Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-08-21
HUGH swEENEYs McTIM.
ThonsRs Martin is Undoubtedly Dezf-Tn-
iured in the Head for Life.

jured in the Head for Life.
Thomas Martin, the man whom Hugh
Sweeney tried to assassinate on the night
of June 16, came TO this city yesterday
from New Castle to see his physician, DR.
N. b. Morrison, who saved him from
death during the weeks he lay at the
Western Hotel DR.. Morrison was not at
home, so Martin remained over night with
Ar Macklem Of the Western Hotel Yes
terday afternoon, after the last edi-
ti0n Of the EVENING JOURNAL had gone
20 press, he called at this Office to see
what the papers had recently said about
him. He had a copy Of Thomas GILES
pies letter attacking him, which appeared
IN the Daily Republican on last Friday
Martin acknowledged writing the letter
to Mrs. Sweeney, a copy of which APP
peared in Gillespies letter but he denied
emphatically that he conversed with any
one since the assault without the use Of
a pencil and paper.
The reporter talked for nearly an hour
with Martin and tried in various ways to
get him TO hear He asked him several
questions very sharply and plainly after
getting him deeply interested in some
other feature OF his case by means Of
questions written on slips of paper
There is no doubt that Martin il deaf
utterly unable to hear. He took but one
question from the reporters lips To
the question els Sweeney marriedfp
he answered slowly by repeating the
question first and then saying ives. "
Are you msrried2' brought negative
answer in the same manner Martin is n
frank. open man He answers promptly
all questions shown to him, but has trou-
bic TO recollect His injuries have left
him in an unfortunate condition. He
cannot think and speak clearly. His
manner, too, is affected He is exceed
ingly nervous. looks melancholy whom
left alone, but when spoken to he laughs
readily in confused, abashed manner.
An ugly dent over his left eye Is the out
ward mark Of Sweeneys brutal and cow
ardly assault.
He says that he fred OF gun a few
days ago, while at Kirkwood, where he
spent several weeks and was surprised 70
find out that he could not cven hear that.
When the smoke appeared without the
sound of the explosion he was frightened
After a while he tried the other barrel
and then II dawned on him that he could
not hear the explosion. He says that he
Is ashamed to walk in the streets, as he
reels very much like a drunken man.
His head is dizzy and noises buzz through
his head He hears tho sea roar, engines
exhalisting steam, powder explosions and
even the singing Of birds and other gen
tie Ecises These noises are constantly
charging. He heard q shaft spinning, he
said while in this office
lie could not tell why Sweeney should
have attacked him in the saloon on
the night of the attempted murder "un-
less it Was q woman who lives in the west
ern part Of this city He said that he
once took a ride with this woman but did
not gohome with her. They were with an
other couple This woman, he learned
afterwards, was Sweeneys swee heart
IL will be recalled that Sweeney was said
so be in hiding with his mistress in the
southwestern part of the city for
several days after his assault
on Martin Martin proposes to prosecute
Sweeney If he has Ito crawl to the Court
House Sweeney drew a knife in the
squabble at the saloon, Martin denies
positively that he bit Sweenoy's car. He
wants TO know why Sweeney docs not
show mp, If his case is as good as his
friend Gillespie tries to make it appear
Martin says that he does not know as d
fact that Sweeney threw the stone which
SO nearly ended his life His compan-
ions however. recognized the would-be
assassin. OF tho attempts to settle the
case, Martin says that two Of Sweeneys
agents came to him just after he got out
Of bed The first offered $50 to settle the
case with Sweeney. This was refused.
Then he offered $3.50. but this was also
declined few days later another man,
named Messicl, called He was a short,
dark, thick. set man, who talked money.
Martin finally said that he would take
$500 in settlement, provided the law al
lowed it, This man promised to return
on the day following, but he has not
turned up to this day.
Martin does not know what he will or
can do for living He is a stone-mason
by trade and was working on the new
children's home at Riverview when the
assault was made He was earning $3 a
day Had he been injured as much by a
railroad collision as he was by Sweeney,
he could easily have obtained life com
potency of SIS, 600 or $4,000 He says
that he has few relatives but good
many warm friends.