Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-13
DIED FOR LOVE.
PIgISHURG POLICEMAN DEAHL KILLS HIHsILE
ON A BUSY STREET.
Found Dead on The Pavement By His Hsartbroksn
Wii-Ths End 4 His InfatuatOn for
Pretty Wairsss-Ths Remarkable
Letter BE Lsh Behind.

Deahl, aged 20 years, and one OF the
best known police officers Of the
First district, became the victim last
night Of one Of the most sensational
cases of suicide known in the history OF
the city. Deceased was married man
and leaves a highly-interesting family,
and the terrible affair was the result OF
an infatuation for woman not his
wife. The deed was done on the side
walk on First avenue just above Wood
street shortly before $3.50 o'clock, and
death which occurred almost instantly
was caused by bullet from forty
four calbre pistol, the muzzle OF
which the victim had placed against
the temple and then pulled the trigger.
The report of the shot was heard by
Squire F. NJ. King and DR.. Orr, who
were standing at the corner above.
They rushed to the scene and found a
man lying on the pavement with blood
flowing from wound in his head. The
patrol wagon was summoned and the
man taken to the Homeopathic Hospi-
trance to that institution Deahl died.
The body, which had been identified as
that of Policeman Deahl, was taken to
the morgue. Deahl was dressed in citi-
GEMS clothes and later it was learned
that he had been excused from duty at
s o'clock last night.
IT HAD BEEN PLANNED.
81 hof 20
self-murder had been carefully planned
before hand, as letter addressed to
Maggie Edgar, No. TIA First avenue,
stated that il was his intention to COM
nit suicide, and that she was the canse
Of IL. The history of the case is par
ticularly sad one. 1t will be remem-
bered that on July 3 last Policeman
Deahl had deserted his family, consist
ing of a young and pretty wife and
three bright children, and that he was
supposed to have eloped with young
woman with whom he had become in
fatuated. Maggie Edgar, at present
employed as a domestic at the rooms OF
the Columbus club, Smithfeld street,
then employed at Roth's restaurant, No.
179 Fifth avenue, was the girl supposed
to have elOped with the officer.
Inspector McAleese, by request of
Mrs. Deahl, wife Of the policeman, made
inquiry at the time and found that her
husband was in Chicago, but that the
girl had not accompanied him. Mrs.
Deahl then went to that city and In
duced her husband TO return. He had
been suspended from duty at the time,
and through his wife's solicitations he
was restored to his old beat, which is
No. 20, and covers portion Of the Fifth
ward. His next act was to take Rough
on Rats with suicidal intent. The adj
ministrations of the proper antidotes
saved his life. He had promised his
wife at the time that he would have
nothing more to do with Miss Edgar,
but il appears that his infatuation for
the woman was just as strong as ever.
THE woMAN's STORY.
Miss UdSur staS1u w Reporter ne meU
her on Smithfeld street directly in front
OF CITY Hall about s o'clock last night.
She had lust left the Columbus Club
building, accompanied by another
woman and was on her way home when
accosted by Deahl. The latter asked
her to accompany him on visit to the
Worlds Museum, in Allegheny. She
refused to do so. Because" said she
in the interview, "our names had been
gossiped about enough, and i didn't
wish any more scandal. He told me
that II l did not go with him he would
fix me. said in reply that he could do
as he pleased, but would not go to the
museum with him on any account. My
lady friend then insisted that l should
leave Henry, and so we parted company
and / went home.
"a messenger boy called at mothers
house shortly after my arrival there and
said that Deahl wanted 70 see me.
wouldn't go out, as | was afraid or him.
His wife called afterwards and got two
rugs and some other articles which her
husband had given me. She said Deahl
had sent her after them. heard no
more until the report OF his death
reached me and the policemen who ar
rested me called at my home"
Mrs. Deahl, who resides on Washing
ton street, became alarmed when eight
o'clock arrived, and her husband did
not come home for the purpose Of DON
ming his policeman's uniform. She did
not know BE had been excused from
duty. Suspecting he might
be somewhere in the vicinity
of Maggie Edgar's home she
visited that neighborhood and there
found him standing on the sidewalk.
She demanded that he return home with
her. He agreed to do so, but they
walked down TO Water street. The de-
- I've n nn IN
Miss Edgar's house and get some artic-
les Of jewelry and other things belong
ing to him.
CAME BACK AND FOUND HIM DEAD.
She was about to do so when Deahl
ran down Water street and turned into
Wood, evidently with the intention OF
eyading his wife. The latter kept quite
close at his heels and on reaching his
side asked him what he meant. He
made q Joking reply and then again re-
ouested his wife to go to the Edgar
house with the message he had given
her.
She went and secured the trinkets
and returned TO the spot only TO find
him lying on the pavement with a bull
let hole in his skull from which the life
blood was fast ebbing away. She fell
to the sidewalk in an unconscious con-
dition and was subsequently taken to
Central station where with much diff
Guilty she was revived. 1t was there
she told the sad story of her last meet
ing with her husband to Inspector Nc
AleeSe.
In the meantime when the body Of
the dead policeman was taken to the
morgue an examination of the pockets
of the clothing was made and letter,