The daily gazette., 1881-09-24
The Murder Of Dennis shea,

7 our account Of the murder of Dennis
Shea and attendant circumstances, pub.
lished on September 18th, 0though more
nearly correct than some, Is yet at fault
in several particulars. 1t may not be
amiss TO correct some Of the important
mistakes reported TO you by q succinct
The bedy was first discovered on SUM-
day morning between four and five
O'Clock, by John Watson, a carpenter
Of West Grove, Pa, on his early way
hemeward. After informing George
Reardon who lives a quarter of mile
further up the turnpike than HarrigaD,
Watson came back TO Constable A. I.
Wiilianson's, for whom he works At
carpentering. Williamson called on me
| little before six O'Clock, and then sent
bis son to Southwood station 10 tele-
graph for the coroner, (Mr. Walker, the
operator at HockessiD, being absent on
Sundays). After hasty breakfast l
went with the constable to view the
body about seven o'clock, and Instructed
the few persons then present not to have
IL removed from the position In the mid
die Of the turnpike until the arrival Of
the coroner. then, In company with
the constable, went TO Harrigan's home
near by, and found him in an upstairs
chamber with his clothes on. Amongst
other informal conversation, somewhat
as reported in your paper, asked, as a
test, to see his pistol. Hs denied own
ing any, and said his pistol was stolen
from him some months ago, and this
fact Mrs. Harrigan, on being questioned,
l laft ba
and soon began 10 hear rumors that Mr..
Lacy had sold him pistol since the
time the other one was stolen, which,
being confirmed, added to our suspi-
cions that Harrigan was the guilty map,
although there we're no indications that
he intended to fee from justice. Between
nine and ten o'clock a considerable
crowd having gathered and no coroner
appearing, we had the body removed
Into Harrigan's barn, cut Of the way Of
the passing carriages In the meantime
an undertaken had arrived, and the
| friends of the deceased commenced to
press upon me to hold an Inquest. re-
quested Mr.. Yerkes, a neighboring far
mer, to drive to Southwood and ascer-
tain IL Mr.. Remley, the operator, had
succeeded in getting into telegraphic
Communication with the coroner. MIR.
Yerkes brought word back that he had
got dispatch through about 9 q. H., but
received no return from Mr.. Weldin.
then told the friends of the murdered
man would wait until the arrival OF
the midday train, and should no word
of the coroner be had, would then
conclude he was not accessible, aud take
the responsibility of holding the Inquest
Leaving matters In the general charge
OF constable Williamson, thon left the
ground and was on hand at Hockessir
station to meet the up train. The re
poriers came, but CORONER and nc
word from him or otherwise. returned
to the scene OF the murder about noon
requesting DIR. Taylor Mitchell on the
way TO be on haod with his Instrument
In case OF need. Then 1t was that Mr.
Williamson informed me that witnesses
had been found that were with Denni,
Shea the night before and saw the shoot
ing. / Immediately had him to summon
one OF them, John Kelly, before me, anc
upon his deposition made to me as Jus
tice of the Peace (not as coroner) drew
q warrant and ordered the immediate
arrest of Jeremiah Harrigan, and upor
brief hearing committed him formally
to prison for trial.
Dennis Shea's tracks which you SPEAK
Of rs entering the house by the back
| door, were made on leaving the house
! apparently in the direction Of home.
The best reasons had for prompt ac-
tion in the matter of commitment was
that q large crowd had gathered and in
dignation ran high against Harrigan.
The jail was distant and the afternoon
wearing away. l am responsible as q
Justice, not as coroner, for the pro-
ceeding, and believe 1t TO have been
right.
Next In order, It may be proper to
give some account of the assumption OF
the duties OF coroner ("unwarranted''
as Tome Of the papers have it,) and the
story Of which in your paper headed
"Tbe Coroner Mad" might BIZ a source
of amusement were not the occasion
such serious one. You have the cor.
oner and Esquire Jackson credited with
wordy war on sunday Of an hour,
duration, when we did not even see each
other on that day and on the next day
If the gentlemanly official had been
"mad," he certainly had soon recovered
from 1t, since he appeared most affable
and peasant when he honored me with
call on the next dsy-fnding no fault
only calling my attention 10 the facl
that following the latest digest of our
laws (lnstead Of observing later act
passed In 1879 the number summoned
In the coroner's jury was too large. For
this one small oversight, freely admitted
and readily adjusted, trust TO be ex-
cused In consideration of being su idenly
called to the exercise of an unexpected
duty in the turmoil of an exciting oc-
casion.
The warrant for my assumption ofthe
duties Of coroner will be found In Sec
ton 10, Chapter 83, of the Digest Of
1Sy4-in the fact that the coroner, tele.
graphed for at o q. m, after five hours
could put In no appearance and send NO
orders--that q murdered body, In the
suitry heat, was fast approaching de-
composition, which might interfere with
search for the ball, as needed link In
the evidence, and that the friends OF the
deceased were pressing for possession Of
the body, while judicious and law-re-
specting citizens advised me to proceed.
The inquest did not take place at . q.
m, as in the GAZETTE, but after 2 p. m.
Upon careful and skillful search DR..
Mitchell found the bali by tracing its
path through the vitals OF the victim,
surcharged with his coagulated blood, so
suddenly discharged from his pierced