The Van Buren press., 1878-06-04
'i=z
Horrible Murder,

At the hands of Mr.. D, Dickson. of
Van Buren,, we have n copy of the
Mountain Sentinel, Union, Oregon, CIV
ing an account of the shooting of John
P. Sullivan, and wife. Mr.. Sullivan re-
sided in Van Buren, for several years be-
fore going to Oregon. The Sentinel
says:
About ono o'clock on the morning of the
18th ult., there was perpetrated, In front of
Chancey's hotel, in our town, one of the most
eowardly attempts to commit double muir
der that ever darkened the criminal records
of the Pacific Coast. The facts, as near as we
can gather them, are about as follows: John
T.. Sullivan and wife were returning home
from party given ut the Centennial Hotel,
in company with Mrs. Sullivan mother. In
front of Ghaneey's hotel they passed A. I.
Weddle, who without giving them any warn
ing, drew II revolver, and placing it against
Mrs. sullivan, fired, intieting deep wound
on the right side of the spine just below the
shoulder blade. At the report of the pistol,
Mrs. Sullivan fell. and, before Mr.. Sullivan
could turn fairly around he, too, was shot.
the ball striking him on the left side of the
lower abdomenand ranging from left to right.
Though stunned by the wound, Sullivan, with
characteristic grit turned upon the would be-
murderer, and first striking him with his fist,
he gathered up some stones and chased the
cowardly seoundrel halfway across the street
| before he fell. They were both Immediately
taken up and carried home. Drs. Cromwell
and Drake were Immediately summoned, and
proceeded to examine the wounds. which, UNI
| fortunately. were of such nature as to pre-
vent the finding of the balls by probing. The
wounds are considered very dangerous, and
at the present writing the appearances are
| that bnt wi La tul Mps ku11tgan ar pc
to suffer the most, the right leg being para1y.
zed. Weddle, after doing the shooting ran
around by back streets, and went directly to
the SheriifTs office, and gave himself up, say
ing, as he gave up the pistol: Here, take
this, and turn the key ON me, tonight. Dc
what you please with me; hang me, If you
want to-" In response to the sherif's query
if he had used it. he said: +" Yes, have used
it, and You will find out in the morning what
| have DONE" The only motive for the deed
appears to have been malice and jealousy. II
seems that previous to Mrs. sulliyan's first
marriage Weddle sought her hand in mar.
riage, but was refused. After the death oil
DR.. Baker, he renewed his attentions, but was
persistently refused At this lie took umbrage
AID swore that he would send her to the
bone-var,i." and since her second marriage
he has repeated The threat dozen times to
Mr. Bud Chapman and vsshers. His threats
were so often, and of such dangerous char
acter that he was arrested a few months since
and examined as to his sanity but he was dis.
charged. 70 show the more plainly his in.
tent in the matter, short time previous te
shooting he went to the Office of the Centen.
NAL Hotel, and asked Bud Chapman ifMr. and
Mrs. Sullivan were at the party. Being in-
| formed that they were, he said he guessed he
would 90 up awhile; not having ticket, lie
was refused admission, and came back, reply.
ing to Mr.. Chapmans banter that he did moi
dance long, there's too many there for my
danee.o
Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan are both well-knowr
in our county. Mr. Sullivan being the pro.
prietor of an extensive saddlery and harness
establishment here. Mrs Sullivan was form.
erly the wife of the late lamented DR.. II. NJ
Baker, of this place, by whom she was the
mother of three beautiful children. boys ant
a girl. aged respectively about 7, 5. and yrs
/ Weddle, the tiend who perpetrated this das.
tardly crime, is an MISUNDERSTANDING. dri
ea-np. weasen-faced, hump-baeked, erratic
crack-brained individual aged probably 4!
years. who has lived in Union for 10 or l:
years. most of the time employed as cook a
the Union Hotel; lately he has been attend
ing to Wells, Fargo, q Co.'S express durin.
Mr.. Hannahs absence, and also assisting Mr.
Eaton in and about his store. Persons VIII
seem to know him best, and who have place,
the greatest confidence in him, are loudest il
setting up the plea of insanity, which will n
doubt be urged in defense of the horribl
crime of which there il no question of hi
guilt; but whether that weli-worn plea viii
save his neck, is yet question of time.
Since writing the above, Mr.. Sullivan dice
about 111a o'clock, and Coroner's Jury 4
now investigating the case. with E. S. McCo
mas presiding as Justice OF the Peace. Mrs
Sullivan is very low with no hopes of he
recovery. The, probabilities are that they vii
both be buried in one grave. The Improves
Order OF Red Men have charge of the corps
of Mr.. Sullivan.