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A SttJige Stary of m Mnrd«r«r*n Di#app«»r-■nee la California,“Eloped, September F'». 1-lt;H *' ?»T» ttie San FrtDcIf-o Call, 4.s the singular r nTry that appears on the records of the bloc kj on Asylum for the insane opposite the name of Thomas X). Neice, who was committed to that institution from this cay m the JOtbof February, H73, by R. F. Morrison, than Judge or the Fourth District Coart.On the Dfght of the bth of October, 1 *7, Neice, who bad been a night watchman in the United States Mint, went to a hou c on Fifth street, between Jessie and Mission, carry!i z in his band a large white bouquet, which be cTrrt d to Jennie O’Neil, a nineteen jear old girl, one of the inmate* ot the home, whu was atec known as Etnraa Meehan. She refuetd it, whereupon he drew a reyoiver and fireo four shots at her, wounding her in serial pieces. After Ite had cessed firtne he approached the wounded woman, Eaying: “Kiss me, for I must go, m I will swing for this. ’ As im- was leaving the house he was arrested by Otlleer M, Murphy. As soon a* he was in c ustody be said to the orticer: “Take your revolver and kill me, for I have an old mother and do not want to disgrace her. ’ The prisoner, who wis then twenty-one years of age. and was the son of Adelaide Murdo h, a then well-known lecturers, and nephew of James E. Murdoch, the tragedian, came to this city from Washington, D. C., in February preceding the shooting, and soon after his arrival obtained a position in the mint. He formed the acquaintance of the woman he shot, who was a native of Santa Crnz, and married to a n an named Nleeban. bat who D*d separated from her husband. After leaving her hdsband she went into a house on Sacramento street, where she was shot at by her husband. This shooting affected her mind, ana she was sent to the a^vlnm at btcckton, from which place ahe had been discharged as cured but a short time when Neice became acquainted with her. On the 20th of October the woman died from the effects of the wounds initiated by Neice, and just before dying she declared that Neice had shot her be cans* ehe refused to support him. In February, 1*7$, Neice was brought up in Judge Morris’ Court for trial for murder, snd during the trtul a ;urv wsi sworn to try bis mental condition. The jury declared that he insane, aDd, *a a person of unsound mind can not be tried f r crime, he was sent to I lie asylum.On the -Ith of May, lsM, D. L. Smoot, then District Attorney, moved to dismiss the iDii ctment against Neice, stating that U was the intention to sand Neice to his mother in J'hilauelphia. In support of the motion there was read a tetter from Dr. ShuvtleiT, Super in ten dent of the Asylum at Stockton, i:i which the writer said “Although Neice it. still of weak mind *nd in poor bodily health, he is sufficiently recovered logo at large end I would therefore ad via® ins removal.'' Judge Ferral, then presiding in I Department 2 of the Mnperior Court, before whom the motion wao mace, said: **I have a tolerab lt;• clear recolleotion ui this cos*. The u. ordered wciuaa was a wretchedoatcs**, while the young man had a good position, asi'i BPPt .i *v to be surrounded by lodacnta, frien Is. It is a matter of great snrpri-s t*» end tbe SRpeTintendenr ..f the j asylum edrisirg that Neice hould br per-nutted to go at large. The man is doc sred I to have a homicidal mania, yet it is deliberately proposed to send him to PhiiHuelphia 1 to his c;otL*’*, who is tant to oe verging on insanity. Under thete circumstances I can not and will not dismiss the indictment. If w hat baa been tinted is true, Neice could kitl any one in the community and be wholly irresponsible. I dare not assume the responsibility of discharging such a man,”Recently itcame to the koowlectes of a reporter for the Call that Neice was no longer an inmate of the asylum, and »a he had not been discharged by any order of the Court a viiit was paid to the rsyluui, and the en’ry ' which heads this artic e was discovered. The 1 authorities at the asylnm say they know j nothing of Neice e present whereabouts.
Newspaper Details
Indianapolis Sentinel
Indianapolis, Indiana, US
Tue, Apr 07, 1885
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Los A.
CA, USA 21 Mar 2024
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