Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-02-20
PRESTO, CHANGE!
Another Transition From Poverty
to Wealth.
A MuRDsRETs HEIRS TO GET $50, 900.
The Widow and Children Of John Dawson,
a Pennsylvania Matrieide, Come
Into His Fathers
Estate.

PHILADELPHIA, February l9-Ths power.
ty-stricktn widow and two children Of
John Dawson, . drunken matricide, Who
killed himself in Moyamsnsins Jail on
July 10. lSS2, while awaiting trial, ysster.
day came into an estate valued at $50, ,0Oo.
James .Scanlan and his wife came, from
County Donegal, Ireland, to New York In
lsi4, and year or % later to Philadelphis,
with James, their only child. scanlon and
his wife did not agree and In ls4s he left
her and went West. His wife never heard
Of him again. He became one Of the
pioneers Of Denver, Colorado, and socumu.
latsd an estate ~ vslus a which b esd.
mated at from 10000 TO t7S.0oo. A few
months age he was taken sick and sent for
Father OHern to minister TO his spiritual
wants. The clergyman knowing scanlou's
wealth, asked II his will had been made
and TO whom he had given his property.
Scanlon then for the dst time admitted
that hs had been married. but said he sup.
posed his wife and child were dead, a.
efforts he had made 70 find them had
proved fruitlsss.
keekisE she Lest VIII.
The dying man made his will In the
presence OF John Cody and Michael Bost-
wick as witnesses, but was 30 weak that hs
could not sign his name and was only able
to make his mark with the assistance Of
Father OHern. Scanlon's estAte, which
consisted OF real estate in the heart OF Den.
yer and severs! thousand dollars In bank,
1aN0 10 hA hn r.h Lab Nalx
OF the witnesses TO the will, told his wife
the story OF Scanlon's lost wife and child.
Mrs. Cody suggested that perhaps tho Wid.
ow was still alive and she induced her
husband. who is q man OF wealth, 10 en-.
ploy q detective to visit Philadelphia aud
ohlpin proof OF the life or death OF Mrs.
Scsnon and the boy. Within . week after
his arrival in this city, the detective dis.
covered that John DAWSON, Who hung him
and that the woman he 30 brutally mur.
d.rsd was bis mother and the widow OF
James Scanlon Of Denver.
Msrdcrea sy Hes Ses.
After Scanlon deserted his wife and chill
she married tailor named John Dawson.
with whom she lived eighteen yearI. and
her son was known only by hn steptathsr's
name. When young Scanlon, or Dawson.
wss twenty-five years old his stepfathsr
died from excessive drink and the widow
supported herself and grown son by ped.
ding fruit Finally he married . young
woman named Duffy and they went 10 live
with his mother. For . time DAWSON
worked - laborer, but after he became
the father OF two boys hs took 10 drink and
SLOWED his wife aud aged mother 70 sup
port him and his children. He not only
made them support him, but he ertortsd
from them money 70 buy liquor, and on
many occasions they paid his lines when Ar
rested and locked up IN the Second district
police station. Early In lsS2 young Mrs.
DAWSON, unable 10 longer endure bis Ill.
treatment, left her husband tScsnlon) and
found work with private family.
DAWSON, his mother and bis sons
lived In . wrstcAed tenement hovsl
at us Swanson street. EHcspt the
in.law old Mrs. Dawson supported her son
and grAndsons. The old woman st that
time kept . fruit stand st second and
South streets, but her profits we're 30 small
that tbe was unable to pay her rent In
APRIL 1882, she wrote 10 her brother In
Ireland, asking him 10 send her 60 On
Friday evening. May 5, 1882, she closed her
little stand and vent TO her wretohed hone
10 prepare supper for her grandchildren.
A lev minutes alter she reached homo her
son came In drunk and demanded money.
She ,sid she had none 70 give him. Tbs
Esighbors hesrd him ssy: "Yon lte: you
got that money from Ireland aud I want
some Of IT," When the old woman per-
sisted that she had but thirty eight cents
In the world, he grabbed up . hstchst and
struck her In the forehead.
Yound ~ Last.
She fell, and be stood over her uneon.
scious body and hacked it about The head.
throat and shoulders until life wAs extinct
Covered with blood he ran into the street,
brandiih hing the Inurdsrous hatrhst, and
vas captured two squares away sud
locked up In the station house OF tbs Sec.
ord police district. Do the night OF July
o. 1892, he hung himself In MoysmsnsinE
sith 0 rope made from his undsYshirI
While the Denver detective was search
ing for Scsnlon's, alias Dsvison's widow
and children, Mrs, Cody came from Color.
ado to assist him. The widow vs. 81 last
found working o. domestic In private
family. She received ~ 80 per week and
IN that sum clothed herself and youngest
boy. who gas living With distant relative
on Christian street The eldest boy un
boot-black and supported bin.elf. lmms-
disteIy after the heirs Of Jamss Scanion, OF
Denver, were found suit Wss begun 70
bresk bis will Tis suit ended yesterday,
when the Jury 10 which IL was referred
after being out twsnty min utss Ysturnst .
verdict In favor OF tbs widow aud her chill.
III tn.A.y to.vo shls rltW faR