The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-09
D~ELANEY's DEATH.
Branded as a Murderer Because He Would
Not Sell His Mineral Lands.

Branded as a Murderer Because He Would
Not Sell His Mineral Lands.
Harrisburg pa Special.
A strange story is told in connection with the
arrest, trial and execution of William f.. De
laney, brother of Captain John C.. Delaney,
librarian of the Pennsylvania State Senate.
Delaney was recently hanged at Tombstone, A
r., with four others, for the murder of the
Bisbee family, on the 8th of December. Captain
Delaney is thoroughly convinced that his
brother was innocent Of the crime for
which he suffered death. As soon as John
learned that his brother was to be executed he
made every possible effort to save him from
the gallows. He claims to have secured pos
tive proof that his brother had never been in
Tombstone, and that when the Bisbee family
| WAS mura cred he was in Mexico, over 200 miles
distant Delaney is said to have been convicted
on the testimony of d man name, Daniels, who
swore that he saw DelSsiney in his store . ia"
minutes before the commission of the crime.
All efforts to get Delaney a new trial proved
an, tive, Captain John C. Delaney placed
81 0oo - the hands of Father Mcbride, of this
ci+T1 iii, =, 7tructions to forward the money to
ttbes Cotbo1in ~, It at Tombstone, Arizona, to
pay a lawyer to take charge of Deianey's case.
A reply was received from. + ather I, =. Nalla,
CHER that $40, 900 could not secI4 c VIC ~ VI oI
a lawyer for the intended purpose, Z, w H "
desperation of the men who wanted to e~o De
laney hanged.
On March % Father Gallagher wrote to Cap
TAIN Delaney mus;
The lawyers still refuse to take an appeal because of
dread of the community. Sentiment has changed
very much, however, in your brothers favor. AS you
are informed, there is no direct proof against him yet.
| can do nothing unless l can get an appeal taken. l
have done all | can.
An unsuccessful effort was made to have Pres
ident Arthur stay the execution, and Delaney
was executed protesting his innocence. On the
day before the hanging Delaney wrote his broth
er that Daniels, the principal witness against
him, had on the previous night Shot and killed
a man. 1t is claimed that Delaney's life was
sacrificed by men in the pursuit of revenge and
gain. and that the man whose evidence con-
vlcted him received a reward of nearly 81, 100.
For that amount perjury was committed. Be
sides, Delaney had incurred the hatred of law
less men.
Delaney is alleged to have located three val
liable copper claims in Arizona Specimens of
this ore We're received in this city by Captain De-
laney, and were pronounced by an assayer of the
richest quality. He was offered Sc, 900 for the
claim, which proposition Captain Delaney told
his brother to reject. The bid was increased to
$40. 900, but again refused at the request of Cap
tain Delaney.
The parties who had offered these sums be-
came young Delaneys enemies, and involved him
in a quarrel with a drunken Mexican woman.
While wrestling a revolver from the woman the
man fired at Delaney, who, returning the fire.
wounded his adversary. A few later the men
met in a cabin, when Delaney was again assailed.
This time he badly wounded his enemy. De
laney was arrested, but acquitted. the evidence
showing that he had acted in self-defense.
Threats were then made by the wounded man
that he would have Delaney's life. Delaney
thought it advisable to leave for Mexico. Dur
ing his absence the plot was concocted to impli-
cate him in the Bisbee murder. Delaney's cop
per claims had been located and perfected under
the law, and when he realized that he would be
hanged he made a deed of them to his brother
John, which was mailed, but has not reached its
destination. 1t is believed the deed was stolen
from the mail through the instrumentality of