The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-07
1RAGKDIsN MuRpouK.s NEPHEW.
a Strange Story OF a Murderer's Disappear
aDce In California.

"Elcped, September .. 1884" says the
San Francisco Call. Is the singular entry that
appears on the records of the Stockton Asy
luni for the Insane opposite the name of
Thomas ID. Neice, who was committed TO
that institution from this city on the Goth of
February, 1873, by r. +. Morrison, then
Judge OF the Fourth District Court.
On the night Of the 9th of October. 1871,
Neice, who bad been q night Waterman in
the United States Mint, went to house on
Fifth street, between Jessie and Mission,
carrying in his hand large white bouquet
which he offered TO Jennie ONeil, q nine
teen-year old girl, one of the inmates OF the
house, who was also known as Emma Nee
han. She refused it. whereupon he drew a
revolver and fired four shots at her, wound
ing her IN several places. After he had
ceased firing he approached the wounded
woman, saying: kiss me, for must so. a
/ will swing for this." AS be was leaving
the house he was arrested by officer NJ.
Murphy. as soon as he was in custody he
said 10 the officer: Take your revolver
and kill me, for have an old mother aud
do not want to disgrace her," The prisoner,
who YVES then twenty-one years of age, and
was the son of Adelaide Murdo b. a then
well-known lectures, and nephew of James
L. Murdoch, the tragedisn, came TO tnis city
from Washington, ID. c., ia February pre-
ceding the shooting, and soon after his ar
rival obtained a position in the mint. He
formed the acquaintance OF the woman he
shot, who was a native OF Santa Cruz, and
married to man named Meehan, but who
had separated from her husband. After
leaving her husband she went into house
on Sacramento street, where she was shot at
by her husband. This shooting affected her
mind, and she was sent to the asylum at
Stockton, from which place abe had been dis
charged as cured but short time when
Neice became acquainted with her. On the
10th of October the woman died from the eff
fects OF the wounds Unlisted by Neice, and
Just before dying she declared that Neice had
shot her because she refused to support him.
In February, 1873, Neioe vas brought up in
Judge Morris Court for trial for murder,
and during the trial Jury was sworn to try
his mental condition. The Jury declared
that he was insane, and, as person of un-
sound mind can not be tried for crime, he
was sent TO the asylum.
On the oath of May, 1851, d. L. Smoot,
then District Attorney, moved to dis miss the
Indictment seainst Neice, stating that it was
the IN entiOn to send Neice TO his mother in
Philadelphia. In support OF the motion
there was read letter from DR.. Shnrtlef
Superintendent of the Asylum at Stockton,
IN which the writer said: Although Neice
is still of weak mind and IN poor bodily
health, be is sufficiently recovered to go at
large. and | would therefore advise bis re-
mo7sl." Judge FerIal then presiding in
Department y of the Superior Court, before
whom the molten WIG made, said: II have
toleTsbe clear recollection OF this case. The
IL ordered woman was a POO, wretched
oatcsst, while the young man had
q coed position, and appeared to
he surrounded by Influential friends.
Il is matter of great surprise
Ia End the Superintendent 81 the
asylum advising that Neice should be per.
mltted 10 60 at large. The man is declared
TO have homicidsi mania. yet il is deiber-
ately proposed TO send MIN TO Philadelphia
to bis mother, who lie said 10 De verging on
insanity. Under these circumstances | can
rot and will not dismiss the indictment. IL
what has been ststed is true, Neice could
kin any one IN the community and be
wholly irresponsible. dare not assume the
responsibility of dischaTgiDg such a man."
Recently it came 10 the knowledge OF a re-
porter for the Call that Neice was no longer
an inmate of the asylum, and ss he had not
been discharged by any order OF the Court q
visit was paid TO the asylum, and the entry
which heads this article was discovered. The
authorities at the asylum say they know
nothing of Neice's present whereabouts.