Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-01

the Foot of Fifth Street-Was Well
! Known in the City.
Was the bullet which caused the
death of Patrick Sweeney fired with
~murderous intent or was the shoot
ing accidental?
The local police authorities are en-
! deavoring to unravel the mystery, and
when their Investigations are com
pleted an affirmative answer will be
given TO one OF the two questions. At
present they are inclined to think that
death was the result of an accident and
was not homicide.
Patrick Sweeney lived at No. 2324
Main street, and was unmarried. He
has worked at the Top mill, but more
recently at the Belmont. He has been
idle for some time on account OF a sus-
pension of operations in the depart
ment in which he was employed. lie
was 80 years Of age. He was well be-
haved and ~peaceably inclined, and was
very popular among his friends and
acquaintance. His predominant fault
was a weakness for strong drink.
Sweeney was in the First Branch
council chamber Sunday morning, min
Cling with the crowd that assembled
to hear the election returns read. He
drank during the day, and Sunday
night he walked up the Panhandle
railroad track, carrying several bottles
of beer In his arms. He is believed
to have had two companions, who ac-
companied him to a sunkeh barge on
the river shore at the foot of Fifth
street.
A young boy who was fishing saw
the men there as late al 8 o'clock, and
according to his story there was no
quarrel. What happened subsequently
is a matter which is yet to be devel-
oped. Persons living in the vicinity
of Fifth street heard shots fired Sun
day night. There is nothing TO indi-
cate whether they were fired from per-
sons walking along the railroad or in
the party of which Sweeney was a
member. One theory, which finds many
supporters, is that the shots were
fired by persons walking along the
railroad toward the waters edge, and
that one of these struck the unfortu-
nate man. This theory is supported
by the alleged fact that shots were
fired in the same locality Saturday
night and Sunday morning. the infer
ence being that some persons were in
the habit of indulging in the practice
of shooting along the railroad.
The dead body of Sweeney was not
found until 12:45 O'clock yesterday
afternoon. There was an empty beer
bottle beside him, and three full bot
ties, plainly indicating the purpose Of
A. AD1l ,~a-s~ xr;rft 80 that IAnoIff.~
Sweeney was sitting in an upright
position, with the head hanging for
ward, and several persons who OBJ
served him were under the impression
that he was sleeping.
The authorities were notified soon
after the discovery of the body, and
it was removed to Foster & Watkins
undertaking establishment. Coroner
Schultz was then notified. and under
his direction a post norton examina-
ton was conducted by Drs. L. c,
Armbrecht, Robert ]. Reed and w
p. Megrail. The bullet passed through
Sweeney's hat, and a portion of the
cloth was carried by it through the
skull. The bullet entered the right
side of the head, two inches from and
slightly above the eye, and lodged in
the brain. In the opinion of the physi-
clans death was instantaneous.
No revolver vas found in the vi
cinity of the crime. If it was a hom-
icide the guilty parties either carried
their weapon with them or threw ii
into the river. Nothing about the
case points to suicide. One OF the
physicians, in discussing the case with
a Register reporter. stated that the
ball was not fired at close range, as
there were no powder burns about the
wound. 1t was evidently fired at a
distance. Squire Schultz decided TO
conduct a formal inquest to-day. This
proceeding was postponed in the hope
that some evidence concerning the
shooting may be secured in the mean
time.
The unfortunate man has a sister
employed at Seabright's tailoring es-
tablishment. When news Of the sad
affair was conveyed to her she was
almost Frustrated from the shock.
At 3 o'clock this morning the Off
cials at police headquarters stated that
no further light had been thrown upon
the mystery.
We employ none but expert piano
$1,000 L VI q NTrsTErD RI