The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-04-28
BROTHER AND
SISTER UNITED
Wabash Lady Rejoices Over
Happy Outcome of Visit
to East Chicago.
MYSTERY WAS CLEARED UP
Michael Sweeney Did Not Think the
Folks Would Care, But
They Did.
(speclal to TIE TIMEs.)

East Chicago, Ind. April 2S.-Truth
that is stranger than fiction was ex-
emplihed in the accidental meeting OF
a brother and sister long separated,
upon the streets of East Chicago yes
terday.
The brothers name is Michael
Sweeney and the sister. who had come
to East Chicago in search of Michael.
who had been missing from his home
for over three months, was Miss Mar
garet Sweeney Both are from Wa
bash. Ind, and are well along in years
the brother being aged so and Miss
Sweeney seven years his senior.
Disappeared From Home.
During the latter part of January,
Michael. who had been a carpenter but
had been forced to give up his trade
because of his falling eyesight, disap-
peared. He left no word of why. or
whittier he had gone and Miss Sween-
! ey becoming worried over his con-
tinued absence, notified the police of
Wabash, but to no avail. A search of
about a month failed to reveal Sween-
ey's whereabouts but Miss Sweeney at
this time heard that her brother had
| been seen in East Chicago. She at
once came to East Chicago. but return
ed after a few days. satisfied that Mi
chael was not in the city However,
as she received no further clew as to
her brothers whereabouts, she decided
to return and Monday once more found
her in East Chicago, pursuing the same
eager quest that had called her hither
two months ago.
! She gave the police department de-
scription of the missing man. and the
| latter advised her to remain in East
Chicago for few days IN order to give
them time to try and locate Sweeney
So she rented a room in Olcott ave-
nue. and while the police We're work
ing on the case she followed up per
sonaIly a number of clews without
success. Yesterday she had decided tc
give up the disheartening search and
meeting officer William Hughes, who
had been interested in the case, of hel
intention to go to Chicago in a las
dispairing effort. she started in wha
she supposed to be the direction of thu
Pennsylvania depot Realizing tina
she had made a mistage she accostat
two men whom she asked to direct her
she had made a mistake she accostec
} taller of the two men, who was Charlie
Metzger and did not even look at hi
companion. Metzger told her she wa
/
: the one in which the depot lay, and Il
retracing her steps she walked wit
2 the men for half a block as far as Chi
cago and Forsyth avenues. where Metz
ger pointed out the depot to her. Sud
denly Miss Sweeney's glance fell upo1
the smaller of the two men who wa
walking on the inside of the walk
She looked at him a moment and the
gave an exclamation of surprise as sh
recognized the brother of whom sh
was in search
why. Michael" she exclaimed
Have you been here all this while
And I was just about TO give up an
with that she burst into tears.
There was an affecting scene be
tween the sister and brother as tn
e latter recognized in the stranger hi
. sister. He explained that he had bee
g working as a teamster since comm
to East Chicago, and that he had nc
| meant to cause the home folks an
= worry. but had merely neglected t
write to them of his whereabouts. H
:, poor eyesight was responsible for hi
y failure to recognize Miss Sweeney {
: once.
The reunited brother and sister al
. putting in the day today seeing tt
sights of the Calumet district. Mis-
Sweeney will return home this ever
: ing, much relieved after her long an
: anxious quest.