Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-03-25
WARNING UP.
TINE lnouIsIrYou AZ the CRY
= ea suitpIHs, rgsa8 &
Synopsis ofihs Testimeay--who Got Mech
ans Fine7--Geassnts Of the Police
seek--Rsvelations BY Mecully,
ShanIey and Others.

The Sweeney Investigating Commit
lee met pursuant to adjournment, ~
the chamber OF the First Branch oil
Council. Messrs. Eof, Ankle. Jelier.
son and McAdams were present, and
Messrs Criswell and watsrhoase were
engaged down stairs. At 1850, by con-
sent, the Investigation was begun with
out them.
soxs COLLECTIONS.
The examination began by Mr.. hub.
bard asking Sweeney for his bundle oil
warrants for July 1879. Mr.. jacob
thought 1t unfair to ask this. without
previous intimation, a. one might be
missing or mislaid and excite unneces,,
sary comment. Mr.. Hubbard then asked
for warrant OF July IL, No. %. Ii was
brought. VIM. Coates Sas then sworn,
and testified to having paid q tine ior
Johnny Meehan to Sweeney, about July
ia or between that time and August Let:
The amount, he believed, was s. and
costs. Meehan was in prison when II
Was paid. Witness said he bad been
visited by Office Rutherford, who asked
him II he had paid Sweeney any money.
He had told him he lad. This was
about three weeks ago,
Mr.. Hubbard then put warrant % IN
evidences. IL showed that Thomas
Meehan had been arrested on July ~.
Mr.. Jacob objected because the wit
ness said il was Johnny. But on the
''police book" was the entry and It
WAS MARKED COMMITTED
showing apparently that the tine was not
paid. But on the book was underwritten
ISee report OF February, 1880"
Meehan was then called and said the
fine had been taken IRON his wages, and
that Sweeney had recently called upon
him aud asked him about that fine.
Alexander Wallace told that Thomas
GRAY was once brought and
put in the lookup and released
without trial. lie had asked him
how he got out aud he said Sweeney let
him off and, -but here counsel Tor the
defense interiered and choked the wit
ness oil. The General also told oil sim
liar cases of Williams, Kuhn and one
other man, who had been lett oil. Also
that once prisoner escaped and lett a
dollar and a pocket knife behind him.
These had been given the Mayor.
Jacob-You'd better call up the Mayor
(sarcasticallyl.
Hubbard-Yes-well, II he comes
around wen ask him what he did with
them. But my information was that
these things had followed the jeyelry.
,.uSpKR the IsFLuEScE."
w. NJ. Botsford was called and asked
il he saw Sweeney on January 81. He
referred to private memorandum book
and said he had. lie had come alter
Sweeney TO come and pull house uear
his residence, where there was much
disorder. He found Sweeney very ex.
cited and, as he thought, under the in
fiuence OF liquor. 81 thought | smelled
il on his breath. lie did not want to 20
unless swore out warrant Tor them
and refused because knew no names.
Haven't found out any names yet"
Zane Phillips: Saw Sweeney on the
street ON February 9th and he had been
drinking. lie was standing arguing
with Pat Campbell, who wanted him to
90 up stairs to the city building. lie
said he'd be damned il he would 80 up
until he had another drink. | don't
know how Davis knew l knew this, un-
less he overheard me mention 1t.
Joseph Speidel: con May 81, VIC re-
ceiyed a letter from Washington, Pa,
asking as to 20 to the lookup and pay
the fine Of q man named Marshall. |
went to the city building and was told
that he had escaped and lett a pocket
book containing 81 and pocket-kniie.
| was told could pay the fine il | chose,
but declined. Don't know II the fine
was assessed"
Charles Hamilton: zone Saturday
late in January, saw Sweeney in Wied.
ebusch's saloon. My attention was called
TO him, who was standing at the
bar, and no seemed pretty full. He was
talking with several others. This was
about Q o'clock in the evening"
A, j. Sweeney was called and failed to
respond, having been severely burnedat
the foundry.
Van b. Hall was called, as was also
w. ID. English, but neither responded.
RATHER STRONG LANGUAGE.
Adolph Fritsch-"About q year ago |
had conversation with Sweeney about
witness fees. was witness for case at
the police court. Others had claimed
attendance and wsnted mine. came
after it, but didn't find Sweeney. | met
him on the street and asked him for it.
He said. Hell and God damnatlonl !
amt going to pay God damn cent? |
never asked him for 1t again."
Gov. Jacob objected TO the testimony
Us he said there was nothing TO show The
attendance had been claimed. He
thought this class OF testimony OF mere
nonsense.
Mr.. Hubbard replied and severely
scored the defendant for the use OF the
above language.
Louis Altmeyer, a former deputy,
said. "I was a deputy for three days
during last September and was paid for
that time only. Duck Price was APP
pointed in my place"
John p. Carney testified that check
had been drawn by Sweeney in favor OF
Godfrey Price for either $50 or SO.
His attention was called to this by
Davis calling at the bank, before he
knew he was Oh the force.
Altk. W%a N@fses1 tts
had refused 10 accept the service Of the
subpoena, and was busy down stairs.
THE RELEAsz CASES.
Thomas Stanley testified: ~ was
formerly keeper Of the Workhouse and
| had to accept all releases from Swee-
new. That was all ofthe authority. He
sent an order, once, for the release OF
Dutchy West, which was brought by
two officers. / have that release lpro-
ducing bulky bundle) and all
OF the others. You can look at
them aud return them. They are
all signed BY Sweeney, but are not all
dated. / remember Meehan being sent
up there, very drunk, which was not
customary. He was aiterward released"
Cross-eramined-"I have these re-
leases because / knew they would be
wanted. knew what was summoned
for. Yes, / have talked about this mat
ter 10 q number Of persons. know the
fines were paid Of all who were released,
except Dutehy West. know this be-
n L..-l "