Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-01-26
BAFFLED
Are The Police In Their Search
For MCSWeeney.
The Fleeing Murderer OF Ex-Deputy
Marshal W. {. Mason.
Unable to Find the Slightest Trace of the
Much Wanted Man, Though News
of His Whereabouts May
Come Any Minute.

Up to Tuesday night the police au-
thorities had learned absolutely moth
ing of the whereabou of Morgan Nc
Sweeney, the slayer of w. e. Mason.
So far as known he has thus far shown
his face to no living man siuce his
crime, except to his brother Dennis
McSweeney, who saw him a few min
utes after the tragedy.
There many persons who begin to
believe that in his desperation he has
taken his own life. in view of the state
ments he had made to his relatives
that they would never see him again.
This theory is not supported, however,
by single fact in connection with the
murder and the deliberate plans made
by McSweeney for taking the life of
his enemy no doubt included prepara-
tions for his escape. Against the sui
eide theory also is the fact that a few
hours after the assault the police ex-
pected, though we do not know upon
what information, that McSweeney's
brother would deliver him up as soon
as the excitement over the affair had
cooled. Nothing but the finding of
McSweeney's body will indicate that
he has destroyed himself, though his
condition of mind must have been such
that he would not hesitate to do SO If
he had decided upon that plan.
AS yet no reward has been offered
for his arrest and many criticisms are
heard on that account. 1t cannot be
denied that police officer, who gener-
ally has trouble in getting costs to
which he is entitled in petty cases, is
justified in refusing to spend his money
without at least possibility of it's re-
.urn.
Violent deaths, with hasty and in
sufficient Investigations, are becoming
alarmingly frequent in Washington
county, and the biding population
has begun to ask why. The call is i'm
perative that a substantial reward be
offered for the capture of McSweeney,
a man guilty of cold-blooded murder,
and the case will then be taken up. by
capable men who will trace his fight
if such thing is possible.
We do not wish to persecute Morgan
McSweeney because his victim was w.
E. Mason. With the personality of
either man we have nothing to do.
We are however, jealous of Marietta's
reputation as a civilized community
and would escape the disgrace which
much attach to city where murder
may be committed in the presence of
a half dozen people and the guilty man
escape.
Vital mistakes were made by the
police in the first hour after the cut
ting or McSweeney would now be in
custody. Two members of the police
force saw Pat McSweeney run hurried
ly into the residence of Dennis Nc
Sweeney forty minutes after Mason
was picked up, heard what they are
certain was Morgan McSweeney'sv voice
in conversation, saw Pat McSweeney
come out and lock the door behind him,
and, after he discovered the officers in
the vicinity, go back into the house the
second time. 1t was there and then
Morgan McSweeney. if he was in the
house, should lave been arrested.
That he was not is due to the before
mentioned understanding that Pat was
to deliver up his brother when the ex-
citement was over. The entire police
force came over to headquarters with
Marshal Dye and waited for the letter
that never came. s
McSweeney escaped, and the question
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