Gilded Age Newspaper Articles

FORMAL CHARGE OF MURDER

Information filed Against, Monday McFarland and Mrs. Sheedy.

THE INDICTMENT CONTAINS SIX COUNTS.

A Divorce Case That was Suppressed, But Finally Came Out-Testing the Slocumb Law - Odds and Ends.

LINCOLN, Neb., March 12, - [Special to THE BEE.] - County Attorney Snell filed this morning in the district court an information charging Monday McFarland and Mrs. Mary Sheedy with murder in the first degree and accessory before the fact. There are six counts in all, heavily laden with legal verbiage and which consume about a dozen pages of type written copy. The counts practically are as follows:

1. Monday McFarland and Mrs. Sheedy are charged with conspiring, combining, confederating and agreeing together to unlawfully, knowingly, purposely and feloniously and with deliberate and premeditated malice kill and murder John Sheedy, by an assault with a cane and that afterwards four grains of morphine were administered.

2. McFarland is charged with making an assault with a cane and Mrs. Sheedy with aiding, abetting and procuring him to poison John Sheedy.

3. This count charges McFarland with an assault with a cane and Mrs. Sheedy with aiding, abetting and procuring him to do so.

4. That in some manner unknown, four grains of morphine were administered to John Sheedy, and McFarland is charged with aiding, abetting and procuring Mrs. Sheedy to administer the same to John Sheedy.

5. That McFarland committed the assault with a cane and that both he and Mrs. Sheedy administered morphine.

6. This count charges that John Sheedy came to his death by a blow from a cane and that McFarland and Mrs. Sheedy, the accused, were the principals in committing the assault.

The county attorney was forced to file this information, as the district judge declared that he would admit Mrs. Sheedy to bail if an information was not filed before 3 p.m.

Coroner Holyoke says that the four grains of morphine mentioned must be a guess, because as far as he knows the chemist at Ann Arbor has not yet reported the result of the analysis.

FIRE IN THE SHEEDY PROPERTY.

The fire department was called out about 7:30 last evening to subdue a lively little blaze in the Hotel Mack. The property is unoccupied, save by a watchman named Kane, who told the firemen that while he was behind the counter with a lamp the [?] exploded and the burning oil caused the blaze. The fire was speedily quenched, but on investigation the firemen could find no traces of the lamp. Kane is said to have been drinking during the evening, and the story of the lamp explosion is not regarded as being a truthful one. The hotel belongs to the Sheedy estate and $200 will repair the damage.

RECORD OF OMAHA'S MURDERS

Crime That Have Been Committed in the Last Twenty Years.

MEN WHO HAVE ESCAPED CONVICTION.

The Last of Lifetakers Includes Murderers of Babes and the Slayers of Age-Enfeebled Men.

The escape from punishment of the man who is pretty well known by the authorities to have been the murderer of Charley Poor, the laundryman, recalls a long list of murders that have been committed in Omaha and Douglas county in the past twenty years and it is interesting to note the proportion of convictions and acquittals in prominent murder cases.

One Friday morning in May, 1872, Albert Jones, a colored man accumulated a large sized jag, and with the avowed intention of doing up the town wandered down to North Eleventh street. He visited a questionable resort kept by one Kate McNarama. There he raised a row and was stabbed by the woman. The next day he died from the effects of the wound. The McNamara woman was arrested charged with manslaughter. On the trial she was proven guilty and sentenced to a term of five years in the penitentiary.

In 1978 there was a beer garden running in full blast on South Thirteenth street. Sunday night dances were all the rage and in September of that year, while one of the dances was in progress, Austin Kotixa visited the place. He danced a number of times and drank beer until he was very noisy. About this time he fell in with Anton Moestrick and a fight followed. The two men were parted, but not until Kotiza rushed out a door, exclaiming, "I am stabbed!" He went into the saloon and expired before medical aid could be summoned. Maestrick was arrested, tried and convicted at the October term of the court. He was sentenced to twenty years in the penitentiary.

Six days after he commiisson of this murder another was committed. Morris Weihl arrived in the city from Texas and registered at the old Metropolitan hotel on lower Doughlas street. The next day he met James Burke, a noted gambler, who induced him to go to Byron Clark's billiard parlor on South Thirteenth street. The two men engaged in a game of pin pool. A dispute arose over who should pay for one of the games. The two men parted, but later in the day they met, when Burke placed his revolver against Weihl's breast and fired. Burke was arrested and as at the trial he plead insanity, but for all of that was convicted of murder in the second degree and given twelve years' term.

A somewhat peculiar murder was commitied April 15, 1879. Perry McCormick was in James Davis' pawn shop buying some cartridges for his revolver. A discussion over the price resulted in the parties indulging in a quarrel, but finally McCormick bought the goods, paid for them and backed towards the door with his gun in his hand, threatening at every step to shoot. Mrs. Davis, who was in the store at the time thought that both she and her husband were going to be killed, seized a revolver and fired at McCormick, the bullet inflicting a serious wound. Almost instantly her husband fired, but the ball went wide of its mark. The wounded man died the next day, and both Davis and his wife was arrested. The trial was held at the June term of court, 1879. The jury was out eighteen hours, but failing to agree was discharged. At a second trial a verdict of "not guilty" was rendered.

One of the most dastardly murders in the history of the country was the killing of Watson B. Smith, on November 4, 1881. Smith was clerk of the United States circuit court. Shortly after 7 o'clock of that evening he left his home in the north part of the city, intending to go to the government building, where he had some business to look after. At midnight his mother, who was alone in her home, became anxious on account of her son's long absence and telephoned Kuhn's drug store requesting Mr. Kuhn to go to, Mr. Smith's office and ascertain if he was there. Mr. Kuhn accordingly proceeded to the third floor, groping his way through the darkness to the door of the office where Mr. Smith transacted his business. As he placed his hand on the door-knob, his foot struck an object on the floor, and stooping over his hand came in contact with the cold hand of a man. Without stopping to investigate he rushed down stairs and into the street, where he met Officer O'Donahue. Dr. Moore was summoned and together the three men proceeded to the government building, where the officer lit the gas. A terrible sight met their gaze. There on the cold stone floor lay the dead body of Watson Smith with a bullet note through his head. There was no evidence of who committed the crime. The revolver, a new British bull-dog, was found in Smith's pocket, evidently having been placed there by the murderer after the fatal shot had been fired. The murderer was the only witness to the crime, as the building was practically deserted after midnight. Night Watchman Kinneston, who was on the first floor, heard the pistol shot, but supposing it was fired at some saloon nearby, did not investigate. Excitement was at a high pitch. Large rewards were offered for the detection of the murderer, byt up to this day he has not been apprehended.

In the fall of 1885 a murder was committed that was for many days the talk of the town. John W. Lauer and wife lived near Twenty-sixth and Leavenworth streets. They did not get along well together and family rows were of frequent occurrence. One night Mrs. Lauer was killed by her husband. His story of the crime as given on the trial was substantially as follows: He was asleep, and during the night Mrs. Lauer got up, presumably for the purpose of going to the kitchen. As she was returning, the husband was awakened, and seeing a form at the door, drew his revolver from under the pillow and fired. The woman was shot through the heart. She fell to the floor and expired before physicians arrived. Lauer was arrested, tried and conviected of murder in the first degree. His attorneys secured a new trial and he was acquitted.

The old St. James hotel on lower Douglas street was the scene of a cold-blooded murder. In early days a saloon was run in connection with the house, and in 1885 a young man, Harry S. Verpootem, tended the bar. Among his friends he counted Thomas Ballard. The young men were about the same age, and when not at work, were [?] always together. Strange to say, they both fell desperately in love with a Mrs. Damon, and March 16 of that year, while Ballard was in the saloon, he accused Verpoorten resented and some warm words followed, which ended by Ballard drawing a revolver and shooting Verpoorten dead. The murderer was arrested and tried at the fall term of the court. The jury was in charge of Louis Grebe, and after being out seventy-two hours returned a verdict of guilty. Ballard was given a life term and on March 16 of each year he is placed in solitary confinement.

Walter Buckle was shot and killed October 29, 1885, but the man who took his life was voted a hero instead of a murderer. It happened like this: M. L. Woodbridge was a car driver on the North Twenty-fourth street horse car lone. Late at night, when it was raining very hard, Ruckle bearded the car and rode out toward Lake street. After the car turned onto Twenty-sixth street he went to the front end and, holding a gun to Woodbridge's head, demanded the cash box. The driver was a plucky fellow, and knocking Ruckle's hand down, seized the revolver and shot him through the heart. He then went to the police station, notified the officers and surrendered. The next day an inquest was held, the usual verdict was rendered, but a clause was added recommending Woodbridge for promotion.

Sunday evening, November 1, 1885, Charles Leslie was shot by R. L. Powell at the church door in the little town of Florence. Powell was twice tried on the charge of murder and twice did the jury disagree, after which he was discharged and the case dismissed from the docket.

The facts were these: North of the young men were secretly paying some attention to a married woman of the town, and both were insanely jealous.

The Sunday evening in question, young Leslie and his mother attended church, and after the close of the [?] he was pounced upon by a lot of young fellows and killed. The evidence was [?] a conflicting nature that the state could not convince the jury that Powell was guilty.

In 1887 there was a small frame shanty standing just opposite Hessler's hall on South Thirteenth street. In this house there lived a man named W. W. Lynch. In the spring of that year a Mrs. Peter Litz came to Omaha, and soon after took up with Lynch and went to living with him. October 8 her husband arrived from Iowa, and as soon as he learned of her whereabouts, called. He was met at the door by Lynch, who denied him admission, and at the same time refused to allow him to see his wife. Lutz tried to push in the door, when Lynch dealt him a heavy blow in the moth. Lutz then stepped back, drew his revolver and shot Lynch before he could move out of his tracks. The trial resulted in a n acquittal after the jury had been out a few hours.

Early on the morning of February 16, 1888, Ole Oleson, a milk man, was shot and killed at Fourteenth and Dodge streets by William Ferguson, a colored man. In those days the saloons were run wide open from sun till sun. This morning a row was in progress. Ferguson was armed with a Zulu gun and swore he would shoot the first man who crossed his path. Oleson knew nothing of the row when he drove up. After hitching his horse he went into the saloon to buy a glass of beer. As soon as he drank it he went out and was in the act of unhitching his team when Ferguson fired, killing him instantly. The negro was tried, convicted and sentenced to do a ninety-nine year term.

Ten days later John McNulty was murdered in South Omaha by Henry Bell. Bell was a cook at the hotel where McNulty boarded, and because the pan cakes were burned McNulty found fault. This made bell angry and a row ensued, during which McNulty was shot and killed. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to fifteen years in the penitentiary, where he now acts in the capacity of one of the prison cooks.

March 3, 1888, Helen Howard, a beautiful young girl, met her death in a wine room at Fourteenth and Howard streets. She resided with her parents on North Seventeenth, but as she was inclined to be rather fast, was in the habit of visiting wine rooms in company with young men of the city. On this occasion she was with Frank Ryan. Both were intoxicated, when the report of a revolver sounded from the wine room in the rear of the saloon. The barkeeper rush in to find the girl dead, with a bullet in her brain. Ryan was arrested, and swore that at the time of the killing the girl was attempting to take the revolver from him and in the scuffle it was discharged. There were no other witnesses, and as a result he was acquitted.

Dennis Quinian was murdered at Mueller's park, on vinted street, May 15, 1887, A dance was going on in Mueller's park and a row was in Mueller's park and a row was in progress on the outside, in which both Quintan, the murdered man, and Charles Vollmer were engaged. Finally Vollmer drew him revolver and fired into the crowd. The ball struck Quintan and he died almost instantly. Volimer was arrested, and at the trial was convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for life, with the additional sentence that May 15 of each year he should spend the day in solitary confinement. Judge Estelle moved for a new trial, which was overruled. He then appealed to the supreme court, where the judgment of the lower court was set aside and the case sent back for a rehearing. At the next trial Volimer was acquitted.

Walter Durham was murdered in Herman Mittman's saloon at Millard, September 22, 1886. Durham and a lot of other graders were in the saloon, when the proprietor ordered them out. They refused to go, when Mittman reached down and grabbed his shotgun. The graders saw the move and made a jump for him, but before they could get behind the bar he fired, and Durham fell dead with a charge of duck shot in his breast. Mittman was arrested and held to answer, the bail being fixed at $5,000. Before court convened he skipped out and went to San Francisco, where he remained for a year before he was located. He was then brought back by Deputy Sheriff Grebe, and at the trial acquitted.

Undoubtedly the most sensational murder in the history of the city was committed on the morning of November 7, 1888. Henry W. King, of the firm of Browning, King & CO., had removed to Omaha but a few months before and was boarding at the paxton hotel. On that morning a woman heavily veiled called at the hotel and after ascertaining that Mr. King was there asked to be escorted to his room. A bell boy directed her to the door and a few moments later the report of a pistol rang through the corridors. Almost at the same instant Henry W. King started to walk down the broad staircase at the west end of the rotunda, but had proceeded scarcely a dozen steps before he fell on the first landing, a corpse, but not until another bullet was fired into his almost lifeless body. His murderess, Libbi Beechler, coolly walked down the stairs, over his body, and seating herself in a chair awaited the arrival of the police, who took her to jail, where she admitted that she shot King because he had married another woman. The trial, which last for several days resulted in a verdict of acquittal.

On the night of Decoration day, 1889, Nels Planteen, a young Swede, was foully murdered at Twentieth and Webster streets. Planteen and a number of companions had been playing pool in a saloon at the corner of Cuming and Twentieth streets. At midnight they left the saloon, the whole party going south. As they neared Webster street, they overtook George Meyer, who had been in the saloon during the early part of the evening. Some words passed between the parties, when Mayer drew a doorknob from his pocket and struck Planteen a blow in the forehead from the effect of which he died a few days later. Meyer was arrested, but on the trial the jury failed to agree. At the next trial the jury rendered a verdict of acquittal.

Following this came the murder of Dorathy and Allan Jones by Ed Neal, who is now in jail, awaiting the decision of the suspreme court. The facts connect with this murder are all fresh in the minds of the Omaha people, as are those connected with the Poor murder and those subsequently committed.

HOTEL.

The Murray, Cor. 14th and Harney, is the most substantially constructed Hotel Building in Omaha. Several heavy brick fire walls running from basement to roof. All the ceilings and floors lined with Asbestos fireproof lining, making it impossible to burn quick. Fire escapes and fire alarms throughout the building. Steam heat, hot and cold water and sunshine in every room. Table unsurpassed anywhere.

B. SILLOWAY, Prop.

HOTEL DELLONE.

Corner 14th and Capitol Avenue.

Just completed, has 100 rooms, three stairways, from the top to the bottom, has fine elevator and dinning room service, [?] fire proof throughout fine billiard rooms and the finest toilet rooms in the city. Large Sample rooms, Suites with bath & c. Cot 14th and Capitol Ave. Street car service in all directions. Rates from $2.50 to $4.00

Trade E. W. Mark [?] a new collar.

WOODBURY'S FACIAL SOAP For the Skin and Scalp.

Prepared by a Dermatologist with 20 years' experience. Unequaled for decades, [?] oily skin, flesh worms, chapped hands, excessive perspiration, ugly complection, etc. An unfailing remedy for all scalp affections and a sure preventive of all forms of skin diseases.

For Sale by Druggist or sent by mail, Prices 50 cents.

Facial Blemishes. [?] Book on dermatology and [?] 24 chapters, illustrated, on all skin and scalp affections and their treatment cost [?] for 10c. Consultations free at office or by letter.

JOHN H. WOODBURY, Dermatologist. 125 W. 42d St, New Your City.

Gonorrhea, Gleet and Leucurrhea cured in 2 days by the French Remedy entitled the King. It dissolves against and is absorbed into the inflamed parts. Will refund money if it does not cure or causes stricture. Gentlemen, here is a reliable article. $3 a package or 2 for $5 for amil prepaid. McCormick & Lund, Omaha; C. A. Mecher, Howard Meyer, and E. J. Seykora. South Omaha; A. D. Foster and M. P. Ellis, Council Bluffs.

FOUND NO TRACE OF POISON.

Report of the Chemlet's Investigation of Sheedy's Murder.

THEORY AS TO THE CAUSE OF HIS DEATH.

A Negro's Frightful Fall--Bank Examiner Brink Reagne---A Fractured Skull---Died on the Streey---State News.

LINCOLN, NEb., April 9.---[Special Telegram to THE BEN.]---The chemist at Ann Arbor to whom was submitted an analysis of the contents of the stomach of John Sheedy, the murdered man, has finally completed his work and reported. The result is one that will probably save Mrs. Sheedy from a felon's punishment, as the chemist declares that there was no trace whatever of poison in the stomach of the murdered man. He adds, however, that morphine might have been given, but as the evidences of that drug pass away in a few hours of course he could find no trace of it in the stomach. It is therefore thought that the death of Sheedy was caused either by morphine or by the blow from the cane in the hands of Monday McFarland.

One or two of the physicians who saw Sheedy before his death declared that he showed evidence of morphine poisoning. As the physicians who held the post mortem found no blood clot in the brain the morphine poisoning theory is thought to be the correct one, but as there is nothing to prove it Mrs. Sheedy will probably go free.

FROM THE STATE CAPITAL

Speculation as to How the Sheedy Trial Will Be Conducted.

DEFENSE WILL WORK HARD FOR ACQUITTAL.

Police Appointments by the Excise Board---A Compromise Verdict by the Jury is the Edney Baum Case.

LINCOLN, Neb., April 27---[Special to THE BEE.]---The attorneys for Mrs. Sheedy will, it is reported, make a desperate fight for her acquittal in her trial for the murder of her husband. In addition to the glory of winning the case of her attorneys have the prospect of winning a big fee, and it all depends on whether she is acquitted or convicted. In case of conviction her attorneys will not get anything, as then Mrs. Sheedy will have no claim whatever to the money of the estate. If she is acquitted she will get the bulk of her murdered husband's property and will, it is believed, deal liberally with her attorney's.

Considerable, it is said, depends on the action of Monday McFarland's attorney. It is believed that they will have him plead not guilty, and Mrs. Sheedy's attorneys believe that in case he so pleads and reforms to go on the stand that Mrs. Sheedy will be saved from conviction.

The prosecution, however, declared that the confession of the negro to Mayer Graham and the police officers will go in as evidence even if McFarland does refuse to appear on the witness stand.

A belief is gaining ground in Lincoln that a scapegoat is to be made of the negro--in other words that he is to be hung, while Mrs. Sheedy will go free.

There is, however, some very strong evidence said to be held back that will create something of a sensation when produced.