Paul Pueller.com

Lincoln, Nebraska, January 12, 1891.

The topic of conversation today has been the murderous attack upon John Sheedy,

one of the best known of Lincoln citizens,

and for years a conspicuous figure on the streets and around the hotel lobbies.

This was the third attempt to murder Mr. Sheedy, the first being some six years ago,

the second only a few weeks ago, and the third and

probably successful attempt was last night.

The would-be assassin had evidently been lying in wait for his victim around his house at the

southeast corner of 12th and P streets. When at about 7.30, Mr. Sheedy told his wife he would go up to the

Capitol Hotel for a short time and had just emerged from his front door. The villain struck him a

terrible blow over the head with a heavy leather cane such as is made at the penitentiary.

Two blows were struck, but the first was warded off by Sheedy with his left hand,

the cane striking the wrist and causing it to become swollen to twice its normal size.

The second blow fell upon his head, inflicting a wound over the left eye, ranging back

in considerable ways on the skull and crushing it.

Though stunned by the blow, he quickly recovered his composure, and seeing the man dart away,

pulled his revolver and opened fire, discharging four chambers of the weapon,

after which he stepped back into his house and remarked to his wife that he thought he was shot.

The shooting attracted the attention of many who were upon the streets at that hour,

among them doctors Everett

and Hart, and a crowd soon gathered about the place. The physicians lost no hope in administering

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