68

A SUSPECT IN LIMBO.
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Monday MoFarland in Custo-
dy for Sheed'y Murder.
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A Colored Barber Accused of
Giving the Death-blow
to John Sheedy.
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Suspicious Circumstances Point to
Him as Knowing Something of
Last Week's Crime.
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The Tell-tale Cane.
About 7:30 last evening Marshal
Melick and an officer arrested Monday
McFarland on suspicion of being the
murderer of John Sheedy on Sunday
night last.
McFarland is a colored barber who
for the past four or five years stood a
chair in the barber shop adjoining Lan
der's saloon at the corner of Tenth and
P street, but who recently moved his
tools to bassmen shopt on P street
between Ninth and Tenth.
The Suspicion that prompted the ar-
rest of McFarland on this charge seem
damaging. to the least. It will be
remembered that the assault mad up
on Sheedy at his doorstep last Sunday
night was inflicted with a heavy leather
cane, the metal top of which was gone.
This cane was found by the officers in
their search immediately following the
blow. It was recovered on the porch,
the heavy end much bent by the terrific
blow that was administered with it.
When taken to the police station it
was remarked that the case resembled
very much one that had been previous-
ly owned by Capt. Carder. but which
had been stolen. Subsequently H.
Goldater. a pawn broker. identified
the cane as one he had purchased and
again sold. He remembered having
sold this cane, or one very like it . to the
colored barber McFarland. This was
the first clue that has yet been regarded
as a satisfactory one pointing to the
apprehension of anyone connected
with the murder. Consequently his
arrest followed.
Prior to his arrest it was learned that
on Sunday night he had left his wife
with a colored family named Bottes and
in returning to the Botts house after his
wife. had changed coats with another
party, for reasons not exactly plain to
the officers.
In a consultation with him as to his
whereabouts on the night of the crime,
he averred that he as at his father-
in law's house in the vicinity
of Twenty-six and Vine street at about
7 o'clock, by that when returning home
heard pistol shots and thought it was
officers flring at someone, though his
curiosity was not aroused suffciently to
see what it was all about. In this con-
nection he also made statements contr-
dietory in themselves.
After the death of Sheedu he went to
Sweeny's barber shop and told the pro-
proetor that Mrs. Sheedy had sent him
after John's cup, ostensibily to make be-
lieve that he was to share the corpee.
This cup was found last evening hid-
den awy anong other of the pioners's
effects and it is thought this is a dark
trick.
The accused is about 80 years of age
and has resetled here for many years.
He could not hav had a better friend
that John Sheedy, whose work he did
for long time. He was also called to
the residence of Mr. Sheedy ofter, it
is claimed, to dress Mr. Sheedy's hair
and the couple regarded him as a trusty
worth servent.
The question of what