davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13
SHEA SAYS HE is INNOCENT
"I Die for a Crime Did Not Commit"
the Letter Said.
STARTED AT SIGHT OF THE CHAIR
But Said Nothing and Faced
Death Calmly.
DIED AS PRIESTS READ THE SERVICE

The End Was Instantaneous-Two Brief
Contacts Served to End Life-An Escape
of Air From tho Lungs That Sounded Like
Sigh, and All Was oyer-Protested to
the Last That He Was Innocent.
Dannemora N. Y, Feb. ---Bartholo-
NEW Shea died in the electrical chair
at 9.5S o'clock this morning, paying
the penalty for the murder of Robert
Ross at Troy, in March, 1894. Shea
was attended to the gallows by clergy
man from his home and by priest
from the Roman Catholic Church of
this place. After receiving the last
sacrament, Shea said:
II am innocent, father, innocent. 1"
An assertion which he repeated during
the rite of anointment.
just before going to the death chair
Shea handed letter to the representa-
tive Of Democratic newspaper in Troy.
The letter thanks his counsel for their
efforts TO save him and says:
ION the verge of death, desire to
say that do not think | had fair,
trial. Extraordinary means were taken
TO convict me- and testimony given by
Mr.. Lansing was absolutely untrue. l
am sorry for Ross family and for the
gloom it has cast over then, but | did
not go to the polls en- election day to
shoot Robert Ross and had no inten-
tion of injuring him. die for crime
| did not commit. am an innocent
man.
II bid you all farewell.
Bartholomew Shea.
When Shea was conducted into the
death chamber, he started as he came
in sight of the electrical chair, but
said nothing.
The straps being adjusted, the priests,
in low tones, read the service of the
dead While the priests read, the first
voltage was turned on. 1t was 8. 55
when Shea entered the room and
9. .5S. As when he was pronounced dead.
The current sent the body tightly
against the straps, and the neck and
barred leg grew purple. For 81 seconds
| the contact was maintained and re-
duced to a light voilage for 81 seconds.
| When the current was turned off
there was an escape of air from the
filled lungs, and DIR. Ransom ordered
the current on again. A contact of q
seconds was maintained and then the
stethescope failed to show any life.
The escape of air from the lungs
sounded like prolonged sigh and
made some people think that there was
life, but the physicians said that death
| was instantaneous.
Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13
-
ROAD TO THE RIVER.
Two Letters on That Question Read Mt
Street and Sewer DepaI tment Meeting,

Two Letters on That Question Read Mt the
Street and Sewer Department Meeting.
Two communications bearing on the
road to the river matter we're read be-
fore the Board of Directors of the
Street and Sewer Department at the
regular meeting Tuesday. The letters
were from job ii. jackson, president
of the jackson q Sharp Co., and III.
r. Cause, vice-president of the Harlan
& Hollingsworth Co. Mr.. jackson re-
quested the board before it considered
the matter to give him an opportunity
to appear before the board regarding it.
Mr.. Cause ventured to suggest the
wisdom of deferring conclusions until
full discussion Of the project can be
had. "It seems to u.s." writes Mr..
Cause, "that the advantages and dis
advantages of this scheme have not been
seriously considered, as yet, by those
who would be the largest contributors
to its expense. .
The board instructed Secretary Wiley
TO answer the letters. The question
before the board just now is that of a
road to tho Brandywine as outlined in
Alvin r. Morrison's letter at the pre-
vious meeting. When the road TO the
river matter is taken up by the board
ample opportunity for discussion will
be given.
The city solicitor was instructed to
prepare resolution requiring owners
of poles used for carrying overhead
wires to paint the names of the owners
Of said poles upon the poles, together
with a number for each pole, within
60 days from the adoption of the reso-
luton. The owners of the poles not so
b,,l linblo ff1 fY1a F1Y.a
"a hours the poles remain unmarked.
There has been difficulty in the past in
assessing the poles to the proper owners.
Engineer in charge of sewers Hat
ton was instructed to build sewer on
Fifth street from Poplar to Lombard.
A delegation from the Sacred Heart
Church asked that the sewer lien
against the church be cancelled. The
delegation claimed to have evidence of
the payment of the lien. They were
requested to produce it, and may do SO
at some future time.
The trustees of Asbury Church, in a
communication, requested that an arc
light be placed at the intersection of
Third and Walnut streets, The police
sergeants in that district seconded tho
recommendation. The directors will
look into the matter.
Residents on West Fourth street petit
toned the board to curb Fourth street
from Union to Bsyard avenue. The
matter was referred to the city en-
gineer.
The question Of tho Boulevard i'm
provements is to be considered at a
meeting of the Park Commissioners
and the city engineer on Saturday after
noon at 2 o'clock.
The board decided that tar roofers
and others must not build fires on any
paved streets. 1t is against an ordi-
nance, which will be enforced.
Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13
Macdonoush Postofiice Robbed.

The general merchandise store of W.
II. Lohand, at Macdonough, settle
ment about five miles from st. Georges
in this county, was broken into Thurs
day night and robbed. The store is also
the postoffice and Uncle Sam's effects
were tampered with. Stamps to the
value of about $50 were stolen and Mr.
Lohand estimates the value of his
merchandise carried away at about
s400. Entrance was effected by prying
open the front door, Nobody knew of
the robbery until Friday and it
is not known what time it occurred.
An investigation showed wagon tracks
about the store, and it is supposed
that the robbers carried off their plum
der in the wagon.
Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13
suIr AGAINST the cIrY.
Legal Steps to Recover overpaid Taxes on
Property.

Legal steps TO Recover Overpalu IaAe5 on
Property.
James w. Ponder, representing the
Equitable Guarantee and Trust Co.,
executors of the late William Bush,
Thursday instituted suit against the
Mayor and Council OF Wilmington,
before Magistrate John A. Kelley.
The suit is an action TO recover 5000,
which, it is alleged, the Equitable
Guarantee and Trust Co., through an
oversight, paid as taxes on portion of
the Bush estate which had passed out
of their possession.
In 1899 portion of the Bush mo-
rocco factory, on Second street, between
Walnut and Poplar, was sold to Garrett
& Barr, and since the sale the present
and former owners, it is alleged, have
both been paying the taxes on the same
property.
1t is alleged also that the Equitable
Guarantee and Trust Co. made appli-
cation TO City Council several times to
have the money refunded, but without
avail. The time for the hearing has
not been fixed.
Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13
rnrIve no rIxp HsR aornnn.
a Wilmington Woman Invnkes tho Aid ,
the Brooklyn Police.

Mrs. Clara Strawbridge of this city
has written a letter to the superin-
tendent of police in Brooklyn, request
ing him to make search for her
mother, Mrs. Jane Stone. lii her letter,
Mrs. Strawbridge says; II am lost
child from my mother, and want to
find out where she is. / was taken
from my mother when | was years
old, but the parties always said
my mother lived somewhere in New
York City or Brooklyn. l am grown
up and married. and want to find out
where my mother is if l can. She is
very wealthy, and if you can find her
l will pay you for the trouble"
Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13
A New Mail.

Notice has been posted at the r., W.
& B. station to the effect that through
mail pouch will be made up at Clayton
for Philadelphia for the train leaving
there at >. Al p. m.
Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13
Additlonal Tire Protectlon.

An automatic system of protection
from fire is being placed in the works
of the Harlan & Hollingsworth Co.
Spray nozzles in water pipes in the
buildings will melt open in case of fire
and flow of water will result.
Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13
To inquire into Begley,s sanity.

Sheriff Gilis has been ordered by
Chancellor Nicholson to summon jury
to inquire into the mental condition of
Thomas F. Begley, who is confined at
Farnhurst. lie has small estate.
Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13
Candldate for COUNTY rrea.lrer.

George D. Kelley of Middlotown will
probably be candidate for the Repub-
lican nomination for county treasurer.
Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13

1t is probable that the committee on
privileges and elections will submit
two reports--favorable to seating by the
Republican majority and unfavorable
by the Democratic minority-the latter
part Of this week, when the above re-
joinder will come up before the Senate.
Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13

A year ago Tuesday the snow
blockade on the Delaware railroad was
raised.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-22

painstaking deliberation, "the situation
is not commonplace. But are we in
complete agreement as to its charac-
ter? VIII YOU pardon me the question
Ought l still to address you as Miss
SaNage?"
She bowed assent, and he altered his
voice to a whimsical alfectatiOn Of visit
fulness; Il never knew your first
namc."
TT is material-surely," she re-
piled. with brevity.
AT all events we have definite Miss
Savage-and she seems entitled to the
information that l don't know Mary,
that | have never even heard of Mary,
and that | am not Lawrence Mole"
The lady preserved a tranquil face.
but her gaze with which she held Pas
sy deeDened and hardeped This
doesn't impress me altogether nice,
you know she remarked. between
frightened lips.
The courage vanished from Passy's
posture. He held out his hands i'm
ploringly. and bent forward as if to
kneel Il swear to you," he urged
that until Il minute ago-when you
spoke of your sister-it never crossed
my mind that you We're mistaken about
me.--how could it?-nothing led tn it?
we talked about our meeting-it was
all SO natural
And you are really not Mr.. Mole?"
she interrupted him. with omens of
placation in her tone. 1t might be
more regular If you told me yho you
wcre.'
My name is Passy." he said, dole
fully-"Tyndall Passy."
She nodded almost amiably. II have
heard the name. You are the con-
noisseur-the gentleman who knows all
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-22
PART TWO.

The form Of Il small woman, wrap
ped to the eyes in drenched CLOAK oi
some black stuff, stood between MN
and the fire. 1t appeared to be facing
him: but it was mOtiOnleSS ana silent.
Some random, jocose remark OF Mole
ubout mOG alS came at once To ms nlilu,
they could never quite believe, ne mao
said. that landscape painter WouIu
go on forever without needing them.
they always came round. in the child
like faith that eventually he would
think better of it.
A genial notion of holding profession
al converse with a real model took
swift possession of his Will. Dinner
time was still u long way off. Ample
space interviewed for pleasant little
diversion. If he was not recognized, he
would pretend to be Mole.
Wont you come to the fire." he
said, with effort keeping the sprightli-
ness down i'm his voice. 1T is IA dread
,ul night. You must be perishing with
he wet and cold. Put aside your
cloak, and take a mouthful of this sloe-
gin. 1t is warming and-and-'
He had touched the bottle, as he
spoke, but with his eyes had followed
the movements of his guest, as she
gided toward the fire, and in it's ruddy
moving light began to disembarrass
herself of her wrappngs. His tongue
faltered and his speech broke off in
sheer astonishment as he beheld what
the final gesture revealed--a lady of
notable distinction in apparel and car
riage, and with face of exceeding
beauty and refinement of line.
She stood erect and quite at her ease.
and he noted that she was not so
small as he had thought. The hat she
wore was SO tiny and close fitting that
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-22

deiiantly and pleadingly to the emo
| tiOnal murmur THE brave, good, clem-
| cnt wind lifted you, and held you,
and brought YOU here-and what an
| migrate should be to demand explain
ations. Hark, how it shouts and sings
about us, / was in love with its voice
| an hour ago, though / knew not a
word of what it was sayng-but now
| that | have caught its language-now
He halted with sigh. and looked at
the gloved hand she had put upon the
| cloak.
1T is still very wet" he urged, vacu-
ousiy.
She laughed outright. and he could
not tell if amusement or petulant VeX-
alton was upnermOSt In the sound.
so YOU are unable to interest your
self, them" she went on, coidly, and
with averted eyes, lin the question why
] came here. 1t aWakens no curiosity in
your mind-this extraordinary appear
| ance at YOUR studio, unattended and
| in the dark. with hurricane and sheets
of rain outside, of II lady whose name
you are ignorant Of"
"Oh, no: l learned your name. |
found the hotel YOU had been stopping
at" he interposed.
same chilled tone, 'of Il lady who at
least was unaware that she had ever
| seen you. Possibly studio life is so
crowded with activity-and-colOr
that such an incident seems not at
all unusual-attracts not the slightest
attention. but ! confess"
Her fuency deserted her, and she
turned her face away. Passy guessed
from the line of the profile that she was
biting her lip. and certainly he caught
the nervous tap Of a little sole on the
hearthStone.
No. no." he cntrcated her. "Don't
think any Of these things. | am wholly
in your hands. The surprise and joy
of seeing you-l truly hunted for weeks
through German towns to trace YOU
you must have known ] would-we lived
a long, long time together in just those
two hours or three--that is the way
when two people rightly meet each 9TH
er who-who comprehend each other
and ] know in my heart
Il think ii was not your heart that
we We're speaking Of" she interruptcd
him. "Yct. in a sense. it is what-what
is convcntionally callcd-an affair of
hearts which brings me here. Yuu
can hardly be prepared for what ] am
going to tell you-but | am Mary's sis
ter-her elder sister"
passy accepted the tidinGs with an
unmovcd face. Yes? he said wondcr-
ingly.
1T is very simple" she went on. in
sharper voice. u came to England
three days ago, but three hours was
enough to show me that something was
amiSs with Mary. | won't say that she
has been what might he called en-
pansiyely frank with me- but l know