There was no mention of Braddock's name in the dispatches, yet he
could not banish the fear that ultimately the man would be implicated.
Dick Cronk's story of the crime, as presented by the newspapers, was
clear and unwavering. He said that he had shot the man in the heat of
a quarrel over money matters. The newspapers professed to be unable to
secure a statement of any kind from the brother, Ernest Cronk, who was
in jail as an accomplice, despite the vigorous protests of the
principal figure in the case. The newspapers went into the history of
the Cronk boys, from childhood up, devoting considerable space to the
excellent reputation of the cripple and the unsavory record of the
noted pickpocket. In summing up the case, there seemed to be no
question of the innocence of the cripple, although it was stated that
the district attorney intended to put him on trial for complicity in
the crime. The men, held without bail, were to be given a hearing in
the trial court at an early day.
Letters from Joey Noakes and Ruby to the Jenisons set forth the
details of a visit to the Tombs on the day following the murder.
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