence that we
shall introduce will show a conspiracy to murder Dr. Cronin, and we
shall show that the conspiracy was formed and car