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Wilmington Daily Commercial
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
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Matthew O'Neill, a Wilmington resident, mysteriously disappeared on Saturday evening last around 9:30 PM, possibly due to mental aberration from illness. He left home in underclothing, heading toward the Christiana River; suspected drowning but body not found. Sightings suggest he may be wandering.
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MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A WILMINGTONIAN.
Matthew O'Neill, residing at 702 East Fifth street, disappeared suddenly and mysteriously on Saturday evening last, about 9.30 o'clock. For a week past he had been sick with a cold and nervous prostration, which is believed to have produced aberration of the mind. His actions just previous to his disappearance would seem to warrant such a conclusion for taking his only child in his arms he kissed it tenderly, saying it would soon "have no father," and then rushed precipitately from the house, clad in nothing but his under clothing. His wife seized him as he was passing out, but she was unable to detain him, and he continued his flight towards the Christiana. After turning the corner at Fourth street, nothing more was seen of him, although closely pursued. The supposition was that he drowned himself in the Christiana, but the river was carefully dragged, yesterday, without discovering the body.
It is said that O'Neill was seen sitting on McMullan's steps, at 2nd and Market, in conversation with a gentleman about midnight on Saturday, very weak and exhausted, and word from Newport says that a man answering to his description was seen about a mile North of that town reclining in the shade of a tree, yesterday. It may, therefore, be possible that he is wandering about ignorantly in the overthrow of his mind, and any information relative to his whereabouts will be thankfully received by his family.
O'Neill is about 5 ft. 6 inches in height, of medium build, and has black curly hair, with light moustache and thin goatee.
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Wilmington
Event Date
Saturday Evening Last
Key Persons
Outcome
disappeared; suspected drowning but body not found after dragging the river; possible sightings indicate wandering
Event Details
Matthew O'Neill disappeared suddenly from his home at 702 East Fifth street around 9:30 PM, after kissing his child and saying it would soon have no father, rushing out in underclothing toward the Christiana River despite his wife's attempt to stop him. He had been ill with a cold and nervous prostration leading to mental aberration. Pursued but not seen after turning at Fourth street. Seen possibly at McMullan's steps at 2nd and Market around midnight, weak and exhausted; another sighting north of Newport yesterday, reclining under a tree. Family seeks information.