Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-08

Trying 10 Extort Money From q
OhuFch street woman by Fiend-
Ism Cruelty.

AhgtnB 10 ExtoEh money from n
Ohurch street Woman by Fiend-
fsn Cruelty.
Conspicuous because OF IT'S dilapi-
dated condition with broken win
dow panes, leaky roof, patched
up steps and weather beaten door,
on the east side OF Church street imme-
distely below Old Swede's Church yard,
stands . one-roomed shAnty, the humble
abode Of Mrs. Rooney an aged widow.
As the bslls tolled midnight and the
New Year was ushered in with chimes,
Mrs. Rooney with withered hands
wrapped her shawl more tightly and
huddled closer to miserable little stove,
and through the dim light Of the sput-
tering tallow dip might have been des.
cried fragile trembling form, a pair
Of piercing black eyes peering from a
wrinkled pale face half covered by
shaggy locks Of iron gray. Mrs. Rooney
was thinking Of the many New Years
that had come and gone during her
nearly three score years. The bells
tolled one. Gan Ia quiet on Church
street," said the weary blue coat as he
left his beat to report to his sergeant.
Mrs. Rooney slept.
AWu iuuhtbk kuoh WJth bkUuUh
hats covering half Of their faces orept
.stealthily to the back door of her hovel
and tried It. 1t was looked. With an
oath one Of them burst IL open and
rushed In. Mrs. Rooney awoke with
start, sprsng from her little cot and
screaming murder rushed for the front
door.
'No you DON'T" said the leader.
Choke the old iool," said the other,
"that'll fetch her." Springing forward,
the first man caught her by the throat
and threw her on the bed.
"Would ye murder me :" she cried.
siYss We would" he hissed putting his
hand over her mouth, tand that pretty
quick, If we don't get your money" The
other man began rsnEaCking thereon and
upset the stove.
Infuriatsd at not finding anything, he
rushed to the bed, and while his accom-
plloe buried bis kpee in the womsn'e
breast he dug the flesh ont Of her faos
with his finger nails and, while abe was
squirming with pain, said he knew she
had been given money by Father Reilly,
and he meant to have 1t. Upon her per-
sisting that she had no money, he
grabbed her hair, wet with blood which
had trickled from her lacerated face
and dragged her about the room, the
other man holding his hands over her
eyes and face. She pleaded with them
not to kill her and to believe that she
had no money, but 1t only increased their
anger. They told her abe must die. One
put his knee again on her breast and the
other buried his thumbs in her throat.
Her eyes started from their sockets. Her
face turned livid, and she gurgled
prayer 30 the Virgin Mary.
''Shs'B dying man." said the sooun-
drsl, who was choking her.
swell let her die here" he growled.
"No You fool, drag the old hag out the
back door and finish her with the axe"
hissed the other human fend. Her body
went through the most horrible oontor
tions. Her night clothes were torn to
shreds, and In their efforts to hold her,
the soanty bed clothes were torn away
from her cot, revealing small, greasy,
worn leather wallet. One Of the
men eagerly grabbed It and examined its
contents. "By --l just $3 for this
nights work." he exclaimed, and with
parting ourse both men rushed ont into
the darkness. hardly had the clocks
struck two, when the stiffness at Seventh
and Church streets was broken by heart.
rendlng cries Of "Help I" "aelp I"
Murder |" Sleeping residents were
startled and rushed TO their doors.
A repetition Of the agonizipg cry
brought them to Mrs. Rooney's
front door, when they found her naked
body upon the threshold. She was taken
to the house Of neiRhbor, where her
wounds were dressed and she was kindly
cared for.
In ber rambling talk 10 GAZETTE AND
JOURNAL reporter she said that Father
Reilly " yesterday week gave her $8, and she
paid IS Of Il to her doctor. She heard q
week ago that false impression pre-
vailed that 5000 had been lett her
The poor woman is penniless and desti-
tute.