Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-05-26

EmplOye of the Creek MilI-In-
quest To-day.
Tom Lowry. alias "Hennegan," shot
and almost instantly killed William
Travis at 800 o'clock last night. A
half dozen versions of what led up to
the tragedy are given by as many diff
ferent persons. The murdered was
promptly arrested, and is now in Jail
Whatever may have been the direct
cause of the shooting, it is certain that
intoxicating drink was Indirectly re-
sponsible. The scene of the affair was
the boarding house at the southeast
corner of Main and Twenty-fourth
streets, conducted by Mrs Margaret
Burke. 1t is the old Norton home
stead.
After all the versions of the shooting
have been condensed, and the improb-
able features eliminated, it appears that
the men have been boarding a. the
house and occupying the same room
Travis was about 80 years of age, and
son of Mr. Travis who is in the EN-
ploy of the Wheeling Traction Com
pany. He has been boarding with Mrs
Burke for three months or longer, and
has been working at the Whitaker
-cill.
The man who is now resting under
the grave charge of murder, came to
Mrs. Burke's two or three days ago
and was known there as Tom Henne-
gan. He did not tell anything about
himself, and it was nobody's business;
tc inquire Boarders came and went.
remaining at Mrs. Burkes for varying
periods. Hennegan worked at the Bel
mont, about the blast furnace, it is said.
He is six feet tall and splendidly built.
smooth faced, and between So and 10
years of age.
Had Been Drinking.
Lowry, or 'Hennegan, as he was
| known, returned from work about s. 80
o'clock. Both men drank freely after
that time, and although neithe, was
! drunk, both were under the influence of
| liquor Members of Mrs. Burkn's fam
| lily, and the other boarders at the
/ house--from ten to fifteen in number
| at the expense of others, and one ver-
sion of the trouble is that indulgence in
| this practice angered Lowry, and pro-
voked the quarrel which ended in the
/ tragedy. Mr.. Stamm, neighbor, saw
/ Travis in saloon not less than a quar-
! ter of an hour before his body was lying
cold in death.
There are three beds in the front
room in which the shooting occurred
| and they are intended to provide Sleep
| ing accommodations for six boarders
| Mack Layne, Will Travis. Walter
Snead, Paddy Mcneil and Lowry were
in the room. Layne and Travis were
lying upon one bed, the former asleep.
Snead was lying upon the floor, and
Mcneil was asleep or doing
The story of one of the boarders is
that the immediate cause of the quarrel
was Travis refusal to turn up the lamp
light in the room. Mcneil was awak-
ened while the men were talking loud
and saw the revolver in the hands of
Lowry, He commented upon the use of
| a revolver being evidence of cowardice
His story about the shooting varies
from that told by Layne. Mcneil says
five shots were fired, but he is undoubt-
edly mistaken.
An Eye Witness.
Layne's version is as follows:
and Travis on the other | was asleep.
and was awakened by the loud talk
Hennegan had Travis by the shoulder.
with a revolver in his hand, and
heard him say. III shoot him While
he was holding him he fired two sho;s
into his left breast around the heart.
Travis was holding on to Henne-
gan. and Hennegan backed out into the
hall. dragging Travis after him Travis
fell in the hall. and struggled for a
minute. Then l suppose he died The
hall was filled with the boarders then
and Walter Snead ran across the street
to call a policeman. All was confusion
in the house. Hennegan ran out. and l
did not see him again.
1t was impossible after the tragedy to