The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-29

large as the room itself, formed by the
under portion of the stairway leading 10
the upper floor of the building. In 1t are
three chairs. The supposition is that
ONeill had by some pretext got the
woman into this closet and had attempted
undue liberties with her; she had resisted
his attempts successfully, and, maddened
by defeat, the lustful brute had in fren-
lied moment held her face downward on
the floor and committed the awful and re-
voting deed.
Detective Ben Bohen was detailed on
the case yesterday morning. and he says
that IN his thrty-fve years experience in
the police department of this CITY, this
was the most horrible deed he bad ever
known. 1t was terribly sickening crime
that only the most bloodthirsty maniac or
a brute crazed with liduor could commit.
He SAID: when O'Neill was brought
face to face with the crime he was TOO
drunk to say much about it. except. to
deny. all knowledge of il. Oue curious
circumstance, which is likely to cause US
much trouble, is the disappearance of the
weapon. II might have been a double
edged dirk. OF chisel, or even n very sharp
screwdriver, but whatever it was it cannot
so far be found.
''The place where the murder was COM
mitted was carefully searched. but the
weapon could not be found. When he was
searched by the police O'Neill did not
have rs much as pocket-k nife upon him,
and declares that be never carried one.
IAN examination of the clothing worn
by ONeill showed that there was blood
upon both The right-hand side of his coat
and shirt sleeve. We have taken his coat
and shirt from him and viii use them as
evidence against him. 1 talked with him
this morning, but he declares be can re-
member little of what occurred in the
room, and there Is no doubt that he was
very drunk"
Special Officer Thomson, who arrested
O'Neill. says: "'rbe man was running
toward Clay street when | arrested him.
| noticed blood on his right hand. and
when / asked him about it he said he had
hurt it but could find no scratches upon
the hand.
There was blood on both of his hands
and wrists, as we'll as his shirt sleeves and
bedaubing his coat sleeves.
81 ook him to the Grizzly Bear saloon
and searched him for wea pons but found
none. | found a bunch OF roses in the
side pocket Of the coat, and the flowers
had blood on them"
The regular police arrived almost i'm
mediately and took charge of O'Neill.
O'NeilPs wife visited tho Morgue yester-
day afternoon accompanied by Mrs. Beggs,
a neighbor, and the latter's daughter. She
looked at the body of the murdered woman
for an in slant. then walked out and went
over to the City Prison, where she was
cl0seted with her husband for about an
hour. She positively refused TO say word
TO the Coroner or to the police as to her
husbands conduct toward her or anything
else.
Mrs. Beggs' daughter told story to the
police of seeing O'Neill, as she thought,
with tall blonde woman entering the wait
ing room at the foot of Market street to go
over to Oakland on the II :15 P. NJ. boat on
Tuesday. but the police think that she is
mistaken. as the murdered woman Is
a brunette and not tall, and besides O'Neill
was at his work on Tuesday up to $3.50
o'clock.
1t was ascertained, however, at he
went TO Oakland on Tuesday night to pay
his dues as q member of the Ancient Or
der of United W0rkmen. as he belongs to
the Oakland branch. 1t must, therefore,
have been while returning to the city that
he met Mrs. Critics.
Mrs. Martin O'Neil, wife of the man
who was arrested Tuesday night for the
murder of Mrs. Critics, was interviewed
at her home, 622 Chestnut street, Oakland,
| by CALL reporter yesterday.
Mrs. ONeil, when first approached
! showed disinclnation to talk about her
family trouble and would only answer in
| monosyllables. From her statements il
was learned that O'Neil had maintained
! general good reputation, being only a
moderate drinker and generally kind to
She said she was by no means certain
that 1t was her husband who was under
arrest. but from the exact descriptions in
| THE CALL was inclined to think it was
he. Mrs. O'Neil was preparing to cross
over to San Francisco at once and call on
the man arrested.
From neighbors OF Mrs O'Neil some
what different story was gathered. 1t APP
pears that ONeips reputation as an ex-
emplary man OF family was above reproach
until few months ago.
O'Neil is employed at the Union Iron
Works in San Francisco, and finding it
inconVenlent to return home every night
took room in the city and only crossed
the bay once every two weeks. In time
! temptations grew too abundant and power
full for ONeil and he succumbed Un-
| pleasant rumors of his life in San Francisco
finally reached the ears of bis wife, and
then things grew serious. Mrs. ONeil
| posted off to the city one afternoon and
! found her worst fears realized.
| O'Neil was living with another woman
under an assumed name. The young