Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-10-27
OF a Young Man to Secure Control
Of His Fathers Properly.
THE SEQUEL TO A DISAPPEARANCE
Comes to Hand, After Remaining a Dark
Mystery for the Space Of
Seven Years.
MYSTERIOUS MURDER IN IRELAND

aolo case IL on tue uccket OF tne Sotk
(Ireland) assizss, the winter term Of which
was opened to-day. Seven years ago the
people of CastletoWn Roche were startled
by the sudden disappearance of the wife Of
John Shsehan, wellto do and popular
resident, and of his son and daughter.
The father, who had been IN England
for several days prior b the dis
appearances, Immediately returned home.
and every effort was made to obtain some
information regarding the whereabouts of
the missing people. Large sums Of money
were spent in the quest, but it was without
result, the trio having disappeared as
quickly as though the earth had opened
and swallowed them up. There were ru-
mors of elopements aud Of foul play, but
every clue failed of confirmation.
Years fed by, but the matter was not
forgotten, aud has furnished many sub.
ject for speculation ard chat to the village
gossips around the winter 6resides in the
huts and cabins. Bat few months ago
the n.ighborho0d Was sstounded by the re.
port that the mystery had been solved
that the trio
Rad BEEN BRUTALLY MURDERED
by their son and brother, aud their bodies
hidden in sn abandoned we'll. The rumors
were confirmed BY the arrest Of William
Sheehau and David Browne and by the
finding Of the toiies, or rather Of the re.
mains, little more than the bones and
skulls being left
The Solicitor General allowed sreporter
to-day to make copy Of the principal evi.
dence for the Grown. IL is confession
made by John Duane, father OF q young
man who has admitted that lie assisted in
hiding the bodies. The confession Is as
follows
CONFESSION OF THE WITNESS.
On the day Of the murder William
Sheehsn said to me: Johnny, you won't
tell what am going to do to dayY He
did not say what it was, Ior did know
what he meant. This was about
an hour before anything took place.
/ was standing in the yard
Just outside the stable door. Thos. Shee.
han first went into the stable, and William
followed him in. David Brown was also in.
side. Suddenly William picked up club
and struck bis brother twice upon the
head. He dropped, end ! could see
that he was killed-dead The William and
Browne crossed over and went into
the house, followed them at hule die
tance. Wills mother and his little sister
Hannah were in the little room below the.
kitchen. Will went behind his mother,
struck her on the head with club
and then he caught her by the throat
and cboked her until she was
dead. At the same time Brown struck
Hannah on the head with the
same club, knocked her down and choked
her until she was black in the face and
ceased TO breathe. had been standing at
the door all this time and Will asked meif
would help them take the bodies over to
tie stable. l was afraid they would kill me,
and consented. Next morning, before day
light, we put the bodies into the buggy spd
drove to t5e we'll William throwed them
in-the o'd woman first, then Hannah,
and then Tom. After this we threw in q
lot of fttones and covered them over with
wh;teihorn bushes. Then we went back
to the house, got some girls TO come in
end played the concertiDa aud danced ell
day"
THE MOTIVE CT THE MURDERER.
The motive of the crime vas the desire
on William sheehan's part to obtain con-
troll of the property after his fathers death.
and it is believed that at one time be con-
templated making away with his sire.
Both Browne and Duane knew that
if they gave away" the details
of the terrible crime they would
stand good chance of being hanged, and
hence the remarkable way in which the
secret has besn kept for so many years.
There is no doubt but that Sbeehan and
Browne will 90 TO the scsfold, while
Duane is likely to do service for long
term for bis share in the bloody deed. The
disclosures have created the greatest SEN
sstion known in that part Of Ireland for
half century.