Gilded Age Newspaper Articles

HOW THEY RECEIVED IT

Mrs. Mary Sheedy Besieged by Her Friends

Monday McFarland Also Subject of Congratulations- Will Leave for Illinois Soon

After the Battle

The topic of conversation yesterday afternoon and today has been the verdict of the jury in the Sheedy murder case, and not a few of the friends pf Mary Sheedy crowded into the rooms of her sisters in the Alexander block at Fourteenth and O streets last evening tp extend their congratulations. They found her in a very happy frame of mind though she wore a haggard look and her face was so pale as to appear almost bloodless corresponding to a great degree with the white lawn dress she wore. She chatted pleasantly reviewing the hardships of jail life, yet speaking in high praise of the Jailor Langdon for his thoughtfulness in many instances, particularly giving her "the best room in the house," from the barred windows of which she could at least extract a little comfort in gazing upon the passers by. She discussed, too, the attitude of some of the prosecuting attorneys and expressed her "appreciation" of the faithful way in which two or more newspapers labored to convict her in print.

Her plans for the future are not fully arranged but she will hasten to Illinois on Monday to the bedside of her mother, who is very sick.

COl. Biggerstaff her uncle who has been with her since the beginning of the trail will probably leave this evening for his home in Boise City, Idaho, accompanied bo Judge Weir, his attorney who was retained by the defense. Both these gentlemen in the three or more weeks spent here made numerous friends who will miss their companionship not a little.

Mrs.Morgan will not return to San Diego until he has also visited her mother, and on her return may spend another week in Lincoln while en route to her home.

Monday McFarland, room was the recipient of many hearty congratulations from his friends these of his kind being particularly well pleased with the outcome.

The verdict meets the approval of the great majority of people, especially the more thoughtful and cool headed citizens, but still there are some as in every case, who believe that justice has miscarried. As a general thing it was just what was looked for as under the law and the evidence it could not be otherwise. The confession of McFarland was given the jury to pass upon and at the same time the method its getting. Whatever might have been their belief as to the truth or falsity of the confession they could not well evade the evidence going to show that both persuassions and threats were used

MARY SHEEDY RESIGNS --------- And Asks the Appointment of S. M. Mellck --------- As Administrator of the Sheedy Es tate-- The Mortgage of Stearns & Strode on File. --------- Settling Matters. Late yesterday the following instru ment was filed for probate in the county court. " Mrs. Mary Sheedy having been heretofore appointed administratrix to administer the estate of John Sheedy, deceased, jointly with John Fizgerald, does hereby resign as administratrix, and asks the appointment to Samuel M. Melick as administrator to repersent her intersts in said estate, as the widow of the said John Sheedy, deceased, upon his qualifying and giving bond as re quired bu law." Accordingly Mr.Melick was ap pointed administrater after giving bond in the sum of $5.000 for the faithful per formance of his duties, John H. McClay becoming security. In the district court the mortgage given by Mrs. Shee dy to her attorneys. R. D. Stearns and J. B. Strode. is filed. It is a motrgage for $ 13, 500 upon lots of 4 and 6, in block 40, lot 7 in block 9 of Kinney's O street addition and lot F. sub division of lots 5 and 6 on block 41. A claim of $ 503 against the Sheedy estate is also filled by James C. McHaffle. for painting, papering, reparis and coal for steam heating at the Hotel Mack, including $ 80 for one street lamp bought of John Sheedy, which belonged to W. W. Carder. Motions are made by L. W. Billings ley and J. E. Philpot, in the case of the state vs. Monday McFarland, for a just and reasonable allowance for their services in that case.

A BLOW IN THE DARK

John Sheedy Dies at the Hands of an Assasin

Probably no man in Lincoln was better or more widely known than John Sheedy. For twenty years he had been the leading gambler of this city and was the coolest and most noted member of his so-called profession between Chicago and the mountains. His character had little of the soft side to it though his deportment outside his business was that pf a gentleman. He was literally the boss 0f the sort of men to whom he belonged.

Last Sunday night he stepped upon his porch and received a blow on the forehead from a weapon in the hands of some person unknown. He recovered himself and fired at his assailant who fled and escaped in the darkness. Sheedy was not thought to be seriously hurt, but the skull had been crushed ad he sank rapidly, dying about twenty-seven hours later.

Speculation is rife to the murderer. Some incline to the opinion that the deed was done by one Jay Patterson, a gambler, who had trouble with the dead man several years ago, and who had spent five years in prison for an assault on him. Others hold different theories but there is no actual clue, unless the bludgeon with which he was struck may prove to be one. It is in the hands of the police.

A BLOW IN THE DARK John Sheedy Dies at the Hands of an Assassin Probably no man in Lincoln was better or more widely know than John Sheedy. For twenty years he had been the leading gambler of this eity and as the coolest and most noticed member of his (word ?)pro fassion between Chleago and the mountains. His character had little of the soft side to it. though his deportment outside his business was that of gentelmen. He was (word?) ally the (word?) of men to whom he belonged. Last Sunday night he stepped upon his porch and recived a blow on the forhead from a weapon in. the hands of some person unknown. He recovered himself and filed at his assailant, who fled and escaped in the darkness. Sheedy as not thoughts to be seriously hurt, but the skull had been crushed and he sank rapidly, dying about twenty seven hours later. Speculation is rifle as to the mur derer. Some incline to the opinion that the deed was done by one jay patterson a gambler, who had trouble with the dead man several years ago, and who had spent five years in prison for an assault on him. Others hold different theories, but there is no actual clue, unless the bludgeon with which he was struck may prove to be one. It is in hands of the police.

THE SHEEDY TRAGEDY

Startling Developments Spring Upon the Public

Lat Saturday the police arrested a negro barber known as Monday McFarland, charging him with having struck the blow that killed John Sheedy. He was put into the sweat box and made a confession which, for picturesque imagery and fertile imagination has not been equaled since Mark Twain narrated the remarkable adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He claimed that he had been inspired by Mrs.Sheedy to do the work; that he had been criminally intimate with her and was thereby, with the aid of whiskey and fear of her, induced to make the assault. The police also arrested a young man named Walstrom ad an accomplice, chiefly because Mrs.Sheedy met him while at Buffalo N. Y., for medical treatment, and the acquaintance had been renewed since he came here.

The horrible story told by McFarland seemed to be in a measure confirmed when the body was exhumed because it was shown by subsequent autopsy that the blow was not sufficient to cause death and it was inferred that the work had been completed bu poison administered by the wife. The stomach is being analyzed for the presence of poison. The autopsy also revealed disease of the heart that may have been the actual cause of death.

The character of Mrs. Sheedy before her marriage is really the ground on which the theory of the detectives is built. She had been twice married before she met Sheedy, who supplanted her second husband and Hved with her some years before they were married.

There are a number of incoherencies in the case of the prosecution so far as presented to the public and sentiment is not unit in believing the guilt of the accused. Able counsel have been engaged bu all the defendants and the trial will be hotly contested. McFarland and Walstrom were committed to jail without bail.

The coroner's jury held several sessions with closed doors, but such of the testimony as would seem to clinch the theory of the detectives or shed luster on them was allowed to leak-out