The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-19
From he United STATES Ga:etle.

HoRRip MURpER.-About five O'Clock on Tues
day afternoon, Alderman Potter, of Spring Gar
den, was called upon, and information given that a
murder had been perpetraed in house upon Schuyl-
kill, Fourth street, near the Preston Retreat The
Alderman Immediately proceeded thither, and on at
tempting TO enter the dwelling by the front door,
found it locked, but after delay and parley with
one OF the inmates, admission was obtained at the
back door.
In the second story a bedstead upon the sack.
ing bottom Of which (there being bed upon it) lay
extended the body of Dominick Sweeney, entirely
divesed of clothing with the exception of the Shirt
which also bad been rudey torn of, and hung from
the right wrist where 1t was buttoned. As the body
lay, wound apparently made by shoemaker's
knife was visible upon the left side below the ribs
severe diagonal cut upon the left arm, near the
wrist and another just under the hand. The appear
Of the body testIfying that the man had been
murdered, the Alderman at once took into custody
his wife, Mrs. Sweeney, and her father and mother
VIM. and Ann Gett The first named was intoxi-
Gated, and had been the day previous, ard on be-
ing questioned, admitted that she gave the deceased
one stab
Upon the arrival of the Coroner, the examination
Of the body resumed, and q wound was
found upon the back midway down another upon
the right side, under the armpit, and another on the
same side, below the rbs-all of which were large
enough to permit the Coroner to thrust bis finger into
them the whole length. Another flesh wound was
seen upon the breast bone, and another severe one
across lhe right arm.
The statements made by the wife and her parents
differ very much We have given above ono state.
ment by the wife, and she has said, in addition, that
the wound upon his left ARM caused by her try.
ing TO wres the knife from him while he was at
tempting to kill himself Yesterday morning she
denied having st1bbed him, but afterwards said that
no one in the room but herself and him when he
was killed.
The mother says he killed himself-that she heard
a fall up stairs, accompanied by cry Of 4" MURDER
from her daughter, and upon going up found Swee-
ney lying upon the floor. The knife with which as
she overred, Sweeney had stabbed himself, was
found by Alderman Potter in the los err story with
the appearance of having just been washed.
A neg hbor states that she heard a cry Of murder,
apparently in mans voice, and that Immediately
after, the brother of Sweeney's wife came quickly
out of the house, got bucket of water, and went
back again. This man has absconded, and has not
yet been arrested, although the officers Of justice are
hard upon his heels
The whole family have been, it is said, in the
habit of getting intoxicated. Sweeney was a shoe
maker, and was considered the most respectable
among them.
The Coroner held an inques and the Jury return
ed verdict that Dominick Sweeney came to his
death from wounds inflicted by the hand of his wife
or by the hand of his wife and Others ~ this las
clause being introduced in consequence of the strong
belief entertained that the brother of Mrs Sweeney
who has fed, acted principal part in the tragedy.