Gilded Age Newspaper Articles

LAID TO REST. ------- The Last Sad Bittes Performed Over John Sheedy's Body.

The funeral of John Sheedy, the victim of some unknown man's vengeance, took place at 10 o'clock this morning from the late residence, Twelfth and P streets. One hundred and fifty members form the five lodges of Knights of Pythias, to which order deceased belonged, attended in a body to the grave. There were no funeral services held at the house or the grave. A large number of friends of the deceased paid their last respects. The coroner's jury is presumably still at work on the inquestt, but the iron cladoath imposed upon the members and witnesses prevents their divulging anything of any moment. The intimate friends of Mr. Sheedy are confident that the murderer will be caught, and it is thought that rewards aggregating $ 1,000 will be offered soon. There are one or two clues being worked that are considered very plausible, and from what inside knowlege of the case the NEWS possesses at present, it believes that something is liable to drop in the near future. The NEWS was in error yesterday in stating that Dennis Sheedy was opposed to the holding of an inquest over his dead brother. As a matter of fact he authorized the employment of a stenographer, but did not wish to hear the inquest. This morning's session developed nothing particularly new. --------------- Got the Room. When governor Boyd yesterday sent a request to the board of public lands and buildings for additional office room, the board met but did not agree on its course of action. The governor's communication was construed as a counteous demand for the quarters occupied by Governor Thayer, but the members of the board were not of one mind about ousting the occupant by summary proceeding. Another meeting was held in the afternoon and the first decisivve step toward Governor Thayer's removal was taken by adopting a resolution reclting that Governor Boyd had repersented his present quarters as altoghter inadeguate to the business of his office, wherefore the board directs that there shall be attached to the executive department the rooms formerly occupied by Governor Thayer as an executive office. Governor Thayer this morning after the action of the board of public land and buildings very gracefully vacated his office in favor of Governor Boyd. Before noon Governor Boyd and assisatants were duly intiated into the apartments set apart and arranged for the chief executive of the state of course. This gives the new governor possession of the vault and articles of the office Governor Thayer appeared very willing to concede the office, but dosen't like it at all. Peace now reigns. -------------------

HARD AT WORK.

The Number of Detectives in the Sheedy Case Augmented. The coroner, Dr. Holyoke, and his jury of six are still at work probing for clues to the assassin of John Sheedy. Among those examined this morning was Detective Malone of the city police, who has had active charge of the case. Whether they secured anything or not, it was impossible to learn, but one of the jurymen is responsible for the statement that their prospects for capturing the man are very gloomy. It was reported this afternoon that an arrest had been made, but this is undoubtedly a canard, as no record of it appears anywhere. It could easily be suppressed for a time, however. There are two Pinkerton men in the city working on the case. One, it is said, was brought here by Dennis Sheedy from Denver, and this man telegraphed to Chicago for a confederate. The local detective force are devoting lots of hard work to the case, and claim to have some tangible clues. Mr. Dennis Sheedy is quoted as saying that he would spare no expense in bringing the assassin to justice.

it be ordered to pay the sum of $500.00 to him, as the amount of his exemptions, and in case it refuses so to do, that that plaintiff may have judgment against it for the sum of $600.00.

In the case of George C. Srhoyer against Henry B. Clarkson, wherein the steam laundry on South Eleventh street is in controversy, the defendant this morning filed an answer wherein he denies the allegations of the petition, except the fact that he owned said business on August 4, 1890, and alleges that on said day for the sum of $800 he sold a one-fourth interest therein to plaintiff, which is all the interest plaintiff ever had in said business.

THE COUNTY ESTIMATE.

The Commissioners Find Out the Yearly Cost.

Following is the estimate of the county commissioners for the year 1891.

Poor farm............................$ 4,000 Poor and destitute................ 5,000 Light, heating and janitors....... 4,500 Agricultural society............. 1,700 Roads.................... 25,000 Bridges.................... 30,000 Court expenses............... 20,000 Supplies, books and stationery... 4,000 Other supplies.............. 2,000 Jail.......................... 8,000 Advertising................... 2,500 Co. Physician.............. 700 Co. commissioners............... 7,500 Co. attorney............. 3,100 Co. supt. Schools................... 1,800 Co. surveyor................... 1,000 Co. assessors..................... 6,000 Criminal attorneys............. 1,000 Insane.......................... 10,000 Illegal taxes.............. 500 Election expenses.............. 1,200 Extra services, co. offices....... 1,000 Tax list.................... 1,000 Sidewalks and grades........... 500 Co. coroner..................... 8000 Sinking fund.................. 46,000

Total..................$188,800

SENT TO ASYLUM.

Young Thomas Dee Will Have to Remain Indoors Now.

The examination of Thomas Dee, the young farmer whose parents live on William McLaughlin's farm, near Walton, was held before the insanity commissioners yesterday afternoon. No evidence tending to show the cause of his insanity was adduced, but the first spell came on in September last, and they have recurred at intervals from three to four weeks since. He was never violent until last Saturday night, when he ran away from home and took refuge at the house of Robert Caves. He remained here until about 2 o'clock in the morning, when his mania culminated in violence, and he compelled the family to take to the outside at the point of his revolver.

Sunday night he enacted the same scene at Knowlton's house, another neighbor's, and yesterday morning jumped on a freight and came to Lincoln. His visit to the sheriff and subsequent arrest were told in last evenings's News. He denied to Deputy Hoagland that he had a revolver, but when the weapon was found in his coat pocket, he said he told a lie because he was afraid he would put in jail. His parents though he was dangerous and desired his incarceration. He was therefore ordered sent to the asylum.

WEDNESDAY

Several other checks passed by young Hammond, J. D. Parish's private secretary, turned up today, amounting in all to about $100.

John Fitzgerald and Mrs. Mary Sheedy have qualified in $12,000 as administrators of the estate of John Sheedy, deceased. Wm. McLaughlin, J. P. Sutton and John Fitzgeral are bondsmen.

An investigation is being made by officers of a case of maybe infanticide in West Lincoln. A baby was born to a family there about ten days ago, but died shortly after birth. It was interred in the rear of the house, without clothing, box or anything. The mother is in a critical condition.

The supreme court yesterday afternoon refused a new trial in the case of Sherman Davis, sentenced to eight years for the murder of Hames W. Harper, near Humboldt, Richardson county, Dec. 10, 1888, and he will have to serve his time. In the case of Wm. Davis, sent up from Greeley county for two years, on the charge of assault with intent to commit rape on a fifteen-year-old girl, the court found the evidence did not support the verdict, and the case was remanded.

Univinding the Skein.

Detective Malone is still hard at work on the Sheedy case, and day after day new shreds of evidence are gained, and step by step the tangled skein of testimony is being unwound.

The coroner's jury met again at 4 o'clock yesterday and the first witness called to the stand was John Klausner. He testified that three years ago he had worked for Sheedy, and he became acquainted with his wife. Of late witness has been employed in Brown's restaurant. About September 17 or 18 Mrs. Sheedy recommended witness to room with a nice young man named Walstrom. She said that the young man would be in town only a month or two and that he would pay the greater portion of the rent. Sometime afterward Mrs. Sheedy told witness that the reason she wanted him to room with Walstrom was because she wanted him to carry notes for her to Walstrom. Witness picked out room 11 in the Heater block. Walstrom paid most of the rent. Mrs. Sheedy sent the first note. It was about two weeks after the time that Walstrom and witness commenced rooming together. Mrs. Sheedy also sent lunches to Walstrom. There was cold chicken, salad, porter and wine in the baskets. The hired girl saw Mrs. Sheedy give these lunches to witness for Walstrom and the girl received the empty baskets afterwards. The hired girl also saw him receive notes for Walstrom. Mrs. Sheedy also sent a little satin ring pouch for Walstrom. This was about three weeks before witness saw Walstrom wearing the diamond ring. Walstrom claimed that the ring came to him through the express office.

On the night that Sheedy was shot at, Charley Carpenter, a saloonkeeper, came over to Walstrom's room and informed him about the assault. The day following the shooting Carpenter went to the place where the witness was attending the business college, and told him that Mrs. Sheedy had a note for him to carry to Walstrom. He carried one that day. No notes were carried within the week preceding the last assault on Sheedy. Mrs. Sheedy seemed to think a great deal of Walstrom. Walstrom told witness he was from Birmingham, Ala. That he had to leave that place because he got into trouble with a girl.

Mrs. Sheedy had told witness that she and her husband could not get along together and she wished to get a divorce. She said further to him that Sheedy was jealous. That one evening Sheedy became very angry because Walstrom spent the evening with his wife. Witness did not know personally of any criminal relations between Walstrom and Mrs. Sheedy. Witness never got into his room until midnight as he had work that kept him up late. One night he learned from the hired girl in the Heater block that a woman had been in the room with Walstrom, before witness came home. Did not learn who the woman was.

Mrs. Sheedy gave Klausner money at different times for carrying the letter back and forth between the two. The day after McFarland struck Sheedy with the cane Mrs. Sheedy sent the witness Klausner to Walstrom's to tell that young man that Mr. Sheedy was getting worse. After Sheedy died, Mrs. Sheedy sent the following message to Walstrom by Klausner: "Come to the funeral; If you don't I'll never think anything of you."

Klausner further testified that both Mrs. Sheedy and Walstrom always cautioned him not to let anybody else receive the notes entrusted to him.

He was put under $500 to appear as a witness and in [?] was taken to jail. Considerable sympathy was evinced for the young man, as he evidently was a willing witness, but had no friends or money to secure bail. His father lives near Emerald, but the boy is practically alone in the world, and trying to fit him self for business.

There was [?] slight ripple of excitement when Dr. Holyoke announced that Mrs. Sheedy would be the next witness. A moment afterwards he appeared, accompanied by Marshal Melick and her attorney, J. B Strode. She was dressed in black, her face partially covered by a black veil, through which, however, the flash of her dark eyes could be seen as question after question was launched at her, but which she refused to answer by advice of her counsel. Her face was rather pale, but her self possession was unruffled and she showed no signs of mental strain or worry.

Mr. Strode said that he refused to permit her to answer any questions now that she was a prisoner, and her life and liberty were at stake. He did so, not because the jury might convict her of any crime, but every word that she may utter even in her own behalf would be construed against her.

Chas. Carpenter, who was the first witness called when the inquest was begun, was recalled. His memory was visibly refreshed, and this time remembered having been sent by Mrs. Sheedy to tell Walstrom that her husband was dangerously injured. He thought that Walstrom was a relative of Mrs. Sheedy.

Dr. [Winne-?] was called this a. m. Was present at autopsy; revealed a fracture of skull, also fatty degeneration of the heart, brain and skull, aside from that were in a normal condition; do not think that Mr. Sheedy's death was the result of a blow; saw him before his death; and thought his symptoms resembled morphine poisoning; I saw no medicine administered; do not think that forty grains of sulphur is an overdose, as I have given that number at one time; no unusual amount of moisture of brain, a slight concussion of brain from a blow might produce vomiting; do not think that a delayed shock would produce death. Do not think that the condition of the heart had anything to do with his death, but think that if the heart had anything to do with the death the autopsy would have shown rupture of the heart.

Mrs. Chas. Carpenter - Live a few doors east of Sheedy residence; have known Mrs. Sheedy for six years; was not a confidant of Mrs. Sheedy; did not know anything of her family affairs; have met Mr. Walstrom three times, once at Mr. Sheedy's; twice at my own house; Mrs. Sheedy had been at my house twice when Mr. Walstrom was there; did not hear all of conversation; this was before Mr. Sheedy was shot at; about two weeks; Mrs. Sheedy referred to Mr. Walstrom as "a friend from Buffalo." do not know of their going to any place of amusement together; never saw anything out of the usual way between Mrs. Sheedy and Mr. Walstrom.

Mrs. James Hood -Know Mrs. Sheedy for four years; have never been a confidant. Mrs. Sheedy said that Mr. Sheedy was jealous and mean hearted; that he carried a revolver and she was afraid of her life, and that she would try to be separated. Mrs. Sheedy expected Walstrom; told witness so. Sheedy was mad about it but when Sheedy saw him he changed his mind and invited him to supper. Mrs. Sheedy and Mr. Walstrom visited witness' house together; witness thought Walstrom too fresh. Was with Mr. and Mrs. Sheedy on the night of the shooting; saw the assailant rise and run; did not know whether he was plain or colored; never have seen the colored hair dresser at Mrs. Sheedy's; Mrs. Sheedy said, after the shooting, that nobody would accuse. Harry (Walstrom) of the shooting, as he was at work that night.

Miss Hood -Know Mrs. Sheedy four or five years; on good terms with her, but not a confident, know Mrs. and Mr. Sheedy had some trouble after her return from New York but do not know the nature of the trouble, except that Mrs. Sheedy threatened to leave him, as she could live with him no longer. Had heard Mrs. Sheedy call Walstrom "sweetheart" on several occasions.

Harry Shaeffer was at Sheedy's after he was knocked down. Mrs. Sheedy remarked after kissing his hand "If John dies it will kill me." She then said that she didn't think the blow was hard enough to kill him, but she thought that the doctors were trying to get him out of the way, and were giving him something to take him off. Don't know that Mrs. Sheedy administered any medicine to him.

Witness was fourth person at Sheedy's after the slugging, and held wash-bowl while the wound was washed.

C. R. Teas, agent Wells-Fargo, testified to two packages to Walstrom, one on Dec. 31, and the other Dec. 2d. No record of any package of value being received by Walstrom throughout office.

John Klareger recalled - saw Walstrom with ring three or four weeks before Christmas, said it came from home by express, tried to put on but could not, too small, am positive that Walstrom said the ring came by express.

Dr. O'Gorman, recalled - Was at autopsy, saw no abnormality except the degeneration of the hear; noticed a slight congestion of back of brain, no clots, lungs congested by embalming fluid. Do not think that the blow caused Sheedy's death, directly, in the absence of any other cause the blow killed. Was at Sheedy's while he was in comatose condition; his condition was that of a person who had been administered compound poison.

Adjourned to 3:30.

A curious part of the affair is the alleged fact that, notwithstanding Dennis Sheedy and Attorney D. G. Courtnay made a thorough examination of the effects and papers of the deceased, not a cent of money could be found, there was no record of any bank account nore mortgages. Mr. Sheedy always carried large amounts of money with him, and one of his intimate friends is authority for the statement that on the Saturday before the assault Sheedy had $5000 in his possession.

Col. C. B. Pickerell of Seward has known Mrs. Sheedy from childhood, and two brothers, Marion and Warren Habriel, were members of his company in the late war. According to his story, the matrimonial lives of the family were remarkable for their roughness. Marion, Warren, Aaron and Rule all separated from their wives. The two last named resided for a time in York, but are now in David City. He says both of the sisters parted from their husband got a divorce, afterwards remarrying. Gabriel, sentor, died, and the mother married a man named Richardson, but left him after a time.

All three of the prisoners, Monday McFarland, Walstrom and Mrs. Sheedy, were arraigned before Judge Houston and entered pleas of not guilty to murder in the first degree. All are in the county jail.

Charge Perjury and Fraud.

The Missouri Pacific Railway company filed a petition in district court yesterday against Gottieb Wenninger, setting forth the filing of petition and subsequent pleadings, the trial, verdict, motion for trial, and judgement in the case of Wenninger against said railroad, which was tried last summer in the district court and where in Wenninger obtained a judgement for $9,500. This petition sets up that Wenninger claimed he was injured by reason of his horses being scared by the engines of plaintiff, when in fact hsi injury resulted from the breaking of the hay rack that he was riding on which was old and rotten, that Wenninger swore the allegations of said petition were true when the same were wholly false. That on the trial of the case he swore falsely and that one W. T. Sawyer, who by agreement with Wenninger was to receive a large part of the judgement obtained, was guilty of subornation of perjury and who swore falsely on the trial of the case, and who before the same came to trial, destroyed the hay rack on which Wenninger was riding when he received his injuries, so that the same could not be introduced in evidence. Plaintiff further alleges that said judgement was obtained by fraud deceit and false and perjured statements of plaintiff and some of his witnesses, and that said Winninger, his attorneys and said W. T. Sawyer entered into a conspiracy and agreement to cheat and defraud his plaintiff out of said money. That plaintiff has discovered these facts since the rendition of said judgement and did not know of the same before the said judgement was rendered wherefore it prays that said Wenninges be enjoined [?] collecting or attempting to collect or enforce the payment of sale judgement until the final hearing of this cause and that on said final hearing sale injunction may be made perpetual and that said judgement be decreed to be null and void.

Samuel J. Miller filed yesterday against Whitfield Fanford, et al., wherein he alleges that he is owner and entitled to the immediate possession of the north west quarter of section 6, town 12, range 6, in Lancaster county. That on May [2-?] 1888, there was filed in the office of the Register of Deeds office a deed for said laud purporting to come from plaintiff and wife to one Lundgren, but plaintiff alleges that he or his wife never signed the same and that the same is utterly void. That subsequently there was filed a deed purporting to convey said land from Lundgren never signed the same or knew of its existence, and the said deed has no force to coney [sa-land?], wherefore plaintiff prays that Sanford may be ousted there from and plaintiff be decreed to have possession; then the title be quieted in plaintiff and then he may have judgment against Sanford for the sum of $600, rents and profits.

This Morning's Session.

There was an increased attendance in the house gallery this morning in anticipation of some interesting action on the contest. Both the gallery and [?] were filled and the gatekeepers [?] exercising their authority as to admissions.

So soon as the roll had been called to the convention opened for business Shrader was on his feet with a resolution as follows:

Whereas, There are certain members of this joint convention in doubt [?] to the constitutionality of our [proc-ure?], without the signature of the [def-?] governor and lieutenant governor of the state to the joint resolution, by which we are convened, and

Whereas, There is a general [de-?] among such members to have the construction of the honorable supreme court upon the matter. Therefore be it

Resolved, That the speaker of house appoint a committee of [thre-?] wait upon the honorable justice of the supreme court, and ask for an immediate opinion as to whether or not it is [n-sary?] to the validity of the concurrent resolution, or the proceedings in contests that such resolution be [-sented?] to either the acting, or [de-?] governor, or defacto lieutenant governor each of whose officers are being [?] tested, and are mentioned and are

SWIFT PUNISHMENT.

The terrible deed which for the past week has been shrouded in such deep mystery but now being fathomed and suspicious participants taken into custody is a murderous crime of such atrocious character that it may be classed among the most sensational tragedies of moderns times. The details as testimony of almost positive guilt reveal In a greater or less degree of at least four persons, are horrible in the extreme and furnish proof of human depravity that passes belief and the trial will doubtless disclose scenes equal to the blood-curdling acts that developed in the fiendish brutal and fatal assault on Cronin, who became the voluntary victim of a terrible death from various friends and traitors. The secret plotting in this Instance in which the victim te accused by the villainous conniving of his own wife, ex-exposes the vile character of a monster calloused soul that would dare heaven and defy God. A deed of such devilish intent to fall of detection by skillful physician and passed without awakening suspicious of an unusually intelligent corners jury must have been devilishly conceived. If one line or sentence in a dozen of what has been stated by the debauched and debased; prisoner, McFarland, who acknowledged he struck the fatal blow, can be relied upon, there re terrible consequences in waiting for the author of this awful crime. Lincoln has witnessed a number of violent deaths, but none equaled in horrible details the manner of this last Lucretia Borgia act. Mr. Sheedy was in the way and must be removed, to satisfy the incurable desire and-passion of a pirate whose base propensities now riot in fear of swift judgment and death, instead of the coveted prey of earthly wealth.

On Trial for Their Lives. The preliminary hearing of Mrs. Mary Sheedy, A. H. Walstrom and Monday McFarland was begun before Judge Houston in the big district courtroom this morning. The state was represented by County Attorney Snell and F. M. Hall and the defense by J. B. Strode and J. E. Philpott. Although the examination did not begin until 10:30 o'clock, the courtroom was crowded by 9 o'clock. There were not over a dozen women present, but the men literally climbed over one another in their desire to see the prisoners. The crowd pressed against the big railing until it cracked ominously, and the court was compelled to back. Mrs. Sheedy was accompanied by her two sisters, Mrs. Dean of this city and Mrs. Baker of Western, Neb. Mr. Baker was also present. Walstrom and McFarland had been kept in the judge's private office since 8 o'clock, but Mrs. Sheedy was brought directly from the hall. She was very pale, and at the close of the morning, session was evidently suffering from nervous prostration and tottered as she walked on the arms, of her sisters. All were brought in through a rear door guarded by Officer Keaney. The courtroom, although crowded, had very few ladles In the audience and they sat so far back In the room that they could not see or hear. Judge House Informed the crowd that any disturbance In the room would be punished by a short or long (according to the size of the disturbance) stay in jail. Mr. Strode waived all formalities and allowed the examination to proceed. Dr. Everett was the first witness called. He tested as to who were present at the Sheedy residence after the blow had been struck. He had been in the house but a short time before Dr. Hart came he described the wound as the result of a blow. At 1 o'clock Mr. Sheedy was perfectly unconscious; thought has condition indicated that same poison or narcotic had been administered. At the autopsy, the brain was found to be perfectly sound, no cloth or other indication of having been injured by a blow. He was not able to state what caused Mr. Sheedy's death but thought that it resulted from the injury over the eye. The symptoms were those of morphine poisoning. Dr. Hart 'was then called. Among other things he said that he gave Mr. Sheedy medicine about 12 o'clock, and had it put In coffee, which was prepared by Mrs. Sheedy, who brought it into the room. The doctor put the medicine in the coffee and Mrs. Sheedy gave ber husband the dose of coffee-clear-and the medicine. Dr. Casebeer was the next witness, but as he did not see Mrs. Sheedy before her husband died, he did not throw any light on the mystery. H. Goldwater, a pawnbroker, was called. Knew Monday McFarland. Had him a cane one afternoon a few before Sheedy was struck. Witness has bought the cane of an ex-convict. He positively identified the cane because of he had mended it by driving in the head a half dozen tacks. The head came off and it was mended by tackling it on. Officer Malone brought the cane to me Saturday night after Sheedy was hurt and I recognized the cane by taking the top off where I had tacked it on and I saw that the ferrule at the small end was off. Goldwater was pat through a searching cross-examination but proved a valuable witness for the state. An adjournment was then taken until half-past, one. Dr. Besohley was examined this afternoon. Had examined organs of deceased. Found a place of bone an inch by an inch and a half-broken near left eye held only by tissue. In examing brain, he found a small amount of blood between skull snd membrane. Not a clot; caused by his lying on his hack after death. Brain healthy condition, kidneys normal, walls normal heart Bomewhat flabby. Removed stomach and turned it over to coroner. Did not see Sheedy before he died. Do not think the blow killed him. Do not think the condition of heart had anything to do with death. Heart weighed 22 1/2 ounces; normal heart weighs 15 to 16 ounces, walls thickest on right side.