216

ALL STATE TESTIMONY IN.

Evidence for the Defense Next in Line in
the Sheedy Case.

MRS. SWIFT TELLS DAMAGING TALES.

What Mrs. Sheedy's Friend Knows of
the Family Affairs---McFarland's
Statement to the Coroner
Entered as Evidence.

LINCOLN, Neb., May 20.--[Special to THE BEE]---All the testimony on behalf of the state is now in that will be introduced in the great Sheedy murder trial. Tomorow the it is probable that this testimony will not be through with until the middel of next week.
The latter half of today the testimony was decidedly statrting and even senstional.
The most important witness yet examined was brought on the stand. It was Mrs. P. H. Swift. It leaked out that she was an important witeness and it was developed in the testimony that Strode, the attorney for Mrs. Sheedd, had had a long talk with her and had endeavored by working on her friendship for Mrs. Sheedy to attempt to induce her to suppress certain things she knew and told her that her testimony was the most damaging that the state had, and was in fact the only evidence that the state had that would convict Mrs. Sheedy. The effect of this conversation was very apparent on the witness and it was with the greatest difficulty that an answer could be gotten out of her. In fact for the first quarter of an hour she carefully avoided saying anyting at all. Finally the court got disgusted and allowed Mr. Lamberston to ask the witness leading questions. Even then the witness attempted evasion, bus finally some startling things were revealed by her. The persistent and desperate fight on the past of Strode to keep the witness from testifying and the intense interest Mrs. Sheedy took in the matter was a cue ti the crowd that some thing was up, and they bent eagerly forward to catch what the witness would testify to.
It was in vain, however, as even the jury could not hear her reldctant and low toned answers and they had to be repeated by the stenographer.
Mrs. Sheedy, as usual when a friend or acquaintance was put on the stand, came forward and cast her magnetic and commanding black eyes on the wintess, looked at her similingly and yet the same time there was a flash in her eye that dared the witness to tell what she knew. Neverthless the witness told some things. The wintess testifed:
" I was in the habit of visting Mrs. Sheedy some five or six months before Mr. Sheedy died. She did not speak of him as well as a wife should who loved husband. She said he was jealous of her and would not let her do as she wished. She told me last November that he had threatend to kill her with a revolver. She told me that this was the result of a quarrel over a relative. When she complained to me I laughed and told her that I had heard that hse had lost a ring and that her husband had got angry and charged her with having given it away. She said that was not what she refered to. At another time she said she had the blues awful bad becouse Mr. Sheedy was so jealous of her she couldn't enjoy herself at all. I said to her you do not know how well fixed you are: you have everything you wish. She said " Give me a laboring man who get his wages every day instead of a man like Sheedy.' "
Mr. Lamberston asked the witness at this juncture what Mrs. Sheedy had said in regard to bearing childern.
Mrs. Sheedy's eyes twinkeld [Dr?] at this, and she flased a threating look at the witness. Neverthless, Mrs. Swift continued:
" She told me once that she would give anything if she could have a child. Two or three months after she returned from Buffalo she told me she enciente and didn't intend to have it. She told me afterwards that she had used something to get rid of having the child. and at the time was all right. She said that her reason for doing so was becouse her husband was mean to her at that time.
She told me that had fixed to leave him at one time. This was along in the first of November. One day when I went to the Sheedy residence I had some trouble in brining anybody to the door. Finally the servant girl came. "
The remainder of the question and answers were of such a nature that it was apparnt Monday McFarland was there, but the real condtition of affairs are not fit for publication.
The witness further testifed: " I was there on the day Mr. Sheedy died. She told me that Mr. Sheedy could not live. I told her that hot water and mustard plasters would help him. She said that it was useless to give him anything. "
Mrs. Sheedy then rested her dimpled chin on Strode's shoulder, and putting her lips to his ear, whispered something.
" What was your name when you lived at York! "
" Miss Lucy Bell, " was the reply.
" What was it at Plattsmouth!"
" Mrs, Johnston. I went there to live after I was married. "
" What is your name now? "
" Mrs. Swift "
" Were you divorced from Johnston ?"
" No sir. "
Strode then jumped up and demanded:
" Why weren't you ?"
" Mr. Johnson died, " as the quiet reply.
Strode looked annoyed, the crowd laughed and Mrs. Sheedy bent forward and whispered something again in Strode's ear. The attorney then thundered out :
" How many times did you drink wine and beer with Mr. Sheedy?"
Meanwhile Mrs. Sheedy cast a wicked gaince at the witness.
" Only once, " was the reply, " and Mrs. Sheedy was present, Every time I went to Sheedy's, however, Mr. Sheedy offered me wine. "
Again Mrs. Seedy whispered in Strode's ear and he asked:
" How many times did Mr. Sheedy take you home? "
" Only once alone. At all other times Mrs. Sheedy went along. "
" Didn't Mr. Sheedy send you a present on Christmas?"
" No, sir. Mr. Sheedy made a present to me Christmas of there paris of stockings. If they were from Mr. Sheedy I did not know it. "
Mr. Lamberston then asked the witness concerning what Strode said to her at noon. She replied:
" Mr. Strode said " I thought you were a friend of Mrs. Sheedy's. ' He said that the evidence I would give was very important and was the only one that would convict her.
While Mrs. Sheedy was away Mrs. Dean kept house for Mr. Sheedy. Mr. Strode insisted that I should tell him all I knew of the case and I did so. "
The things that Strode said to her to prejudice her for the defense were detailed at leangth. Witness further testified that Mrs. Sheedy said to her shortly beofe the asault:
" Someone is after Mr. Sheedy who will kill him and they will get him yet. "
The apparisement of the property of John Sheedy at $ 57, 483. 30 was next offered in evidence.
The major portion of today was devoted to evidence as to whether or not Monday McFarland's statement at the coroner's inquest should be admitted in evidence. This caused judge ruled that in case the negro had not been sworn it could go in as testimony, otherwise not.
F. C. Munger, who was a member of the coroner's jury that held an inquest over the body of John Sheedy. testifeid that he did not believe that Monday McFarland was sworn before he was put on the witness stand that day. Strode objected to the witness telling what McFarland siad on that day. A long debate ensued in which both sides cited numerous authorities. County Attorney Snell showed great readieas in answring all the authorites cited by the defense by quoting from later laws and authorities. Once case specially was cited from the Nebraska records in which Judge Lake had decided that in just such a case as the one in hand, where are two persons charged with same crime. the testimony of one of the two at a coroner's inquest could be used afterwards in evidence. Mr. Lamberston then followed in a spiritted speech. He declared that before Monday McFarland testified before the coroner's jury he had conferred with his attorney, Captain rupted Lamberston with some inaduible remark. Lamberston turned suddenly and said to Philpot: " I will tell you that first thing you said on Monday McFarland the night you kncoked at the door of the jail and, on gaining admition went to your client. It was this:
" ' Keep your mouth shut!' "
" Hold on, " should Strode, " Shorthhand reporter, take that down. "
The court stemographer did as requested.
" Now, your honor, " Strode commenced, but Lamberston suddnely ejaculated : "Your honor, I will withdraw the remark. "
" Yes, " thundered Strode, " after the micheif done."
" Mr. Philphot's advice to his client was certainly excellent, " remarked the court, " but such remarks as that of Mr. Lamberston had better be left unsaid."
" Of course Colonel Philpot advised his client to keep still, " continued Lamberston.
" Any lawyer worth shucks would do that, and Mr. Philpot is worth considerably more than shucks. He is a learned and astute lawyer and would know what to do. "
Mr. Lamberston then delivered an enquest and spirited speech in which he scouted the idea that becouse a prisoner had taken an oath that his testimony was worthless. " But," he declared, " there was no oath taken at this time. "
Philpot followed in a long speech that both amused and interested the audience. He pictured vividiy how his client had been dragged from jail to the inquest without his attorney knowing anything about it.
" I did not even get a chnace to show whether I was worth shucks or not, " said he,
A number of witnesses were then called in relation to the question as to whether or not Monday McFarland was sworn before making his statment before the coroner's jury, as the judge ruled that in case he had not been sworn his statemnt could be used, otherwise it would be ruled out.
Myron Wheeler, the shorthand reporter, testifed that his notes showed that McFarland had been sworn, but the witness could not remember personally hat the negro had been sworn.
Marshal Melick testifed that he was presented at the inquest and that he saw Monday McFarland Sworn.
Coroner Holyoke was postive that he had sworn the negro.
Deputy Sherif Hoagland testifed that he did not believe that McFarland was sworn.
At this juncture Judge Field declared that on looking over the affidavits in connection with the mistake of Mrs. P. H. Swift's name appearing as P. H. Smith on the back of the informattion that it was evedently a mistake and he would therefore allow the witness to testify.
Myron Wheeler, the shorthand reporter, was wanted at this time, but was missing. Mr. Lamberston asked that an attachment be issued against Mr. Wheeler, as once he had left the city at a time that was critical to the prosecution. In a few moments Mr. Wheeler came rushing in breathlessly, and the court informed him that he must not leave the court room again without special persmission of the court. The judge added that as Mr. Wheeler had other business to look after he was partially excusable.
Mr. Wheeler was then put on the witness stand and asked to read the statment made by Mrs. Sheedy at the time of the inquest.
He commenced to do so. Every question concerning Mrs. Sheedy's past life was objected to by Strode. All of these objections were overuled. The answers to these showed that she had been married to Horace McCool fifteen years ago, lived with him two years and then got a divorce. A year later she was married to George A. Merril. Lived with him two years, and then got a divorce.
She was married to Mr. Sheedy eleven years ago in New Orleans. The full evidence given by Mrs. Sheedy at the inquest was been read.
The only way in which the story agreed with that of McFarland was that she went out on the back. porch shorly before the assault, but declared that went out for a pitcher of water. Also that the blind look out on the proch was up.
Robert McRyneolds, one of the jurors at the inquest, then went on the witness stand and testifeid postively that McFarland was not swore at the time of the inquest Court then adjourned until 9. p.m.
At the afternoon session Myron Wheeler, the shorthand reporter was put on the witness stand. He testifed that he had a mark signifying that a witness had been sworn.
This mark appeared in the notes of the testimony of Monday McFarland at the inquest.
Colonel Philpot then went on the witness stand and went through the somewhat remarkable feat of asking himself questions, answering then and combatting at the attorneys for the defense. He deaclered that he was chosen by Monday McFarland as his attorney on the evening of the Sunaday follwoing the arrest. Witness said in addition:
" I did not know that my client was to be put on the witness stand tthe day of the inquest. He was taken there and I understand he testifed. This was done without my knowledge.
At the afternoon session of the Sheedy's murder trial the judge ruled that the statement made by Monday McFarland at the inquest could be admitted as evidence. His statemnt was read and it talled in every way with the two disusting confession previously reported.
Just before adjourment Mr. Hall, counsel for the prosecution, arose and stated that an examination had been made of the stomach and blader, but no traces of morohine were found by the experts. This statement produced profound astonishment. Mr. Hall, however, offered a number of standered medical works in evidence to prove that too long a time had elapsed for any morphine to be found in those organs.
A GOLD SYNDICATE.
Daring Scheme of New York Bankers
to Stop Exportations.
NEW YORK, May 20---[Special Telgram to The BEE]---- It is reported today that ten bankers in Wall street have each put up $60, 000, making a total of $ 600,000, with which to oay the interst one $ 100,000,000 of gold which they are going to buy and hold for sixty days. Gold is now praetically at par, although Great Britain is giving half penny for it, and as money is plenty at 2 per cent there can be no loss. This syndicate intends to compel England and Russia to pay a hand some premium on the gold they buy or leave it this counrty. It is one of ths simplest yet most daring deals that has been attempted since Jay Gould and " Jim" Fisk tried to corner gold and orought on that day, which is always referred to with a shudder, known as " Black Firday. " The way in which the Fisk-Gloud corner was broken was by the United States government selling just $ 5,000,000 of gold.
Fish and Gloud were thoroughly frightend and throwing pruduce to the winds let go all the gold they had. If they had held on for only twenty-four hours they would have found that the goverment did not intend to let any more gold out, but they claimed that holding such a large amount as the treasury did they were senstive in letting go. Under the present conditions it is possible but not probable that with a depltetd treasury the goverment would attempt to meet another cirsis. Judging from the condition of the market last fall the corner of gold would mean that every bank and indivdual who could secure gold would store it away. That it would produce a great finacial loss on the counrty is well understood, but it is simply a choice between [dr?] evils---having gold at premium by forgin countries taking all we have or by a syndicate holding it in this country to make the premium. There are now in the United States about $ 600,000,000 in gold and about $ 90,000,000 is held by the United States treasury. Over $45,000,000 of gold has left this city since January 1, and $ 4,000,000 goes today. That something must be done to stop the flow of gold abroad is the opinion of every banker and merchant in this counrty. but it has remained for this syndicate to make an attempt to stop the tide. It remains to be soon what will be done, now that the intention of the syndicate are made public.
Terrific Storms In Texas.
SULLPHUR SPIRING, Tex., May 20.---This section on the counrty has been visited by the most terrific storms during the past twenty four hours ever known and many houses were completely demolished.
Fatal Powder Explosion.
CLIEVELAND, O., May 20--- A powder exposion of a coal mine near New Philadephia, O., yesterday resulted in the death of John Groff, and fatal injury of his brother.