The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-14
THE END OF @sAT" SHEA.
A nalIot Ro1 Thug who Added Murder TO
His Grimes and Received a Just Punisi,-

His Grimes anu lkernlVeu - uAt uhh'.-
mcni.
Chicago Tribune: Bartholomew
Shea. better known among the Demo-
cratic thugs and ward heelers OF
Troy, N. Y, as Bat Shea. himself the
most obnoxious thug OF them all. has
paid the penalty OF death for MS cow
ardly and cold-blooded murder OF Rob-
ert Ross at the polls In March. 1884.
bat" Shea belonged to q class Of petty
politicians who are to be found In all
our large cities. but who usually carry
out the corrupt schemes of their gu
perlers by Intimidation and bull-doZipR
rather than by murder.
BAT" Shea WAS professional DetA-
Ocratlc repeater. and the leader OF as
tough q gang OF these disreputables as
ever disgrlced any city pretending 10
enjoy law and order. His victim was
n Republican, Robert Ross, who had
been actuated by his respect for the
ballot-box and good citizenship to otfer
his services at the municipal election
in Troy to help prevent the crime OF re-
peatIng. II was while engaged In this
service that Shea. in the most brutal
and cowariiy manner stole up behind
Ross and killed him, also shooting and
was arrested and brought to trial, The
evidence OF witnesses was direct
and overwhelming. He was convicted
and sentenced 10 death.
II Is now nearly two years since ne
committed his ntroclous crime. That
he lived so long was due entirely 10 the
influence OF Democratic politicians
whom he had served 80 faithfully.
That Justice Mt last has been vlndicated
Is due to the firm stand taken by Gov.
Morton, who. while patiently conceding
every request made by these politi-
clans that was within reason, and
some that may be charged TO the e1-
aggerated ideas of personal mercy. at
last refused any longer TO delay. the
operation Of Justice. No murderer
ever had fairer trial. and few men
have mad more influential backing.
The local politicians OF Troy and Al
bany. the members Of the New YORK
Tammany organization, the then gov
ernur OF New York, and a United
States senator, all of whom had been
beneticiaries OF their cold-blooded mer-
cenary. LEFT nothing undone to save
him. His case was carried TO the
court OF appeals by eminent lawyers.
but the court declined unanimously TO
interfere with the finding OF the lower
tribunal, Judge Peekhntr, now on the
Federal supreme bench. writing the de-
cision. Petitions were signed for O
postponement of sentence week 70 the
second week in January and they We're
granted. National and state polst-
clans, headed by United States Senator
Murphy, beseiEed the governor for a
Communication OF sentence. Then came
letter from Shea's partner. Nc
Geoch, who had been sent to the pent-
tentlary. affirming that II was he and
not Shea who had shot Ross, though
on the trial he Swore II was Shea. the
governor granted another respite until
February 4. Then efforts were made
|, TO secure q new trial, and a further
lease OF HE was given until February
II. As no court would entertain a
new trial the governor at last ordered
the execution which took place at Dam
nemora yesterday.
Considered apart from politics the
crime which Shea committed was Pc
cuiinriy atrocious and the penalty IS a
righteous one Considered from the
political point OF view Shea was no
worse than others OF the class OF partl-
san mercenarIes and brutal thugs who
do dirty work for men In high places.
He was no worse than the same class
OF men in Chicago who have perpe-
trated almost every species Of outrage
upon election officials and voters and
escaped with little or no punishment,
Shea had little respect for human life.
and feeling confident that the intiuen-
till politicians whom he was serving
VERT powerful enough 20 stay the
hands OF justice. he did not hesitate TO
commit murder. Every lover of JUS
tIce and every one who has regard for
the sanctIty OF the ballot.box will be
satisfied with this exemplary though
tardy vIndIcatlon OF the law.