The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-07-28
Best. work.
Death or an Innocent Man in the
Penitentiary.

In the year 1853, three brothers by the
name CT Shea; Patrick, john and Dennis,
living in the county of Deaegal Ireland
having heard OF a land of liberty, where the
down-troddcn and oppressed OF all nations:
are received and welcomed, tore themselves
away from their aged parents, the scenes of
their childhood and the land of their birth,
with theintention ofmaking enough money to
bring their beloved parents to the country of
their intended adoption. Two Of them were
men, but the Dennis the hope and pride of
his aged parents, was but boy ofseventeen
years, full OF youthful ardor. After receiv-
ing the blessing of their parents, they cross
sed the ocean and landed in New York.
They shortly started to find employment
The eldest stopped in New Jersey; the next
found n place in Pennsylvania, and Dennis
came 10 Ohio with an acquaintance, and
found his way TO one OF our public works,
near Athe :, where there were n number of
his counirynan employed.
Sot long after lac arrived, on one oil their
holydays, two or three citizens were passing
along the road and found Dennis Shea, with
dying man alta spring. Dennis had carried
him there and was engaged in washing his
face and cooling the temples OF his dying
countryman. Those who found him in this
position, charged him with murder, arrested
him and conveyed him 10 Athens and lodged
him in Jail The man died without being
able TO communicate any OF the facts OF the
case, and the story of poor Dennis was not
hclivci. He was tried ut the March term
of the court in that county, 1854, found guilty
OF murder in the second degree and sentenced
TO the Ohio Pcuitentiary tor life. lie arriv-
ed there on the llth of April following, at
that time but eighteen years of age
Immediately after his confinement he began
to dwindle away, and he told the narrator of
these facts, that he could not survive year,
! and wished his brothers TO be kept ignorant
of his misfortune and disgrace.
/ In the month of September following, he
/ took his bed, and sent message 10 our in
! formani fIe wished for Priest, said he
I could not die without making his peace with
God.
, Father Meaher was send for and in the
presence of the warden, NJ. Wilson, snd
onr informant, he told his simple story.
The dying boy was shrived by the
priest of his relgion--said that he would
now die in peace, and in few moments ali
was over.
He stated on his death bed, land it is SUBJ
stantiated 10y Lot l.. Smith, Esq, a lawyer
of Athens, aud formerly Private Secretary 10
Gov. Medill,) that there existed an old feud
between what they call tlN Far-downs and
Corkonians- that few them had met near
the Spring on that day in the absence Of
Dennis, and had fight, when they left this
man for dead and made good their escape
Dennis came along short time after
wards, and found him, dragged him to th.
spring, and like the ''Good Samaritan, wa:
trying TO restore consciousness TO the dying
man, when he was caugth.in hte charitable
act--his story Observation-Disclosures through
the form of trial-without money and
friends, and sentenced, at the youthful az,
of eighteen, TO drag out miserable ex,
istcnce within the gloomy walls of the Ohio
Penitentiary-and innocent, too. Who won
ders that lie sickened-that he died?
At the request Of the dying boy, our in
formdnt wrote to his parents, informing then
of the untimely end Of their darling child
aud who can realize or appreciate the agoniz
ing, hea:t-rending sorrow of the aged
parents rs their 'grey hairs 60 down in sor
row TO the grave - Columbus journal.