Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-19
IS HE SHEEDY'S MURDERER?
Mcfarland, Negro Barber of Lincoln
Confes'es the Crime.
\ ~ SAYS HE WAS BRBED TO DO IT.
He duplicates the Victims Wife In
the Plot, but There is no Cor
roborativc Evidence
to Prove 1t.

LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 1S.-TSpecial to The
Bee Mrs. Shcedy and Harry Walstrom
were arrested late this afternoon charged
with completely in the murder of John
Sheedy.
The arrest of Monday Mcfarland tho
negro barber, last night, on the charge of
being the murderer of John Sheedy, resulted
today in full confession by the colored man.
He tells one of the most revolving stories of
intrigue and crime ever known in the history
OF the state.
Mcfarland confessed that he was the cow
ardly assassin who made the assault on John
Sheedy last Sunday night, but he said that it
was not malice that prompted him to commit
the act, but bribe of $4,000 offered by Mrs
Sheedy TO the negro to murder her husband
AS is well known in Lincoln, Mrs. Sheedy
left her last band, who was poor carpeu-
ter, to marry Sheedy, then a man of great
wealth, although old enough to be her father
1t appears that she has been anything else
than true wife, and Of late it is alleged she
has become infatuated with dapper young
fellow But between her and her new found
love stood the husband, and in order to get
rid of this obstacle, She, as Mcfarland
alleges, employed the negro to kill the man
who had often bcfriended him.
In order, Mcfarland says to more com
pletely get the negro in her power she became
criminaly intimate with him and today he
4 exhibited to the mayor, chief of police and
:" detective most revolving evidences of his
crime
A few days before the murder Mcfarland
was noticed by an acquaintance lurking in a
dark alley on p street, just block from
Sheedy's nome. In response to query as to
what he was doing there he gave very sus-
pcious answer
On the day before the murder Mrs. Sheedy
is SAID to have been in McFarlands barber
shop and there it is believed the final ar
rangements were made for the assassination
of the woman's husband
The above story IS based almost solely on
the confession of Mcfarland aud is of course
susceptible Of better proof. The city is full
of reports concerning the crime and the
PUBLIC, ,Mmst await legal examination before
a<SShite conclusion as to tho guilt or
Inocence of parties charged with completely
in the crime can be formed. The terrible
charge against Mrs Sheedy made by Nc
Farland lacks confirmation and the public
will withhold its Judgment until all the facts
are brought out and the lady's testimony has
been heard.
mitted was heavy steel rod, covered with
leather, and was of penitentiary make. 1t
was formerly the property Of Captain Carder
of the police force, but was lost about year
ago. It finally found its way into Goldwaters
pawn shop and was bought there by Nc
Farland five days before the murder.
After the assault the murderer dropped the
cane and this was the only clue on which the
detectives had to work,
There remain still more important develop
ments, as IT. is believed by the attending
physicians that Sheedy did not die from the
effects of the blows alone. The body is to
be exhumed and chemical analysis Of the
contents of the stomach made.
Mayor Graham, Chief of Police Melck and
Detective Melone could scarcely believe their
- own ears as the murderer Mcfarland, un-
Nodded the dovilish plot concocted by Mrs
Sheedy to have her own husband assassin
ated in his home.
Mrs. Sheedy, Mcfarland says, told hin
.shat she would prefer having her husband
killed some other way than being shot. Ac
U cordingly, Mcfarland, greedy for the SO, ,0O(
prize offered by the woman, decided to brair
his benefactor. Accordingly he purchased
the steel cane at Pawnbrol Goldwater's
place. This weapon he showed TO Mrs.
Sheedy and after carefully examining the in
strument Of death, the woman expressed her
appreciation Of this selection of weapon that
would do sure work in its deadly mission
She ordered that her husband be murdered
that evening, but the negro weakened ant
failed to perform the terrible crime assigned
TO him.
AS above stated, Mrs. Sheedy went to Nc
Farlapds barber shop week ago yesterday
and there it is believed she made fina
arrangements for the destruction Of hel
husband
On the night OF the murder Mcfarland, II
compliance with the orders of Mrs. Sheedy
slipped INTO the kitchen of Sheedy's homo
and remained concealed there. Again h
weakened and implored the woman who wa
planning the assassination to let him out o
the terrible job. Drawing revolver, tn
desperate woman showed it in the negro
face aud threatened to kill him If he did no
carry out the work assigned to him. Mrs
- Sheedy then told the negro that Harry Wal
strom of Buffalo, n. Y, the fellow who wa
In league with her. would readily perform tn
deed but out of her love for Walstrom sh
did not wish him to do the work as long q
she could buy plenty of others who were will
ing to do 1t for one-tenth the money offere
Mcfarland, All this time Mrs. Sheed
held q revolver in her hand and the negro
between fright and Tear that somebody els
would get the $50, 900 offered for the murder
decided 10 obey the orders of the woman.
Mrs. Sheedy then poured out an ordinar
goblet over half full of whisky and gave
to the negro. He. took it and drank It, Mrs
Sheedy then told him, he says, that if h
would only beat her husband with sufficien
violence so that he would have to go to be
she would attend to the finishing of the jot
She then ordered the negro to go TO the fron
door and as soon as her husband stepped GU
to brain him II possible. She SAID she woul
get Sheedy out of the house If she had to pro
pose a walk
''rhe rest OF the story says Mcfarland
''is only partially known. Just aftah MI
Sheedy stepped out Of the front do, wa
surprised to see that he turned toward m
4. instead of toward the street. Mrs. Sbeed
was on the other side of the do, andI believ
that she closed the do suddenly and shove
Mr. Sheedy out on the poach. then le