River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-07-10
sHEENEY GEORGE


together the situation is very much mixed.
SWEENEY GEORGE.
The Burglar Captured fn st. Paul Identi
fed as tIte Murderer of a Chicago Police
man.
From the Saint Paul Daily Globe
The capture of George Freeman, alias
"Sheeney George" for burglarizing the store
of Albrecht d Co. last winter will be remem-
bered. He was returned to Chicago ON a
requisition from the Governor of Illinois to
ans yer to the charge of murder, the victim
being Policeman Race. One of Freeman's
pals, Johnny Lamb, was convicted of the
murder and sentenced to be hanged, but
stay of proceedings was granted to enable
him to prove an alibi. The Chicago Meas
reporter has interested himself in the case,
and thus gives the result of a search for a
witness who could definitely fix the blame
where it belonged-upon ''Sheeney Georges"
The readers of the Ddity Meas will re-
member that some time since it was an
nounced that a new witness of the shooting
of Officer Race had been discovered-one
who had never been in the case before. At
the time when she was first found by Daily
Nccs reporter she was living on Jefferson
street; on the West side. Since then she has
moved and it was not until yesterday that
her presence was discovered.
This morning Mr.. Forest, attorney for
Johnny Lamb, and reporter If the Daily
NecS, called upon her ano obtained
lengthy and detailed account of the shooting
rs witnessed by herself.
Her statement is as follows;
'My name is Mary Thompson. At the
time of the shooting | was living on State
street, That evening, about $50 o'clock,
went ont ON the street, was going to a store.
knew officer Race, and just as | came to
Friedberg's pawn shop noticed him coming
along. just at this time an express wagon
drove up in front of the shop. There were
two men in the seat. Officer Race went mp
to the team and said sHuIlo, boys, - and then
l think he asked. "What have you got
there?" He then went around to the rear of
the wagon, which the men had started to
back up to the sidewalk, and lifted up a
cloth which was on top of something
in the wagon At this one of the men
drew a pistol from his pocket and fired
at Race. Both then jumped from the seat
and ran, the one who fired going toward
Eldridge court. He was short, thick set,
and not more than 20 years old, l thought
then ran, fearing l should become mixed
up in the matter"
companied Mr.. Forest and Duly Ne3os
reporter to the county Jail, to see if she
could identify Sheeney George as the man
who fired the fatal shot.
There were present. Jailer Currier, Mr..
Forest, and Mr.. Starkey, of the States at
torney's Office.
Mr.. Currier brought out seven prisoners,
'Sheeney' George among the number, and
placed them in a row in the bath-ro
Mrs Thompson was taken into the room
and asked if she could find among those
present the man who shot Officer Race. She
hesitated for some time, and finally said:
IF that is the man he has grown thinner"
(Which oneP'' asked Mr.. Forest.
"rhe one with the hat on"
"But there are three with hats on" said
Mr.. Currier. ''Walk up and touch him.
She then walked up to Sheeney George
and touched him. She said he resembled
the man.
She was then shown Johnny Lamb and
asked if she saw him there. She said, 81
am not positive, but do not think he was
there
When she was first admitted TO the wash
room with the prisoners, Jailer Currier al
lowed no one to enter the room but Mrs.
Thompson and himself.
The woman then picked out Sheeney
George, as she did afterwards when the out
siders were present.
"Sheeney'' Georges face took an addi-
tional shade of pallor, as though he raw in
the woman the fate that would sooner or
later bling him to justice. He appeared
very uneasy, and immediately after return
ing to his quarters sent for MIR. Starkey, ev-
IDENTIFY desiring an explain alton.
1t was very interesting group that gath
cred i'll the little wash room just adjoining
the iailor's Office. The prisoners were
dressed in all styles and suits, some in their
shirt sleeves, others with hats OH, no two
looking alike. "Sheeney'' George stood in
about the centre of half circle formed by
the prisoners. In speaking of it afterwards,
Mrs. Thompson said she recognized him the
nome 1T she went in, although she was afraid
almost to say so, for, in the first place. ii was
very serious thing to charge a man with
and then if she should by any means make
a mistake
She said that "Sheeney" George appeared
quite mad when she first picked him out,
and asked her where she had ever seen him
before.
With regard to Johnny Lamb, re said
that he was not the man who was with
"Sheeney" George when the latter shot
Officer Race of that she was confident. The
woman was naturally frightened to death,
being eagerly questioned by every one, and
her every word taken down. After she had
time to think the matter over coolly, she was
very decided.
Mr.. Starkey was present taking short
hand notes of everything that was said by
this woman. who seems likely to overthrow
the case so we'll ~ worked up by the State.
Mrs. Thompson is very convincing in her
manner of relating what occurred on the
night of the shooting, her story being plain
straight forward one. She is married wo
man, with one child to support, and she
works hard at almost any honest employment
taking in washing and going around from
house to house to work.
Mr.. Currie states that on first going into
the room, when alone with him and the
prisoners. Mrs. Thompson pointed to
"Sheeney" George and said: THAT is the
man only he is little thinner
In view of the length of time that has
elapsed since she saw "Sheeney" George,
and then only for moment, never having
seen him before or since, her Identification
was something remarkable. But from talk
ing with her one would soon discover that
she was possessed of a very retentive MEM
DRY. MIR. Forest, Lambs attorney, never
saw the woman until to-day, when, in CON-
pany with the Duly NeFs representative,
he called at Mrs. Thompson's house.