185

IS HE SHEEDY’S MURDERER?

McFarland, a Negro Barber of Lincoln, Confesses the Crime.

HE SAYS HE WAS BRIBED TO DO IT.

He Implicated the Victim's Wife in the Plot, but There is not Corroborative Evidence to Prove it.

Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 18. -[Special to The Ben.]- Mrs. Sheedy and Harry Walstrom were arrested late this afternoon charged with complicit in the murder of John Sheedy.

The arrest of Monday McFarland, the negro barber, last night, on the charge of being the murderer of John Sheedy, resulted today in a full confession by the colored man. He tells one of the most revolting stories of intrigue and crime ever known in the history of the state.

McFarland confessed that he was the cowardly assassin who made the assault on John Sheedy last Sunday night, but he said that it was not malice that prompted him to cmmit the act, but a bribe of $20,000 offered by Mrs. Sheedy to the negro murder her husband.

As is well known in Lincoln, Mrs. Sheedy lefter her last husband, who was a poor carpenter, to marry Sheedy, then a man of great wealth, although old enough to be her father.

It appears that she has been anything else than a true wife, and of late it is alleged she has become infatuated with a dapper young fellow. But between her and her new found love stood the husband, and in order to get rid of this obstacle, she, as McFarland alleges, employed the negro to kill the man who had often befriended him.

In order, McFarland says, to more completely get the negro in her power she became criminality intimate with him and today he exhibited to the mayor, chief of police and a detective most revolting evidences of his crime.

A few days before the murder of McFarland was noticed by an acquaintance lurking in a dark alley on P street, just a block from Sheedy's home. In response to a query as to what he was doing there he gave a very suspicious answer.

On the day before the murder Mrs. Sheedy is said to have been in McFarland's barber shop and there it is believed the final arrangements were made for the assassination of the woman's husband.

The above story is based almost solely on the confession of McFarland and is of course susceptible of better proof. The city is full of reports concerning the crime and the public must away a legal examination before a [?] conclusion as to the guilt or innocence of parties charged with complicity in the crime cane be formed. The terrible charge against Mrs. Sheedy made by McFarland lacks confirmation and the public will withhold its judgement until all the facts are brought out and the lady's testimony has been heard.

The can with which the crime was committed was a heavy steel rod, covered with leather, and was of penitentiary make. It was formerly the property of Captain Carder of the police force, but was lost about a year ago. It finally found its way into Goldwater's pawn shop and was bought there by McFarland five days before the murder.

After the assault the murderer dropped the cane and this was the only clue which the detective had to work.

There remain still more important developments, as it is believed by the attending physicians that Sheedy did not die from the effect of the blows alone. The body is to be exhumed and a chemical analysis of the contents of the stomach made.

Mayor Graham, Chief of Police Melic and Detective Melone could scarcely believe their own ears as the murderer, McFarland, unfolded the devilish plot concocted by Mrs. SHeedy to have her own husband assassinated in his home.

Mrs. Sheedy, McFarland says, told him that she would prefer having her husband killed some other way than being shot. Accordingly, McFarland, greedy for the $20,000 prize offered by the woman, decided to brain his benefactor. Accordingly he purchased the steel cane at Pawnbroker Goldwater's place. This weapon he showed to Mrs. Sheedy and after carefully examining the instrument of death, the woman expressed her approbation of this selection of a weapon that would do sure work in its deadly mission. She ordered that her husband be murdered that evening, but the negro weakend and failed to perform the terrible crime assigned to him.

As above stated, Mrs. Sheedy went to McFarland's barber shop a week ago yesterday and there it is believed she made final arrangements for the destruction of her husband.

On the night of the murder McFarland, in compliance with the orders of Mrs. Sheedy, slipped into the kitchen of Sheedy's home and remained conealed there. Again he weakened and implored the woman who was planning the assassination to let him out of the terrible job. Drawing a revolver, the desperate woman shoved it in the negro's face and threatened to kill him if he did not carry out the work assigned to him. Mrs. Sheedy then told the negro that Harry Walstrom of Buffalo, N. Y., the fellow who was in league with her, would readily perform the deed, but out of her love for Walstrom she did not wish him to do the work as long as she could buy plenty of others who were willing to do it for one-tenth the money offered to McFarland. All this time Mrs. Sheedy held a revolver in her hand and the negro between fright and fear that somebody else would get the $20,000 offered for the murder, decided to obey the orders of the woman.

Mrs. Sheedy then poured out an ordinary goblet over half full of whisky and gave it to the negro. He took it and drank it. MRs. SHeedy then told him, he says, that if he would only beat her husband with sufficient violence so that he would have to go to bed she would attend to the finishing of the job. She then ordered the negro to go to the front door and as soon as her husband stepped out to brain him if possible. She said she would get Sheedy out of the house if she had to propose a walk.

"The rest of the story," says McFarland, "is only partially known. Just after Mr. Sheedy stepped out of the front do', I was surprised to see that he turned toward me instead of toward the street. Mrs. Sheedy was on the other side of the do', and I believe that she closed the do' suddenly and shoved Mr. Sheedy out on the poach. I then let SHeedy have it, but he pulled his gun and commenced shooting at me. I started to run, but I tumbled off the poach. This was the only thing that saved me, as Sheedy shot five or six times befo' I fairly got on my feet again. I was shoo that I was killed, but I kept on running after I got up and I finally got away."

This ends the confession of the negro outside of a few minor points.

The wonderfully cool actions of Mrs. Sheedy immediately after the attempted murder of her husband is known to every newspaper man and every other person who was at the place within half an hour after the wounded man staggered back into the parlor. She was not the elast affected and when asked by The Bee correspondent if such assaults did not frighten her she turned the matter off in an almost gay manner with the remark:

"O, I am getting used to these things!"

Shortly before midnight that night Dr. Everett assured your correspondent that the injuries inflicted were not fatal or even serious and yet in less than a day afterwards Sheedy was dead.

This, coupled with the fact that Mrs. SHeedy told the negro, as the latter alleges, that she would finish the job in case her husband was badly enough injured to go to bed, has induced the coroner to dig up the body of the murdered man and submit the contents of the stomach to a chemical analysis.

The belief at present in Lincoln is that Mrs. Sheedy is the real assassin.

Harry Walstrom, the young dude on whom Mrs. SHeedy is said to have lavished her affections, is a resident of Buffalo, N. Y. Nine months ago Mrs. Sheedy visited friends in Buffalo, and it is said that Walstrom became smitten with her. What their relations were together is better known by the two than anybody else. This thing is sure: Walstrom followed her to Lincoln; and if the story as related by the negro, McFarland, is correct, was the real cause of the murder.

A good many stories are told concerning the relations of Mrs. Sheedy and her paramour, but for the ends of justice and deceney they will not bear repeating in the columns of The Bee. One, however, may be told, and that is that Walstrom had the shamelessness to go to Sheedy's funeral.

Shortly after 1 o'clock this afternoon, after McFarland made his confession, the home of Mrs. Sheedy was placed under police surveillance. A hack drove up shortly before 4 o'clock, but Chief of Police Meliek, believing that the woman was making arrangements to fly, arrested her.

In less than half an hour afterwards Walstrom was also placed under arrest. He was found in the Hutchins block, near Eleventh and O. He acted wonderfully unconcerned.

Walstrom admits that he was on intimate terms with Mrs. Sheedy, went out walking with her after night, etc., but denies any knowledge of the conspiracy to murder Sheedy. Mrs. Sheedy also denies that she knew anything about the assassination until after it happened. At 8 o'clock this evening she was taken from her home to a private residence, where two policemen were placed on guard over her. She will be thus confined until the preliminary trial. Walstrom and McFarland are both in the city jail.

The body of John Sheedy was exhumed at midnight and taken to one of the undertaking establishments, where a post-mortem examination will be held.

Special World's Fair Commissioners.

Washington, Jan. 18. - The army and navy officers who have been detailed as special commissioners to carry an invitation from the government of the United States to the other American republics and West India colonies to participate in the Columbian exposition and to use every endeavor to secure a proper understanding of the affair in the various countries, have received their letters of credence, instructions from the department of state and will start on their mission at once. Their instructions are very comprehensive and if carried out will make the Latin-American department one of the greatest features of the exposition. The commissioners not only represent the department of state, but the Smithsonian institute, agricultural department, national museum, medical museum, fisheries commission and other branches of the government also, and have detailed instructions from each. All the American steamship companies and several lines carrying the English flag have agreed to carry the commissioners and their collections free of cost, and advices already received indicate that they will have the hearty co-operation of the several governments to which the are accredited.

A Terrible Tennessee Tragedy.

Chattanooga, Tenn., Jan. 18. -An awful tragedy occurred here today, S. M. Fugette, cashier of the South Chattanooga savings bank, being shot and killed by his father-in-law, J. A. Warder, city attorney of Chattanooga. Warder is probably fatally injured and Mrs. Fugetter has a dangerous wound in the right thigh, Judge Warder came home at 1 o'clock in a drunken condition and went to Mr. and Mrs. Figette's room where the tragedy occurred. Exactly how it happened is not yet known, as Warder and Mrs. Fugette are not able to talk. Neighbors hearing the shots rushed in and found Fugette dead, with a bullet through his heart, and Mrs. Fugette lying on the floor, while Warder was struggling downstairs, with blood streaming from a wound in his breast. Judge Warder is on of the best known lawyers in the state, and during President Hayes' administration was United States district attorney for the middle district of Tennessee. The opinion prevails that he abused his daughter while drunk and the shooting resulted.

The Harvester Trust Dead.

Chicago, Jan. 18. -[Special Telegram to The Bee.]- Since the announcement of the breaking up of the harvester trust all sorts of stories have been appearing in regard to it. The latest is in a dispatch from Springfield, O., Which asserts that the trust scheme was not given up at all, that the statement given out for publication was only to blind the people and that the plans projected will he carried out secretly. Robert McCormick was shown the dispatch, said: "Springfield, O., seems to be the birthplace of many stories. There is not basis for this fabrication of the reorganization of the harvester company."

Westinghouse Creditors Meet.

Pittsburg, Pa., Jan. 18. - At a meeting of the creditors of the Westinghouse electric company yesterday a committee reported that they found $175,000 due the Pittsburg creditors and $300,000 to outside creditors. Vice President Banister told the committee that the company was doing well and would soon be a better paying basis. A proposition was offered the creditors in the shape of preferred stock to cover a certain percentage of the indebtedness. Some accepted and others want to consult lawyers. It is believed that the company will pull through.

Big Fire in Kansas Town.

Atchison, Kan., Jan. 18. -[Special Telegram to The Bee.]- A valuable portion of Horton, Brown county, was destroyed by an incendiary fire at 3 o'clock this morning, and the loss is estimated at $150,000. The fire included among other property the handsome building occupied by the Bank of Horton and owned by the Rock Island Railroad. Horton is a prosperous town of 5,000 inhabitants that five years ago was a cornfield. Its sudden growth was cause by the location of the Rock Island shops there.

Production of Precious Metals.

San Francisco, Cala., Jan. 18. - The annual report of Wells, Fargo & Co., of precious metals produced during 1890 in the states and territories west of the Missouri river shows: Gold, $32,456,916; silver, $62,930,831; copper, $20,569,092; lead, $11,509,571. Off the gold production $361,555 was from British Columbia. Mexico last year produced $12,689,000 in gold, and $41,564,500 in silver.