Omaha daily bee., 1891-11-16
WHO KILLED CHARLEY crow
Question Which Just Now Lacks an Answer
at Lincoln.
HIS WIFE SAYS HE DID IT HIMSELF
Facts Brought Forward TO support
the Suicide Theory Almost
Another Murdcr-Mystery of
Mrs. Morrisscy's Death.

question generally debated iii Lincoln today.
Since the affair Crow has persistently al
firned that the woman, Eloda Grow, shot
him, but It was not until noon today that her
tongue was Embossed. AT that hour word
was brought to her that he was slowly dy-
ing, and had asked to see her. She was
taken to his residence in a hack, and on her
way thither she told her story 10 Jailer
Kiser. She said that Crow had come home
moro than half drunk, and n quarrel ensued
between them. That he suddenly pulled out
his revolver, a 3S-calibre Smith Il Wcsson,
and fired at her. She had anticipated the
movement and had reached the
door when the bullet few past her
head and lodged IN the iamb. She
screamed Justify, and Charley, supposing
that he had killed her, turned the pistol on
himself.
l.. w. Billingsloy, an attorney and friend
of Crow, announces his belief. in the woman's
story, and states that within the past TWO
months Crow has several times spoken of
suicide in his serious moods. The story of
the woman is partially borne out by the fact
that it is difficult to conceive how she could
have stood in such a position as to have fired
one shot into the door and the other into
Crow, if the blood marks on the floor indi-
cate where he stood when struck.
On the other hand, the wounded man has
repeatedly told his story to the
watchers by the bedside. His state
ment is the same as that heretofore
published, with the exception that he now
states it was the first bullet that struck him.
He fell to the floor and an instant afterward
started for the door leading into the hall
way. That while cropping for the knob in
the semi-twilight she shot at him again, the
bullet entering the woodwork. The blood
stained finger marks on the white wall near
the door seem mute testimonials OF the truth
of that portion of his story.
When M. &. WILLIAMS, who rooms di-
rectly above, arrived on the scene Crow was
lying unconscious midway between the door
and The pool Of blood, the spot where the
wounded man claims he was first struck.
After regainlng consciousness his first words
were to accuse hero the crime, to which sho
t~earfulIy responded, "Oh, Charley, how
could you say sosn Today when she was
brought into the room where Crow was lying
propped up with pillows, she made a rush for
his bedside, and with tears yelling from her
eyes she took his mead in both her hands
and, kissing HIM tenderlv, exclaimed: Il
forgive you, dear; tell them, tell them the
truth ~
BY that time, however, he was beyond
hearing or speech and no recognition of her
or her words was vouchsafed. She %tearfully
pleaded with HIM to tel them all, but was
finally led sobbing from the room.
In probing for the bullet the physicians
pulled out small fragments of wooden cloth,
which, it was subsequently found, were
shot from the lapel of the coat Crow
was wearing at the time. This is
deemed conclusive evidence that Grow, in
the excitement of the moment, attempted to
shield himself from the bullet by drawing
the lapel OF the coat over his face, as the or
binary position of that portion of the gar
ment marked by the bullet Is on tho left
breast.
This afternoon the doctors gave up all
hope, and say that he " i'll not live through
the NIGHT The bnllpt iS believed 10 have
lodged against the spinal column, and his
right side is already paralyzed.
At 8 O'Clock Crow was yet alive and will
live until morning. At any rate he has lost
the power of speech, but tonight was able to
understand when spoken to but could answer
only by making signs with his left hand.
Grow was o queer compound of stupidity
and cunning, ignorance and intelligence. He
came here seven years ago from Bucyrus,
o.. has been successfully a hotel
porter, a backdrlver and q private
detective. He has never been known to
detect anything or anyone, however, at least
the public has never heard OF his catching
any notorious criminal. He was compelled
to leave Salt Lake, where he was a temper
airy sojourner some years ago, because OF his
alliance with the Mormon party i'll the pend
ing election as a boodler and colonizer of
votes. Here he had an unsavory reputation
as a political worker and agent of boodlers,
as a jury-tixer and as a blackmailer. The
adherents of the suicide theory are few
among those who knew the man well. He
WAS always literally supplied with money,
but an examination of his effects showed
only a bank balance of $575.
ALMOST A MURDER.
Prompt action by the police this afternoon
prevented another murder in Lincoln. Old
Tom Lynch and his gray haired wife Mary
are a whisky-Sodden couple whose frequent
Drawls have made them familiar figures in
police court. Today, while crazed with
iiouor, the old man attacked mis- wife with a
pbur IN 1uShat' Tho DlOyv cpuUht her on the
right arm, cutting a long, deep cash. She
retaiiated with II blow on his head from q
poker, stunning the old man for a moment
lie grappled with hor and succeeded in
throwing her out of doors onto the banks of
Salt creek, into the shallow waters of which
she slowly rolled. When the police arrived
old Tom had secured Il loaded revolver and
was staggering towards where the old
woman was painfully crawling uD the
banks flourishing it in the air. He was dis
armed, and the old couple, both covered with
blood, was taken 10 the station and locked up.
WAS SHE KILLED FOR MONEY!
1t trapspires that Mrs. Anna Morrissey,
the old woman found burned to death in the
ashes OF ner house, eight miles north of Lin
coin, had drawn $3.50 out of the bank when in
the city Friday, Sll5 of which she took with
her when she started home. The sheritf's
deputies have a clue that may lead to the
arrest of the guilty party, some clrcum-
stances pointing to the belief that it Is a case
of murder. If they can secure evidence
enough to back up their theory, a sensational
arrest L will follow. Several well-to-do
farmers from Rock Creek precinct were in
city today, aud demanded that the coroner
investigate, which will DO done tomorrow.
FUNERAL OF FRANK cHAFFEE.
The remains of Frank Chatfee, the intrepid
fireman, who died last evening from injuries
eceived in the discharge OF his duties on
Tuesday night last, were Inferred today ia
Wyuka with all the public and civic honors
his chiyarlous life and heroic devotion TO
duty o merited. Impressive services were |
held at the Capital hotel at 3 O'Clock by Rov. 1
JOAN Hewitt OF Holy Trinity Episcopal
church.. So large was the outpourIng that it
was impossible to get near the hotel steps
while the immediate thOrOughfares were a
lam of people and carriages. The body was
escorted to the grave by delegations Of the
knights of Pythias, Masons, brotherhood Of
Locomotive Firemen, Turnrerein and
letter carriers, while the full
fire department, equipments, engines, |
trucks and men followed him TO his last
resting place. Tue apparatus was appro-
~priately drapedi in mourning, and six stalwart |
firemen Of Hose company No. l, of which the
deceased was lieutenant, officiated as pail