Daily Republican., 1888-08-17
A Plain Statement
IOoMMUNICATRp l

repetitlon Of miahtAtements and false
noo0s concerning the fFacaB In whicf
dugh Sweeney is alleged to have ~
seulted Thomas B. Marlin. As q friend
OF right and Justice between man and
man, | deem 1t nearly time that this
journal should call halt in mAliRnLng
Mr.. Sweeney and his family. When
the affair was first published I felt my.
self constrained to correct the RlarinR
falsehoodBs but thought, in ali fair
ness % q matter of conscience and for
the reparation due to such terrible
wrenR done TO the mans character, shat
the editors OF the Journal would be at
pains to learn the true facts of the case,
and then, aa gentlemen, right the wrong
~ far as 10 them lay. But as each sue
ceedinR Issue but adds insult to injury,
have inteEested myself in the case
and hud, after the most diliRent in
quiry, that MF. Sweeney has been
wronged in this matter. The result Of
my Investigation now offer to the
iair minded and intelligent Judgment of
the public. And As your valuable
paper was the only publication in the
city that evinced any conscientious re
gard for the natural right which every
man has to his fair name in the com.
munlty, politely request the use OF
your columns.
On the evening Of the assault Mr..
sweeney had been in PhilAdelphiA on
business, and upon returning 10 this
Guy ne, together with friend OF Mr..
Martin, stopped Rt the saloon. Here he
met mr. Martin drinking with o party
shake Mr.. Sweeney Joined the party in
several rounds OF drink, Then. the
talk turning on pigeon shooting,
Sweeney In an affAble manner said
"Why you should be as good shot ag
me, for couldn't hit q flock Of barn
DOORS" This aneered Martin, and
pulling off his coat he began TRADE Of
vile and abusive Language While
Sweeney WAS expostulatinR with him
for getting mad without cause Martin
struck him = violent blow in the face,
In defending himself from the crowd
Sweeney wna knocked down, and Mar
tini like Q ferocious Cnnnibsl, began
chewing Sweeney's ear, and even after
they were assisted to their feet Martin
SILL held the ear like q savage bull dog;
and it was only ut the earnest entreaty
OF his own friends that Martin let 20
with his teeth. While the oombAtAnts
were. tusslinR on the floor q fellow
Doarder OF Martini butcher by trade,
pulled out knife, saying that II there
was any cutting to be done he would do
his share. In the meantime the police
came In and advised the parties to go
home. Sweeney went up the stree. with
the officer and left him at the corner,
He then went into the corner saloon to
cleanse the blood and Fpittle from bis
ear and cheek. When he stepped Into
the street few minutes AfterWsFd he
met MEriin and his party who were
loudly Dragging Of what they had done
and what they intended to do.
Then Sweeney, whose feelings were
outraged by the horrible usAge he had
received in q moment Of frenzy, did
what In his oAlnler moments would
never have happened. Sweeney is not
the fret man upon whom Martin has
used his teeth. His record on this score
is an open secret around New Castle
County. Since the ARRAY q few of Mr..
Martins friends, who are connected
with fourth. rate hotel, have kept him
posed before the public rs o martyr.
The object 10 a money consideration, ae
the following fac simile OF the second
letter which Mrs. Sweeney received
fully aitssts:
WESTERN HOTEL, NJ. MackIem, pro.
prietor, s. Il, corner Fourth and Orange
streets, stables attached, WILMINGTON.
DEL, July 20, 1888 Mrs. Sweeney:
| have waited for some OF HuSheyis |
friends to come and settle this. will |
be six weeks on Saturday now II some
one don't come and FIX 1t before Satur.
day night, will haft TO forss 1t have
said nothing about 1t before there was
hare n trVrnuvr &
and told him. he said you sent him, |
now will forse 1t on Monday morning
/ will have him II he can be had and
make him suffer the law for attemp
murder IL do not hear from You before
Saturday night.
THos B. MARTIN,
8. e. OF Forth an Orange st
Wilmington, Del.
AB to the state msnt that Martin is
deaf, let me say that I myself had
talk with him.
The conVersAtlon was carried on In an
ordinary tone of voice, and he had no
difficulty In hearing me and answering
my questions, During the conversation
he admitted that he did not know who
had struck him, can attest to this
under oath.
Hugh II Sweeney is no stranger in
Wilmington, he has many friends, and
has never yet been locked up for any
crime Ia any plsce outside of New Jer-
sey. His grandparents were citizsna Of
Delaware, his father rAised and quar-
tered company until they were mus
tered in for the defence of the Union.
In an interview which l had, Chief
of Detectives Wood, of Phlladelphia,
informed me that Mr.. SWeeney's pic
ture WAS not In the 'trOgues' gallery;"
that he did not know him, had never
seen him. nor knew any thing about
htmi that the only redress would be 3 |
suit for libel. The arst and only time |
that he was locked up WAS in that uu-
fortunate Jersey affair, In which, from
boyish ohivAlry in screening an old
class mate and friend from the RalloWs,
he foolishly allowed himself to suffer
rather than the others life be leopard
ized.
The man who Is guilty of that crime,
as many Of our reputable citizens can
attest, is living in this city to day.
In conclusion, there Is neither whIn.
ing on one side nor blaokeninR oharac.
ter on the other, but q plain, nm.
vanished story of the naked truth OF
the matter. Yours,
THos. GILLESPIE.
Powell, in Washington street market
and No. 308 Madison street, has . good
lot OF hsh for to-morroW's market; Also
CLAIMS and HOLSTERS.
--s-S
Bargains In Lace Oapa,