The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-13
The LATEST VIFE MURDER.
narrowing Particulars Of the Ul-
stAr County Horror.
pruta)fv Bsatsn for Two Years-The Fiend At
tzmpts to Throw Her Down Well and to
NRosx Her Ahve-He Finally Kicks
and Pounds Her to Death
Arrest Of the Murderer

KINGSTON, N T.. Dec IL, 1871
m Ulster county, on Saturday evening last there
was enacted another OF those horrible and nendish
murders for which that county has OF late become
noted. murder more sickenlng In its details has
seldom II ever found place in the annals OF crime.
Rock Locks,
THE SCENE OF THE MURDER,
e situated on the Delaware ana Hudson Canal,
about seven miles from Kingston. The facts as
CLEANED by HERALD reporter are as follows
About two years ago Thomas began, young
man, then about twenty-five years OF age, married
. young woman about twenty years OF age. short
time after their marriage he began course OF oru'
tai treatment toward her whom ne mad lew
months before sworn TO love and protect. He BE-
came very dissipated In his habits and daily grew
moro cruel In his treatment Of his wife. Night after
night as he would come home nom his drunken
csrOusals the neighbors would hear the
CRIES AND SCREAMS
OF his abused wife, and shudder as they heard tho
kicks and blows, loud and FAST as they fell upon
the defenceless woman. On Saturday evening the
last act In this
HORRIBLE DRAMA
was enacted. 1t appears that on Saturday morning
Thomas Degan in company with few friends,
went to Rosendae, small village few miles dis
tant ana there became somewhat intoxicated, but
yet NOT so much under the influence Of liquor
as not to know what he was about. After
spending the day at Rosendale he returned home at
about six O'Clock In the evening, and for once ap-
peared quite sociable and friendly towards his wife.
Presently she started for the we'll about seventy.
i've yards distant for the purpose OF obtaining
water. Thomas soon followed. She seeing him
approach, spoke kindly TO him. ana q, Tom
In an angry voice, "Damn you am going TO take
your life" and then seized her and
ATTEMPTED TO THROW HER IN THE WELL.
She cried for help several times and began, seeing
wagon approaching. aud fearful OF being de,ected,
loosened his hold, at the same time giving her
'' = >'e :, o isGi sM HIM, IN HER RIBS.
Rose Degan then ran to the house OF Mrs. McKin-
ley and went up stairs to where Mrs. Mckinley
was, and said:-"I am killed, ] guess! Tom has
ley then seated the Injured woman in q rocking
chair, and was about calling for help when she
ne % door 0pen ana a saw Inc prae Degan
dying wife from the chair attempted to put her on
red hot stove, and as he SAID.
In this no was frustrated by Mrs. Mckinley,
who fought bravely to save Rose began from SO
design turned upon Mrs. Mckinley and struck
her fearful blows; then SELLING his wife, he
ROOM and them while she lay bleeding and 1nsensi.
Bile struck her several blows upon the head ana
yet content he caught mold Of her feet and, while
holding her In that position, kicked her unmerci-
relaxing in his assault Rose regained her con.
seriousness and managed TO crawl into a bedroom
az. and attempted to lock the door, Before
forced the door and again and again struck and
kicked his now senseless victim, dragging her
about the room BY the hair in 1endish gee and say
lng NOW have finished your
the TWO rooms In which the horrible tragedy
was enacted presented the appearance OF
SLAUGHTER HOUSE
The floor, the walls and even the ceiling were be-
Bmeared with blood. The hair OF the dead woman
which had been pulled out by the fiendsh husband,
was thick upon the floor, while the stairway leading
70 the rooms below was reeking with blood and the
doors bore the marks OF bloody hands.
MRS. Mckiniey having by her screams aroused
minutes after the injured woman was taken
By Owen Gallagher aud family, and
ferings. DR.. Robinson was at once Summoned,
who pronounced her injuries fatal. About eleven
O'CLOCK me same night began returned 10 the
which was denied him, his wife begging that he
should not be allowed to enter, saying that she knew
he would XIII her. began then went away, but re-
turned again in about ten minutes, and again de.
manded admlttance. Gallagher refused, telling him
he would not allow him 10 see her I'LL morning,
whereupon began said ne would come In II he had
TO force the door, lie commenced to carry his
threat Into execution by kicking In one Of the
panels. Gallagher,
stood guard at the door, determined to strike down
the murderer should he attempt TO enter Mrs.
Gallagher warned him not TO come In at the peril OF
his lie, and he finally withdrew, not wishing to face
certain death, to his own house. About three
O'Clock on Sunday morning he was arrested while
preparing for flight.
DEATH OF THE VICTIM.
Mrs. began fingered through the night In great
agony, and died about eight O'Clock Sunday morn.
ing. coroners jury was at once summoned, and
alter viewing the body, which
PRESENTED A sIckENING APPEARANCE,
the chest and ribs being broken In, rendered yer.
dict that Rose began came TO her death from iniu-
ries wlinliy inflicted by her husband Thomas began.
Mhereupon the prisoner was committed TO the
Kingston jail to await the action or the Grand Jury