Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-08
LOOKS BAD FOR HIM
The Evidence in the Sweeney
Case Submitted.
HISTORY or A wReTcHEO CASE
Eos Sweeney = Alleged ID Have En-
Ieed tie Gld % Fer Ruln--rSn-
peTiEg With tns Witnesses

The Sweeney Eeloaoas assault case
which has attracted good deal Of a.
tentssa IN the superior court . nearly
a. "A end. Ihs sslaenes closed 1T 4
O'Clock yesterday AMI the prosecutor
made his opening argument The
crime charged Is a casIaFdly and con
tsmpnels one. and the Inends OF the
accused are making almost saperan-
man Efforts 20 clear him. Zwanile
Deies. little nIns-yesE-old girl, tells a
damaging story OF sae ieicaoas as
r2ait committed upon her by sweeney
September 70. She Was on thai day
playing with the Decker enlldFen near
the esruer OF Buckeye aud centen-
mai streets. A man came along and
offered her money 90 60 with him IN
sesTcn OF his Gofsr. she accompanied
HIN across TIE dummy track aud into
the tract OF bFusa and underground
where the crime ess committed. The
man disappeared aad she went to her
home and told the story or the crime
The HERALD heard the rumor, traced
out all the details and published IL ex-
elas.vely on the morning OF september
..
The detectives wen. 10 work and two
weeks after Sweeney Was arrested on
suspicion. The little glri Mas brought
face 10 face with The pr.soaer aud a
man named Crossnian, VINO bears a
striklng Resemblance - hun, and she
pointed out Sweeney as the man. The
Decker children have also Identified
him. As the evidence OF children IS
not a. Ways 10 be relied upon the de-
tectlyes Kept AZ work on Sveeney's
trail. They foGud that shortly before
noon on the day OF the crime he Ma.
1t Putsees saloon, near the boulevard
IN company with John Workman. The
latter was seen and lie stated that ne
separated from Sweeney shortly before
noon aud went home to dinner. lie
afterward went - sweeney's house
arriving about , o'clock, and Sweeney
mad not vet arrived, but soon after
come home. it WIS between the hours
OF Il and > that the crime was com
mitted. Heary Williams, a colored
man vino lives on Wealthy avenue
near the city limits, reported that NJ
passed Sweeney and the little gIrl going
toward the brush and described hel
dress very accurately
The above are the chief Items OF evil
dence against the accused In addition
Zwantle Deles says that Mrs. Flynn
Sweeney's sister, offered her $40 II she
would refuse 10 identify the prisoner
The lady denies it. but says she offered
20 bet her SO that she was mistaken
1t ia claimed that money was alst
offered 20 Williams 20 stimulate hi
forgetfullness, and Mrs. Flynn admit
that she held \ long conference VIII
HIM concerning the case. She denies
Offering him any money.
Young Workman has changed hi
mind considerably since he talked with
the detective, and not little since h
testified IN police court. Now he j
positive that ne was only separated
from Sweeney for few minutes, ane
says that he ate dinner at his house
that day and played cards with hin
both before and after dinner. Mrs
Sweeney IL IN court with two sinai
children, and she supports Workman
lates. story. Some little girls who worl
n brush factory next door, are ais
brought IN TO testify that they sa'
Sweeney playing cards With Werkma,
about O'Clock that day. Two youn
girls, who accompanied Mrs Flynn o.
her visit to Williams. were put on tn
stand to testify that Williams was nc
absolutely certain OF the mans iden
tity. The case has been obstlnatcl
con tested from the start, but IL WI
probably be submitted to the jury thI
u,orniuCr