The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-31

Educated for His Bride and Afterwards
Married-His Claim Is That She Fell
Down Stairs and Broke Der Neck--Father
Berly Talked Him Out of the Pen.
Rev. John Begley Of Kingman was in
The city Yesterday and was feeling happy
pver his Christmas. and especially since,
through his personal efforts, Governor
Morrill, presented his cid time friend,
Hugh O'Neil. with a pardon from the
state penitentiary IS a Christmas gift.
A great many years ago when Father
Begley was a preacher az Dodge City
he was called down 10 ne Panhandle Of
Texas 10 baptise q baby, and while there
ne became acquainted with a dashing
freshman, in the prime Of life, named
Hugh O'NeiI. They became fast friends.
In the course of time Father Reglay
heard that O'Neil had sold ont his cat
tie ranch in the Palladors. pocke:ed
about $4,000 IN clean cash and came mp
to Kansas where he bought 2 fine ranch
near Florence il Marion county. The
next thing ne heard of him was that he
had been sentenced to twenty-five years
in the state penitentiary for wife muir
der. That was in 1891. When Father
Begley knew O'Neil he was a single man
md hence the story of wife murder was
he last thing he was expected TO hear.
te learned the facts. which are about a 5
illows: When Mr.. O'Neil sold his
Snch in Texas and bought one in Kan
sas he had considerable money left and
he took notion 10 go back 10 Ireland
on visit. While there he met a hand
some Irish girl Of his own name and fell
In love with her. He sued for her hand
and after winning il he sent her 10 one
Of the best seminaries in Ireland TO be
educated. In the meantime he returned
10 America When his Irish sweetheart
had completed her education he again
went to Ireland, married her and brought
her to America, and they made their
home on the ranch.
One day he was seen rushing 10 a
pump il the yard with his wife in his
arms ana he placed her head under the
spout hired man saw him do 1t. He
then took her back into the house and
laid her on a sofa in the DarlOr. Just
al that time the hired man appeared
upon the scene and. asked him what was
the matter with Mrs. O'NeiL She has
tainted" he said. but Will be well IN
short time. Don't disturb her. He then
eaddied one of his horses and left the
ranch. The hired man was suspicious
the parlor where he found Mrs O'Nel
dead The sheriff went in search for
Mr.. O'Neil and the third day after the
occurrence he found him in a distant
part OF the county buying cattle and he
arrested him He affected to be greatly
surprised at his wife's death. He was
brought 70 trial before Chief Justice-elect
Doster, who was then judge Of the dis
trict. His defense was that Mr.. O'NeIl
fell down stairs and that he. at the time
he left the ranch. didn't know that she
was seriously injured. A bottle Of whis-
Ky. sC1le broken bottles and other signs
Of dissipation were found in his room
and this, combined with the evidence Of
tn hired man, tended TO strengthen the
tHeOry o. murder.
Last summer Father Begley was called
II Texas and while there he learned
enough from O'NeiTs brother and a num-
Der of ola friends TO justify him in max
ing an effort for his pardon. He first Sc
cured a petition of about 1000 names in
Texas and presented il to the state board
OF pardons, and besides that made an
eloquent plea before them.
Your speech" said General Caldwell,
mas taken ten years off the sentence
Ct the prisoner. Beyond that we don {
know what we can do for you yet
Father Beg!ey then made personal
appeal tc Governor Morrill, The COVER
nor assured him that he would confer
with The state board of pardOns. and the
result was the pardon handed To O'Neil
Tor Christmas present.