The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-08
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
THE SWEENEY HOM1OLDE.
vhe Invsstigatton by Coroner Danisls
Yhts Morning-The Testimony In Fall
THOMAS Dillon Discharged by tne

This morning at ten O'Clock, Coroner Daniels
held an inquest into the cause of the de ith OF
William Sweeney, who, 1t will be remembered
was shot and Instantly killed while attempting
III company with two accomplices, to enter the
tavern of Christopher Dillon, at Twenty-fourth
and Kent streets, on Thursday night.
District Attorney Mann conducted the invest.
cation on the part OF the Commonwealth.
Thomas Dillon. the young man who committed
the homicide, was present, within the bar.
The evidence elected at the Investigation was
as follows:-
Chriaopl Dillon sworn-TestIhed that An attau,pt
was made on Wednesday night at le.se hour to rob
made, but when ne returned "a saw the m srks on
ha,b py nY ne nn made INQUIRIES as
attempt ne ceilAr'ooce had been broken by Ak,
that The bprglc wouId return on the ensuing nigSt
and % Fl" s,n 10 load any hrearm about the house,
,ohn Harvey testified that they were watching
the night in question fro N rear window the move;
street; Sweeney. MAgee, and Johnson were drst sit
eTsckeTs;' having flushed these they arose, moved
near the fen 10 the rear OF llons house ana got
hydrsnt willie there MI Dillon called to nm times
h. put the gun Out Of the wiudo% and rsd; wne,s a
was behind Dillon when he fred; he thought that OH
lon did not see sweeney VIII n he fred witness
stay ed with Dillon by The request Of the after for
Cellar door where 1t had been broken the night
onicer James Mcintyre of the Fifth District, tesu-
fed that at u O'Clock Wednesday night his partner
spruce streets; noticed the light in the store Of Mrs
Holt, at Twenty fourth aud Spruce Streets going up
been committed, the money.drawer had been
app ioprsted having just ,copciuded their opera
S lions ,ney heard share 5ingsg report OF gun IL
they ran down there. and found a large crowd OF
Don sons into the yard tSe Witness foaSS tss
body Of Sweeney; he asserted at that death had
oficer samuel Marshall testified that he eas on the
in Mrs Hoits Store and khowpS il 10 be nnasua s Tor
her TO have light burning at that hour. he toe ex
been wrenched OPEN from the meney drawer were
Sresspn ID M articles I we're on tue
of the deceased anu the conclusion at once WAS that
testilsny about The shooting was simply correb0ra-
tive of that Of the pr evious witness.]
ofticer White stated that was called by whistle
TO his brother officers. who were at the house where
The premises. searched all the rooms. He found
story. where aiso he iound the gun. He placed the
Mrs. Phoebe Fisher testified that she was at the
time In question staying with laiy friend in Mr..
Diion,s house; az the hour of midnight she was
aroused by the report OF gum she run down stairs,
and found there couple OF officers, and one or Two
Mrs Mrs 1 Di1lon, who had preceded witness down
snq ss % Sund m aFfe .S wa which
Witness saw Sweeney lying on his back on the
Pays%en he expired soon @feF witness came down
PsTob oNs Sstsd that yhen he saw the de-
sg ,sIs s9En Hser n he Eays larGs f0ward with his
OF the
burglars was seen In the crowd in the yard shortly
hooking the body hurriedly left and was not seen
Mrs. Eliza D on testified that at the occurrence of
@ hs ns n hes as
ns,usSy suspicious from he operations Of the
me crowd; s6s found sises Of iroa shaped Tor the
| plainly showed how the instrument had been used:
she had iOsl some apparel the night previous by ne
Injunction to her son Thomas (the prlsonerl to shoot
house; there old muskst ia the house, aad
that Vas the only 5ear% S Tne1 VIA had been in the
Detective Henderson corroborated this testimony,
and mentioned, In addition. his arrest OF the other
The details of the searching of the body aad the
persons of the prisoners, Msgee and Johaso L. were
given IN Yesterdays issue OF THE EVENING TELE-
rne tact Johnsons conn lIcIty in the burglary OF
Mrs H2rs dweiing was sG9ssHntSted d ID Py me e
pocE .. when found, Tn Is half penny Mrs. Holt has
| drawer, from which. with a lot OF old coin it was
stolen by the @ trio OF By burglars M n,.,ro, to.,,so
examinng the gun with which the homicide had
sested every appearance Q having been jdst fred
From the evidence ufoiicer A. b O1rrie It appears
was not GOOD, Msgee and Johnson aad been Known
Dr. ebapeigh testided that he made post morten
! examination on body recognize TO be that of WI
slight man The doctoT discovered ppOn the back,
SeneSs the M ef shoulder II blaze Three @ gun s6o. m
single outlet. but third. If several bullets had
OF %
through PoEtion, no, or the lung through M The spleen
intestines; these organs completely rddled;
OF the bullets passed out OF the body Just In 'front.'
| above the hip bone
The of the bullets, theyefore, was downward
| and forward; the stomach engaged with food
such a. crackers and bread death must have lea
| within fifteen minutes ef er the wounds were re-
ceived the deceased came to his de- attn from hemor-
| rht re and the shock.
| q The Jury rendered the following verdict
"IhaI the said William ~eeney came to his death
from gun shot wound inf cted by rnouas ID llon on
| the morning OF August z. 1853, between ~ and |
| O'Clock a. NJ That the said sweeney at the time of
the iDhcliOn OF said wound was engaged in company
with John Msgee aud Frank Johnson Ia attending
commit a burglary by breaking into the dwelling.
house OF Christopher Dillon tue father OF the sail
Tho mas Dillon ana that the said shooting done
| In prevent the perperation OF O burg ary"
| In accordance with the verdict Coroner Daniels
| then discharged the led from custody.