The New York herald., 1870-02-17
GRIM. CON. AND MURDER.
A Discarded Husbands Tribulations- Kills His
Wife in the Presence Of Her Para-
mour and Children-A Sad Tale
Of Female Inhdeity


quarre, and murder by shooting at the hands OF
frenzted husband occurred about eight O'Clock last
evening.
The facts, as near ~ could be hurrtedIy CLEANED
last night from various sources these-When the
war broke out and patriots rushed to arms Thomas
Sheridan an industrious manufacturer and dealer In
pickles, at l0S East Twenty-thlrd street. felt that
It was hts duty to enter the fray and assist
In the defence OF the cause of the Union.
Selling out hts estab bishment and providing ror his
wife Margaret and four children. he entered the
service with the Seventy ninth (Hghland) New York
regiment. He passed through the three years. term
OF service, and left the army In 1854 with good
cord for sobriety and bravery. Returning to his
family, who OF that time resided In South Yonkcrs
there was no wfe's kiss Of welcome to greet him, no
expression Of JOY at his escape from the pels OF war;
He found to his dismay that the wife he mad left
covered with tears three years before no longer
loved him. In his absence her father Mr. O'Brien
OF Yonkers had died and bequeathed to her chill
dren property worth $1,000 or $4,000, over which
she exercised control. On presenting himself at the
home, the children to greet ana caress him. out
the wife turned away in scorn and loatning at the
appearance or his uniform and sun-browned fea-
lures.
Thomas Sheridan vainly endeavored to induce his
wife to receive him, only for the sake or their chill
from her mousse, an 0utcaSt, sorroWlng father and
husband.
adiea, he left for the Plains where for several
years he has been following various occupations,
most OF the time as teamster IN supply trains. Re-
turning home month ago he sought Tor his family
a. Yonker5, but founa them not. He ascerlained
Lnat they had removed to tne city, and were living
AZ No. 5l7 West Forty first street. He also learned
that the wife had obtained control OF the cildren's
inheritance and nau sold portion OF 1t for $25 900.
Pushing his Investigations further Sheridan dis
covered that during his absence In the West his vile
mad gwen birth to child IN Eighth street, the re-
had another at the breast, the offspring OF shame
lie sought her out aud made further efforts at re-
Cancellation, promising If she would put away the
child and her pafamour, VINO was SAID To be one
Michael Powers, then living with her, ne would ior-
give and forget the past. This proposition was
Of her shame, Powers and the child, always with
her. Several times he renewed hts efforts st recon.
A rev days ago Sheridan again visited the woman
at her house. but dd not meet the destroyer OF his
happiness. Again ne begged of her to reform-to
discard her guilty lover and become viruouS wife.
The woman could not be moved in her resolution
and threatened TO have him beaten by her paramour
should he return. Ii is charged that that occa-
sion he showed revolver ana threatened her; but
this ne denies.
Last evening about eight o'clock he entered the
four story wooden tenement house, setting
,,a back ,o from the street; AT .he tim, time grown
dren, three boys and girl, and Powers were
IN the kitchen. The wife and the Daby were in tn
Webb entered the bedroom ana awakened Mar.
garet, who came out and sat ON CHAIR she found
was standing opposite sheridan bade her good
evening. cast glance ot Powers, u trenOr ran
through hls M frame, ana quarrel ensuea. she up:
braided Mm Tor entering the house and
asked him u ne had come 20 put his
threat into execution. He asked, .What threatf"
Sssr'dan cenied having threatened her. when she
b. ~sne very abusive, and driven to desperation, he
cha WI n q N ROlh
TOOK eiiect-one In the right side OF the mouth the
other in the cnin, and botn taking upward alrec-
tion. The woman had strength enough 20 walk
across TO the chair from winch her husband had
arisen, and remarklng "fou have killed me-" sank
down and immediately expired.
The girl, Weob, seeing tue tragedy, rushed to the
street and gave the alarm. Onicer Halliday, OF Tue
dead, with the husband and the paramour standing
over her. They were both taken to the station
nonse ana sheridan was arralgned before sergeant
those OF Powers locked him up. Roundsman Wes-
TO yer hurried to the house and by the aid Of officer
William Coffee dispersed the crowd. Dr. Eidenbenz,
the family physician In the meantime had been
called. and pronounced life extinct.
When taken from the room Sheridan was not aware
that the woman was dead. our reporter vino visited
him IN his cell subsequently, was the tirst person to
break the news to him. and lie sank down overcome
with gItef expressed s sorrow at his rash act, and
stated that had ne known at the time that Powers
the poacher who had encroachcd upon his domain he
would have killed hlm instead. MIR. Sheridan stated
to our reporter that he was driven to the rash act
the violence OF the woman AMI the pre-
his own innocent children, who are Old enough TO
feel the guilt OF their unnatural mother. From him
the particulars OF MS movements alter the war were
VIII not Judge him harshlv until after an nvestiga.
ton takes place. Mr.. Sheridan Is brother OF Mat
thew Sheridan, pickle manufacturer, in thirty ninth
street, near Second avenue, and those who know
HIM state that his reputation has always been good.
An inquest to-day Will doubtless elicit further par
ticulars In this latest domestic tragedy.
The sergeant in charge at the Twentieth precinct
station house did NOT detaln the man Michael Pow
AnIu ~ fhn far
Powers himself visited the station house and
made the charge OF murder against Sheri-
dan buE from some incxpllcable negll-
gence he was allowed to leave, and mas
not since been seen IN the nelghborno0d. The allow
lowing the only witness against murderer to
remain at large Is az least questionable act and
might very easily defeat the ENDS Of justice. Captain
Cafrery his sergeant, whoever may be to blame,
were certainly lax The discharge OF their duties
when they failed to detain tue only man who can
give any particulars as to this apparently cold
blOOded murder.