The evening world., 1891-12-03
SOLVING THE LYONS MYSTERY.
New Evidence Dis covered In
eliminating Mickey Sliney.
That Mysterious Note Written ON
Paper Worry Like His Bill Heads.

Cherry Hill turned out in force this morn
Ing and attended the' inquest on Robert
Lyons, who was killed with cleaver In his
butcher shop, at 1852 Cherry street, on Nov.
26 last.
But interest In the case was not confined to
the Fourth Ward, and when Coroner Messe-
mer resumed the inquiry into this most mys-
terious and complicated of cases the court
room was crowded with all classes OF people
anxious to get look at the innocent-looking
boy, Michael Sliney, who stands charged
with the horrible crime-the slaughter OF his
best and most intimate friend.
Conspicuous among the crowd OF witnesses
to-day was Father John ]. Kean, Of st.
James's Roman catholic Church, whose name
was forged to the note which plays such a
prominent part In the affair.
Mrs. Lyons and the widow OF the dead man
sat Just behind sliney, who faced the jury as
calm and unmoved as 1t was possible to be,
When the inquest was adjourned last Mon
day, Frank Hronsish, Lyonss errand boy,
who has given very damaging testimony
against Sliney, was on the stand lie was
recalled for cross-examination by Lawyer
House this morning
Mr. House is suspicious Of the boys story,
and questioned him very closely.
Taking up the note which Father Kean de-
c!ared to be a forgery, Mr.. House asked
Hronsish to write his name and address, and
he wrote In very bad and uneven hand:
"Frank Hronsish, 81 Lequeer street, Brook
lyn." AT Mr.. Houses request he also copied
the forged note, which read:
"Ples send by up to vestry right way"
mi IN
traced.
The boy said he was born In this city and
had worked for Lyons four months He had
also worked Tor man named Love in Ca H.
arne Market. lie remembered all about
sliney, but could not tell when he first went
10 work nor whethe ne went to Loves place
on Thanksgiving morning, the day after the
murder. to get sJIue meat.
Later he said he had a talk with Love, but
did not get any meat.
Did You say to him that Mickey, sliney
did not hand that note to Bob Lyons?" asked
MIR. House.
II can't remember"
"Ddn't you say II was tall, red-cheeked
stranger who gave II 70 him?"
IL can't remember"
"nid you see tail. red-cheeked stranger
the day OF the murderf'
~ can't answer tnat question:
"What did you mean by saying tn Mr.. Love
that you didn't know who gave the note to
Bob, but that 1t was fellow Of that descrip-
tion?'
II can't answer that either"
Father Kean testified In regard to the note
that he did not write It. He had no rcd ink in
lis house. sllney was a member Of his con-
gregatlOn, attended mass and confession
regularly, had been member OF the Church
Literary Union and had done much efficient
voluntary work for the free school OF the
church. His impression OF Sliney's character
was very favorable.
Assistant Distrct.Attorney wauhope Lynn
has No doubt that Sliney is the writer OF the
forged note He has in his possession one OF
Siney's bill heads the writing on which Is in
red ink, and the hand that traced IL Michael
Slincy'". he says. 1t is true that there Is a
striking resemblance In the writing, and what
!, ,norr siiiking still, the forged note Is writ.
Ien. on paper which Is anquestionaotly y
sney shT same knd as are that pr,neo n "hG
size. quality, ruling and water-marks are the
same. The note Is written on a piece Just
half the size OF one OF the bill heads. The
other hall, which might have been the
printed part OF bill head, was torn or.
more than coincidence. He thinks 1t is evi.
dence conclusive tnat Sllney is the writer ol
the note and the murderer.
Loretta Collins, little girl who was in Ly.
onss store Just before the murder, fatty con.
tradicted Frank Hronsish. lie swore that he
was alone with the girl when Lyons and
Sliney entered the store. She swore that
Sliney and Lyons were present all the time
she was there.
Mrs. Mary Mailer, who lives opposite the
scene OF the murder, proveda most important
witness for Sliney, but by her testimony com.
pIicated matters stu more.
She IS acquainted with Sliney, and saw him
leave Lyons's store Five minutes after Sliney
left she heard cry coming from Lyons's
store, and two men came running out and
disappeared In the direction of Market street
" Now we've got 1t. 1t wasn't Sliney," cX.
claimed MIR. House, triumphantly.