The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-09-30
SHOT BY HER SON.
A Tragedy in Chatham Street fester-
day Afternoon.
Patrick Feeney's Rash Act and Its
Probably Fatal Result
The Mother Declares the Shooting 10
Have Been Accidental.

Patrick Feeney, a boy about SlAtceh 9o''
old, son of Patrick Feeney, laDorer oni
ployed by the Portland Water Company
while talking and laughing with his mother
at his fathers house ON Chatham street yes
terday afternoon, discharged pistol which
he held in his hand and the ball entered the
woman's body, inficting dangerous wouno.
The boy at once ran from the house anu
down Chatham to Fore street where he as
appeared. The news Of the tragedy spread
with great rapidity and shortly after the
shooting Drs. Cammett and Palmer had as
sumed control of the case and the police were
at work endeavering to find Feeney, while
large crowd had collected around the house.
Patrick Feeney, the boy who did the shoot
ing, has not borne good reputation. lie
was committed to the State Reform School
for larceny in January 1885, and remained
an inmate of that Institution until June n,
1856, when he made his escape. Superinten-
dent Harrington states that Feeney was an
average boy. He made his escape by rum
ming off when left in charge of a lady teach
er. Since his escape Superintendent Far
rington has heard of Feeney's being in the
city several times and has reason to believe
neighbors to the family when he made these
visits home.
Mrs. Griffin, young woman VINO lives
opposite the FeeneyS, and told her story in
straightforward manner, said that she had
witnessed the shooting. She said: Il was
standing in the yard looking through the
window of the room, where Patsy was talk
ing with his mother. They were all pleasant
and had letter. The boy was laughing and
joking with his mother. He had pistol in
his hand, but could not see what kind it
was. turned around to stop the noise made
by the children in the yard, and heard the
boy say. My God, I've shot my mother l
heard no shot and thought he was fooling,
but looked and saw Mrs. Feeney fall over
forward. The boy then ran from the house.
/ entered the room and looked at Mrs.
Feeney. Then called the neighbors."
Kate Feeney, one of the daughters of Mrs.
Feeney, said that she was away at her work
at the time of the shooting, and came home
when sent for. She said that she had not
seen her brother since he ran away from the
Reform School until three days ago, when he
came home. He had spent the two nights
been away good deal during the day. His
sister said that she supposed it was because
he did not want to be seen that he had not
staid more at home. She knew of no trouble
between the boy and his mother. and did not
know of his being around home before this
visit since his escape from the Reform
School. She said her brother since his
escape had lived in another city. The older
sister, from whom the letter was received,
has been in Portsmouth about week. Her
name is Della and she is expected home to-
day.
The house where the shooting occurred is
a one and one-half wooden structure on
Chatham street, halfway between Middle
and Fore streets. 1t is occupied by several
families and has upon the front the sign of
French laundry The Feeneys' rooms are on
the ground floor, and slightly below the level
of the yard at the side of the house. The
room where the shooting occurred is about
twelve feet square, and used as kitchen. A
door opened into the yard, and beside it was
a window. Mrs. Feeney, when the pistol
was discharged, was standing in the centre
of the room.
Some of the boys who had been associates
of Feeney's are reported to have said he
had saved money to buy the pistol. He is
quoted as saying that he was going to buy
pistol with which "to fix the old woman
One boy said that when Feeney drew the
pistol in the room with his mother, he put it
against her body and said, ''Look out, old
woman" at the same moment the shot was
fired. Another report is to the effect that
Feeney has been in the habit of carrying a
revolver and knife for long time.
The physicians in attendance upon Mrs.
Feeney found that the ball had entered be-
tween the fourth and fifth ribs on the left
side of the body and had probably penetra-
ted the lung. The woman is probably fatal
ly wounded. She was too weak Immediate
ly after the shooting to permit the physi-
clans to probe for the ball and stimulants
had to be constantly administered.
County Attorney Seiders took Mrs. Fee
ney's ante-mortem statement last night. The
woman was so weak that she could tell her
story only with difficulty and frequent
pauses.
She said she came home about half past
two in the afternoon when Patrick was in
the house playing with the children. Short
lyIafter she got home, the letter carrier left a
letter for Mrs. Feeney from her daughter
Mrs Griffin was standing outside the win
dow at the time and Mrs. Feeney told her
about the letter. Patrick began to play with
his mother and said ''that's good news for
me old woman" At this point the pistol
was fired. Mrs. Feeney saw the boy point
the pistol at her pIayfully and it was then
discharged The mother and son had not
had any words. Patrick was at about arms
length from his mother when the shot was
fired. The dying wtman said that she had
never seen Patrick with pistol and he had