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Cljf fail!) JnnriwilOGDENSBURG, AUGUST 0, 1898.LOCAL NEWS.Hos, Odas. M. Pssston, Superintendent of theSHOT HER ASSAILANTA TRAOBDf AT THE SOUTH HAMMOND QUARRIES,A Slender Woman Uses a Revolver in 8elf Defence.BRUTE RECEIVES A BULLET BETWEEN IBB EVES.Dire. Nicoliette, who did the Shooting, Bronchi to this CHI’. The Inqnettt over the Hemsfm of John Sweeney the Victim, to be Held tfci* Afternoon.South Hammond stone quarry located on theIfne of the Utioa division of the R. W. 0. R. R, about 25 miles from this aity, has acquired an unenviable notoriety at the present time. It was at this locality, in Lugton’s camp, that the homicide ire are about to describe occurred. This quarry, or more properly quarries, give employment to more than one hundred men. Lately many Italians have boen employed there on ao. count of tho lower prioe for their labor.Sylvester Nicoliette, an Italian Interpreter and foreman at the quarry, and hia wife Annie were running a boarding house there. Mrs. Nicoliette looked after the boarding matters, while her husband officiated as interpreter of and foreman over a gang of Italians.At about 5 o’olook yesterday afternoon, John Sweeney, who was also a foreman at Lugbon’e camp, came to the Nicoliette boarding house and ealled for a drink. Later he returned and demanded drink again, which was given to get rid of him. Again he returned for drink and each time became more and more insultingly abusive until Mrs. Nicoliette politely aBked him to go away, saying if he did not do eo she would send for her hUBband.This so exasperated Sweeney that he used the most insolting and abusive language to her and finally siezsd a heavy weight and rushed, at the little woman Baying, “I’ll kill you!” Mrs. Nicoliette ran behind the counter with the brute, Sweeney in close pursuit with the iron weight in. hia hand. A 38 caliber Smith Wesson revolver was at hand and she seizrd it and pointing at the drunken brute, fired. The ball struck Sweeney between the eyes, he fell to the floor and expired in a few minutes.Mrs. Nicoliette dropping the revolver ran to the quarry and told her husband what hod happened. During the shooting, beside Sweeney and ilra. NicotletSe, there was present in the room Mrs, Wm, Sebermerhorn, who resides !q the camp. Mrs. Nieotlette’a little five-year-old son, who was present previous to the shooting, had been sent after his father but had not got far away when the fatal shot was fired.In a few minutes the news of the tragedy had spread throughout the camp and an eager and excited crowd filled the room and surrounding space to get a sight of Sweeney, whose lifeless form lay on the floor of the little bar-room, covered with blood in ail the ghastiinees of a violent death.Mrs. Nioolletta, after finding her husband, accompanied him to the office of Justice W. A Welsh and gave herself into the charge of the authorities. She was committed to the charge of Officers E. A. Hazen and Geo. Litmeli, who boarded the 6:80 p. m. train and with their' prisoner arrived in thie city at 7:16 and went directly to the recorder’s office, where arrange-ments were made for her aafe keeping until her preliminary examination, which will occur soon.Mrs. Nicoliette is of French descent, 29 years old, slender, graceful and lady-like. Sb slight of build and weighs but 98 pounds. Considering the ordeal she had passed through she certainly displayed touch coolness and nerve Evidently the consciousness that the act was committed in a moment of peril to her own life, as a legitimate means of seif-defocse, sustained her in the belief- that she had commuted no intended wrong.Mrs. Nicoliette is an inoffensive appearing woman. Sho remonstrated with Sweeney and tried to make him leave tbs bouse, but when he went away, he persisted in returning, and the threat of Mrs. Nicoliette, to send for her husband( climaxed the frenzy of this man, who was wild with drink and pursuing her with murder in his attitude and murder in hie voice—“I’ll kill you I” said he. She only oscd the pistol as the Iaat.aud only resort to defend herself.Mrs. Nicoliette ia favorably known in this city’ In 1892, she with her husband and Iittie-boy boarded for several weeks at the Sterling House. The proprietor, Mr. White, states that she is a refined and educated lady with an amiable disposition. She seems reconciled to what she has done and apparently regards it as the only course she could have pursued.John Sweeney, the victim, has been foreman for Wm. Lugtoa at the quarry since last spring. His reputation is bad. He has been locked up od several occasions for his misdemeanors.The sympathy of the camp at the South Hammond quarry eeems to he 'with Mrs, Nicoliette and the optpion is generally expressed that the homicide was committed in-sdf-defenso.Coroner S. E. Brown, of this city, will leave for South Hammond this afternoon to bold an inquestMr. Nicoliette, the husband of the woman under arrest, arrived in thie city at noon today.ANOTHER SI I) DUOWM.K} CASE.
Newspaper Details
Ogdensburg Journal
Ogdensburg, New York, US
Wed, Aug 09, 1893
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 07 Dec 2023
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