The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-19

HoRRIp MuRpER.-About five O'Clock on Tues
day afternoon, Alderman Potter, Of Spring Gar
den, was called upon, and information given that
murder had been perpetraied IN house upon Schuy-
kill, Fourth street, near the Pfeston Re reat The
Alderman Immediately proceeded thither, and on at
tempting TO enter the dwelling by the front door,
found locked but after delay and parIey with
one OF the inmates, sdms iou was obtained al the
back door
In the second story bedstead upon the sock.
ing bottom Of which (there being bed upon it) lay
extended the bocy Of Cominiok Sweeney, entirely
dves,ed Of clothing with the exception Of the Shirt
which asJ had been rudely off, and hung from
the right wrist, where II was buttoned Az the body
lay, wound apparently made by -hocmaker's
knife, visible upon the lefl side, below the ribs
"A severe diagonal cut upon The left arm, near the
wrist, and another Just under the hand The appear
ahce Of the body te>tifying that the man had been
murdered, the Alderman al once took into custody
his wife, Mrs. Sweeney, and her father and mother
VIM. and Ann Gillett The first named was intoxi-
Gated and had been the day previous, aid on be-
ing questioned admitted tina, she gave the deceased
stab
Upon the arrival Of the Coroner, the examination
OF the body was resumed, and severe wound was
found upon the back, midway down another upon
the right side under the armpit, and another the
same side below the ribs-all Of which were large
enough PERM. the Coroner to thrust his finger
them the whole length. Another flesh wound was
upon the breast bone, and another severe one
across the right arm.
The statements made by the wife and her parents
differ very much. We have given above one state
ment by the wife and she has said in addition that
the wound upon his left arm, caused by her try
ing TO wrest the knife from him while he was at
tempting to Nil himself Yesterday morning she
denied having st,bbed him, but afterwards said that
no one was in the room but herself and him when he
was killed.
The mother says he killed himsef-that she heard
fall up stairs, accompanied by cry Of " MURDER
from her daughter, and upon going up found Swee-
nsy lying upon the floor. The knife with which as
she averred, Sweeney had stabbed himself, was
found by Alderman Potter in the 10 er story with
the appearance of having just been washed
neighbor states that she heard cry Of murder,
apparently in mans voice, and that Immediately
after the brother Of Sweeneys wife came quickly
out Of the house, got bucket Of water, and went
back again This man has abscondcd, and has not
yet been arrested although the officers Of justice
hard upon hs heels.
The whole family have been, it is said, in the
habit Of getting intoxicated. Sweeney was shoe
maker, and was considered the most respectable
among them
The Coroner held an inques', and the jury return
ed verdict that Dom,nick Sweeney came TO his
death from wounds inflicted by the hand Of his wife,
or by the hand Of his wife and others y this last
clause being introduced in consequence Of the strong
belief entertained that the brother Of Mrs. Sweeney,
"h) has fled, acted principal part in the tragedy