The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-08-24
Dying Innocent IN the Penltentiary.

lying innocent IN the Penltenuary. |
From the Columbus CO., Journal, July ed.
In the year 1858, three brothers by the
name of Shea Patrick, John ind Dennis),
living in the County of Donegal, Ireland,
having heard of the land of liberty, where |
the down t-odden 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 the intention of making
enough money to bring their loved parents
to the country of their intended adoption
Two of them were men, but Dennis, the
hope and pride of his good parents, was
but boy of seventeen years, full of youth
full ardor. After receiving the blessing
of their parents, they crossed the ocean
and landed in New York. They shortly
started to find employment. The eldest
stopped in New Jersey, the next found a
place in Pennsylvania, and Dennis came
to Ohio with an acquaintance, and found
his way to one of our public works, near
Athens, where there were number of his
countrymen employed. .cs
Not long after he arrived, on one of
their holidays, two or three citizens were
passing along the road and found Dennis
Shea, with dying man, at spring. -
Dennis carried him there and was enga-
ged in washing his face and cooling the
temples Of his dying countryman.G Those
who found him in this position charged
him with the MURDER arrested him and
conveyed him to 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 believed. He was tried at the March
term of the Court in thatcounty in 1854,
found guilty of murder in the second deg
rec, and sentenced to the Ohio Peniten-
tiary for life. He arrived there OF the
llth of April following, at that time but
Is 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 wish.
ed his brothers to be kept ignorant of his
misfortune and disgrace,
In the month of September following
he took his bed, and sent message to oul
informant. He wished for Priest; sale
he would not die without making hi
peace with God.
Father Meaher was sent for, and in th
presence of the Warden, Mr. Wilson ani
our informant, he told his simple story
The dying boy was shrived by the Prizes
of his religion--said that he would nov
; die in peace, and in few moments all wa
, over.
:, He stated on his death bed, (and it
substantiated by Lot L. Smith, Esq,
lawyer of Athens, and formerly Privat
Secretary to Gov. MedilD, that there x
listed an old feud between what they ca
the Fardowns and Corkonians-that
few of them had met near the spriD
on that day, in the absence of Dennis, an
had fight, when they left this man fo
dead and made good their escape. ,t
i Dennis came along short time af.el
: ward, and found him, dragged him to th
spring. and like the Good Samaritan,
: was trying to restore consciousness
$ the dying man, when he was caught
the charitable act-his story discredite
! hurried through the form of trial
" without money and without friends, an
IS sentenced, at the youthful age of eightee
J. to drag out miserable existence with
the gloomy walls of the Ohio Penitentia1
s and innocent, too. Who wonders thi
: he sickened--that he died?