The New York herald., 1878-03-04
A wIFE'S SECRET.


HER HusnAND-How HE MURDERED HER
PARAMoUR-EvIDENcE OF THE CRIME.
From the 81. Louis Globe, March IL
BLooMISGroS, Ill, Feb. %. ls7s
A. was previously telcgraphed tho Globe Democrat
ono morning IN December last. James O'NciL o
brave engineer OF the Chicago aud Alton Railroad was
found lying wserng IN blood in the western part OF
this city, distance Of several blocks from the place
where hc got Oh VI his ongiae upon his return trip
this city Chicago. only onesblock from his
own home. Tho affair was wrapped IN the deepest
mystery for several days. yet u was suspected by .
fsw from the nature Of tho MURDER that there might
be woman IN tho case, and an arrest was made on
the Sunday following the murder, based upon this
theory IL was learned thai O'Nsii had an acq
with Mrs Wheaton, the vito OF Dwight T..
Wheaton, yardmascr of the CnIcago and Alton Rail-
road thc trends oi O'Neil claimed that Wheaton
knew this. and had threatened 70 kill O'Nel: that
UNel hud Told his friends tnat he feared
Wheaton, and tnat Wheaton had gwen HIM u look
ono nght that MADE the cold chIIis run through HIM
Upon those aud other facts The warrant FOR Wheaton
arrest was made ou. Aftor days examination
before Justice Hendrix Wheaton WIS discouraged.
Whc the examination showed no positive proof that
Wheaton KILLED O'Nei, failed " develop anything
material TO SHOW that Wheaton did not Kill him.
While many believed that there good reason to
think Wheaton the guilty man there were many who
believed him 70 DC innocent and unJustly accused
Surveillance 0t Wheaton wns not dropped, however.
When Wheaton was discharged Mayor Bum, the city,
tho State, tho brothers OF tho murdered man, the
Sheriff aud SuperinteDdcnt McMuilen, OF the Chicago
and Alton Rairoad offered rewards Tor dctcc
oi tHv murderer amounting TO 81, l,4Uo, aud uxperi
officers gave their attention 10 the cusc t was
from tbs nature OF things that in dus time new do.
velopments would DO made IN tho Wheaton tcnd-
ing show either Wheaton's guiit Ills Innocence,
aud IN this they not mistaken, as subseq ueni
ovenss prove.
A FATAL QUARREL.
About two or three weeks ago Wheaton and his wife
ouarrelled aad US II has bsou related by Wheaton,
negnDors, Wheaton chased hor out OF tho house win
a revolver into Garvcy's house, next door, Al this
time Mrs. Wheaton wantcd Garvey's son 10 20 up
town with her after q policeman, but this not
done. Alter supper that night Wheaton was taken
seriously Ill and had 10 quit work, and the rumvr
spread abroad that he had boen pvIsoned Nothing
has 30 startled this community the ucnoucuncnt
wncn occurred Yesterday and IN tragic effect It ~ In
keeping with the terrible deoa thai iormod the rst
link tho chain. Yesterday morning Mrs. Wheaton
went 10 tho house Of Officer Conway and informed
that officer that his HE WAS III groat danger well
the lives Of one or two other persons who had figured
IN tho arrest OF Wheaton. sho AZ arrang cement
My at 0Ns Srv S soush%es: oi sSo
city. This was on Monday. Al thrco O'CLOCK
Mrs. Wheaton, Conway and Maiioy met Ut tho
made by the excited woman. who seemed NOR
tai lear lest Wheaton should appear upon tho scono
Jim O'Neii was killed Wheaton said to her. isis. am
going to do some work. II DO 1t clean am gong 70
stay, If donl Will 90 away. SO :wan. you 10 have
TO him. What are you going to do; gong 70 rob somo
onor" On the night vi Tho muruer Wheaton camc
she thought Hs was painting, aud wanted his over
coat aud sono matches. HAVING got those no started
oil.
RvrDgxcR OF MuRDER.
Tho next morning Mrs. Wheaton ON going out of tbs
door saw Wheaton In the shed putting cap on one
OF his revovers. Sho supposed be had just finished
the Ioauing vi an ampy chamber. he gave Mrs.
Wheaton the pistol and told her 10 put u under her
apron and ~ inlo the house, which she did
There mud the cylinder and she rubbed ~ oil.
When her husband was accused sho said, my God,
Wheaton, u can't DO tbat you killed Jun O'NeIl."
Wheaton said 10 her, isis, l want you ~ take
the pistols, wrap them up In u paper 30 10 tho
south part town. aud when you yet there shoot them
OIL DO good job or, by CD, p'I Shoot hole
through you" Snc went to certain place about
O'CLOCK the morning alter the murder ana nred
pistols into the ground ut point which she will des-
ignata When returned wheaton said 10 her that
the viicers would certainly search the house aud
would nold pistols er head TO make or tell but that
not wilt Ho told hor 10 say that tho pis-
tolls had not boon nrod the Fourth oi July, and
TO testify this court she narrated that Whca-
ton SAID repeatedly that he would ki ONe aud thnt
he had told her once how he had oven made an ni-
tempt TO Kill O'Nci. Ho thut bo picked up bar
OF IRON and with II behind his back, followed y Neil
10 his engine ntondng to kill him. Uut that tho ire
about ms tnat O'Ncii said to his
| Wheaton one night gave him look that made hin
| shuddor This attempt ~ KILL according 10 Mrs
Wheaton story. was made Two weeks before tho Kill
ing He told Mira Wheaton that no would have kilios
| O'Nei that night but for the fireman. Acting on mi
information und other aud moro tangible facts, In
officers Determined 10 issue a warrant for~W hoaton'
arrest and ths morning, Iittlo after thybs O'CLOCK
| he was LODGED In tho Mclean Countv Jail