Helena weekly herald., 1889-06-13
NEWS
From the Daily -rerald OF June 10.
PROBABLY SUICIDE.
Death of Mrs. Sheehan Under Suspi-
cious Circumstances.

This morning about o'clock the police
were notified that a woman named Shee-
han, was lying dead in cabin at No. 412
South Clore street. They proceeded to the
place and found the dead body of wo-
man about twenty three years of age lying
on the floor of the cabin.
The house was also occupied by two
brothers. named Shea, who said the de-
ceased was their niece and that she had
died at II o'clock last night. The younger
of the brothers has only been in the city
a few weeks. The other is an old timer
and has lived in the cabin with
the woman in question for several
years. 1t is alleged that last
night the younger brother was playing
faro a. one of the up town gambling
resorts, when his brother stepped in and
whispered to him, Katie is dead" In
stead of being surprised at the information
the younger Shea simply looked up to say
rs that SOP" and continued his game,
remaining at the faro table an hour
longer Another peculiar circumstance
is that both men last night
slept in the only bed in the
cabin, while their alleged niece lay dead
and neglected upon the floor of the scantily
furnished room. When asked why they
allowed her to die on the floor, they re-
piled that she alwrys slept on the floor, but
offered no ex planation of why they allowed
the corpse to lie there all night while they
both took their rest on the bed. From
all information in the possession o! the
pOlice, the woman was In good
health yesterday, and her sudden death
can only be attributed to two causes sui
eide or poisoning at the hands of others
The statement of the Shea brothers and
two ounce bottle of carbolic acid with
three-fourths of the contents gone, which
was found on table in the room, poin to
the former theory, but no burns or traces
of the acid were found on the lips
or mouth of the deceased.
The circumstances surrounding the affair
were so suspicious that Judge Sanders,
acting coroner, at once empanelled jury
and began an inquest on the remains. After
sitting for an hour, the jury adjourned
until o'clock this afternoon, at which
time additional witnesses are expected to
be present.
The substance of the testimony showed
that the woman was in good health and
spirits yesterday, bat late in the evening
complained of feeling sick. Her uncle, M.
Shea, called in DIR. Schulin, who examined |
the woman and came to the conclusion that |
she had either taken or been given poison |
in the shape of carbolic acid. The doctor
went out to call in DR.. Lesser and |
when he returned the woman was dead |
He detected the smell of carbolic acid in
the room and on the body. M. Shea
showed him a letter written by the de-
ceased, in which she stated that she was
unhappy and respondent and resolved to
end her life She had said nothing while
living indicating such an iDten
ton. Quinlan Shea, the younger
brother, in his testimony explains
his action at the gambling table by
saying that he thought his brother was
Joking and told him the woman was dead
merely to get him away from the gam
bling table. The name of the deceased
was Kate Sheehan She had been married
about four years and was widow, her
maiden name being Kate Mccarthy. She
leaves little girl, who it is said, will be
placed in charge of the Sisters at ST. Johns
Hnenital