The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-08-04
NO. XIII.
Death Of am Innocent MAN in tire
Pcni ,cMtidry.
[From til, Columbu. Journal. July cal


In the year 1853. three brothers by the name
of Shea Patrick, John and Dennis. living ia
the county at Donegal, Ireland, having heard OF
land OF liberty, where thu down troddsn and
oppressed ul all nations are received and wei
coined, tors themselves uwey from their aged
parents the scenes Ot their childhood end 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
"t them were m'n, but Dennis, tha hope and
pride of his aged parents, wBs out boy OF
seventeen years, full OF youthful Sdor After
receiving the blessing of thsir parents, they
crossed the ocean aud landed in New York
They shortly started to hu1 employment. The
eldest stopped in New jersey the next found
place in-PennsyIvania, aud Denu,s came to
ONO with an acquaintance. and found his way
to one of our public works, neOr Athens, where
there were a number OF his countrymen sm-
poyed.
Not long after he arrived, on one Of their holy
days Vwo Or threo citizens were passing along
the road aud found Dennis Shea, with dying
man at spring. Dennis had carried him there
nnd was engaged in washing HI, face and cool
ing ths temples OF his dying cuuulryman. Those
who found him in this position, charged him
with murder. arrested him and conveyed HIM
to Athens and lodged him in Jail The man
died without being able 10 communicate any OF
the facts of the case, ANA the story Of poor Dem
mis- was not believed. He was tried nt the March
term OF the Court in that county, 1884, found
guilty Of murder in the second degree, and SEN
tcncsd TO the Ohio P1uitenliary ior life. He
arrived there on the llth ol April following, nt
that time but eighteen years Of age. lmnedi-
ately after his confinement he began to dwindle
away, and he told { narrator of those facts.
that he could not survive a year. and wished
his brothers to be kept ignorant OF his msior-
| tune and disgrace.
In the month OF September following, he took
his bad, and sent message to our informant.
He wished for Priest, said no could not die
without making his pcacs with God.
Father Maaher was sent for. aud in ths pras-
cnce of the warden, MIR. Wilson, and our irfor-
ment he told his simple story. This dying boy
was shrlved by the Priest OF his religion--said
that he would die in peace, and in law mo-
mcnts all was over
lie stated on his death bed (and ii is substan-
tiated by Lot l. Smyth, Esq lawyer of Athens
aud formerly Private Secretary to Gov. Medill }
that there existed an old ieul between what they
call the Far-downs and Corkonians--that a few
of them had met near the spring on that day in
the absence of D.nns aud had fight, when
| they left lhiS man Tor dead aud made good their
escape.
Dennis came along q short time afterwards,
AMI found hun, dragged him to the spting and :.
like the " Good Samaritan was trying to res
tore consciousness TO tho dying man. when he
was caught IN the charitable act--hs story dis
creGiled-hurred through the form Of trial
without money aud without friends, and sem
fenced at the youthful age OF eighteen, to drag
out a miserable existence within the gloomy
walls of tie U.io Pententiary-- innocent.
too. Who wonders that he SickeuOd--that he
died
At the request of the dying boy our inform
ant wrote to his parents, informing them OF the
untmely end OF their darling child, and who
Gun realize or appreciate the agoazing, hoart-
rendng sorrow OF the sEed parents as their
"grey hairs go down in sorrow TO the grave p