Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-09-02
Special to the Register.

| Special TO the Register.
Marietta O., September 1.-The con-
tinuatiOn of the defense in the Morgan
| McSweeney murder trial, to-day, was
devoted entirely TO creating sympathy
| in the minds OF the jury and showing
mental condition of the past of the
accused bordering on insanity
The testimony of Maggie McSweeney
yesterday afternoon made it clear that
the prisoners attorneys had given up
every other line of defense. The youns
woman whose pathetic story brought
tears to the eyes of the jury, court and
half the spectators, is sticking closely
by the prisoner. Each morning she
has brought him a large bouquet of
| handsome flowers. Having completed
! her testimony, she took up her posi-
| ton just behind the prisoner and has
remained there during every minute
OF the trial since.
The defense has succeeded in getting
before the jury great mass of tesla;
! mony showing that McSweeney's mind
was not sound. especially between the
| dates of the filing Of criminal charges
| against him by his daughter Mary and
the killing of Mason. J. T. Hart, well
known contractor was one of the most
important witnesses. He testified that
| in his opinion McSweeneys mental
| condition was such that he would not
know right from wrong. While on the
stand, Mr.. Hart, who is a man well up
in years, wept copiou-ly.
Up to the hour of adjournment, this
afternoon, the defense had produced
about twen6y witnesses, all of whom.
without break, testified to the notice
| able great change which had come over
| insolvency after he was arrested on
complaint of his daughter Mary. He
/ had been restless, erratic and forget
full, had complained of violent head
aches and Earped continually upon
the fact that Mason had broken up his
family through his influence over
Mary
! Many Of the witnesses were relatives
OF insolvency, but their testimony was
corr0borated by that Of others who had
employed him and worked beside him
1t was shown that his actions in the old
| blacksmith shop where he took refuge
after being driven from home were
more peculiar than at any other time
or pace. The testimony along this
line has undoubtedly made a great
impression on the jury.
Dennis insolvency, a brother OF the
accused. was called at noon and pro-
duced eight letters purporting to have
been written by Mason to Mary Nc
Sweeney. The defense sought to show
! by their contents that they furnished
part of the grounds for the prisoners
grievance against Mason. but the State
objected to their admission The point
was argued at length. in the absence
of the jury, the arguments occupying
the entire afternoon session. Two Of
! the letters IN controversy are as fol.
lows:
M1rietta, Ohio, August 3. 1897.
| Dear Mary:-Do not think that the
| lovely lake breezes of Cleveland are
sufficient to hide my dear one from me
You can not hide from NE. nor can you
conduct yourself in such a manner as
! to eradicate the love of my Heart for
you. | am sorely panied 10 learn Of
your present abode. but | do not blame
you. dear, your lot has been hard and
trying one. Your ruin was affected in
your youth by brute, not a man. My
| conduct has been strange toward you.
and l know has been puzzing to you,
but, dear. | loved you through 1t all.
and 90 yet; you can not drive 1t from
NE. and the time will come when you
will come to me. and know it full well
that 1t is the decree Of Divine Provi-
dence and we cant evade it. Now. my
| dear girl. do not throw yourself away
for Gods sake, and your own dear
sake, ard last. but not least. Willie's
! sake: don't stop. think. pray, not a
Catholic prayer. but a heartfelt, sin
cere prayer to God. Stop. stop l say,
be your own dear. sweet self. God
bless you, dear Write to Will E. If
you can.
Marietta. Ohio. October 2Sth. 1897.
just this evening late learned tina:
you had inquired for me Sunday p. m.
Am exceedingly sorry did not see you
or that / was not home. ny heart
yearns for just one talk with you. but
l have been denied 80 lCrg that am
getting hardened to H. I am leaving
TIE city sometime Saturday TO remain
until Monday a. m. and perhaps until
p. m Am always willing to see you
publicly or privately: the devil and all
his deputies can't daunt me when
have your permission sh4ll leave
for new field Of labor some time next
week. to be gone probably 1onk time;
| will store my effects with the Marietta