Daily Republican., 1888-06-18

Ex-Ohief Engineer OF the Htke Do-
pArsmsnt Hugh r.. Sweeney made
oowardly and brutal assault on Thomss
Martin about Il O'Clock last Saturday |
night, which will probably result IN
his death. II seems the men we're In |
Nrs. KIirser's saloon, on Second street
between French and Walnut, when |
they became engaged In o quarrel, and
Sweeney, who is mach the larger man,
struck Martin. They then olincheo
and Martin bit eweepey's ear, when
they were separated and the latter taken
away by his friends. Sweeney hsd
been drinking and was quite qnatrei-
some, but Martin IL 10 said was per-
fectly sober. Sweeney went As iAr ~
Second and French with his friends,
when no refused to 70 any further ana
they left hlu OF that point.
He armed himself with large ssone
and laid In walt for his Antagonist iof
some twenty minutes, when he, uneus
way TO the hotel where he boarded. As
Sweeney saw him ApproAohinR no
waited until he was within o few feet.
when he threw the stone with csushinR
force, striking Martin squArely on sae
forehead. TIE only witness 70 snls ufu.
eel and oowardly attack was Robert
Wilson, who was In company wisn
Martin. As soon ~ the latter was
struck he sank bleeding and senseiess
10 she sidsv ak, and Sweeney, seeing
the result Of the blow, ran out Ersnen
lstreet and made his escape. WILSON
|summoned assistance. and the tp1 1ured
Imam Was taken 10 . Wilmington traus
fer coach to the Western Hotel, where
he has been boarding for some ume.
IDr. Morrison was called In, bot - soon
los he saw she extent of the mans in1u-
Iriss he deemed ID advisable 10 have ss-
sistanoe, and DR.. osie WAS summoned,
An examination was then made OF tne
wound, and 10 was found that the
frontal bone was crushed In. with sns
pieces pressing on the brain. The ply
siciArs suoeeeded In removing she
lsplinsers and carefully dressed she
wound, but the man did not regain con.
sole usness, and 1t In doubtful II he ever
will.
| He was still alive this morning. bul
the phyeicians have very little hope o.
Ibis recovery; still It ts very much In nh
favor that he is . strictly temperate
Imam, with q good constitution that hal
mot been undermined BY excesses. u
is Q stone mason and belongs In New
ICAstle, but for several months hal
worked In this city and boarded at thu
Western Hotel. The bartender said
this morning that during the time h'
hiss been there, he never knew him u
ldrink anything stronger than sarsapa
Irilla, aud that he was quiet, penceaDi'
man In every respect.
sweeeny had not beeu captured up y
this morning, bat 1t iR believed that %
lis still In this city, waiting to learn th'
result Of his victims ipjuries. Las
IeysniBg his bartender called at th'
iWssitrh aatAi and made very parlicu
lar iUQuiry about Martins condition
and as soon as he learned that ther
was probability that he would no
live through the night, left the plao
hurriedly, without saying . word.
81 Sweeney had . similar trouble .
Bird Reton, N. j., some years ago. b
was 1T that pace on an excursion, IN
Iduring fizht In which he was engaged
man WAS struck on the head with
pitcher and died from the effects OF "a
blow. Sweeney was arrested, bus th
others who were engaged In the hgh
managed to escape. and IS there Wf
some doubt about him being the on
who struck the fatal blow, he escape
with m imprisonment He has bee
= keeping o liquor saloon ut Ninth IN
Church streots, but at the recent term I
v court, his application lfor . renewal |
his licenses was refused, and 1t 10 sal
that since then hs has been drinkin
quite heavy.