The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-29
A SHANTY SLAUGHTER.
awe HAVE A CASE OVER THERE"
THE MURDERER ARRESTED.

MP block bounded by Lexington and Fourth ave.
nues and Fiftysevenih and Fifty-eghth streets.
there stands a humble but cleanly-looking little
wooden shany that has the appearance OF being the
unprotending home OF some industrious aborer who
constructed simple edihce there with the inten-
uon OF bringing up his family IN purer afr and amid
queter surroundings than his small means
would enable HIM to procure in the more
populous portions OF the great city.
The spirit OF metropolitan progress, however,
mas invaded the neghbornood since this shanty was
erected, and II is now surrounded on all sides, but
still at some distance Off, by rows of tall and some
what pretentious dwellings, OF smooth.;aced BRICK
ana brown stone. It's whole appearance still
conveys 10 the passing beholder the idea OF com
parative content and happiness, hidden away In
lowry but decent obscurity and the little place looks
suggestive provocative of almost any thing but
the preparation of one OF those foul and hdeous
murders that now ana then appear
LIKE HoRR1D BLoTs OF BLOOD
on the record OF metropolitan crimes. But when
the stiffness of the last quiet sabbath evening came
upon peaceful looking little abode II was found TO
be the theatre in which a most horrible tragedy had
just been enacted. The shanty spoken OF has been
occupied for some years by man named James
MoGauey, who had, until sunday last, worked
an assistant in "A blacKsmilh's shop on
Sixth avenue. He is strong, able-bodied man, OF
about fifty years of age. He has two grown up sons
hitter, both OF whom are accorded an excellent cha
racter as worthy young men and good citizens, by
I'll VINO know them but old McGauey bears
MOST INEVITABLE REPUTATION
among mis- neighbors and acquaintance. His wife,
very good anu deserving woman, who alone
brought up her boys in the way they should 60,
died about three months since at the residence OF
her children, neither they she finding
1t possible to live with the unnatural
That worthy had the grace 10 attend the
poor woman's funeral, and brought as much
disgrace as he could on MS otherwise decent little
family by making the obsequies OF his deceased wife
the occasion OF getting himself into beastly state
OF inloNlcation. shortly after tins he solaced his
lonely condition pv inducing wandering char
woman, widow, named Agnes Reilly, maiden
BETTER KNOWN AS ''PEG" REILLY,
TO take up her abode in his shanty and serve as his
'housekeepern she was strong, stout buXom
woman, about forty years of age, native OF the
county OF Cavan. Ireland, and a ''townyn of McGau-
ley's' Some of the nelenbors positively state
positively denies. There Is no doubt, how
ever, she was in the habit OF getting rear
fully and wonderfully drunk whenever her means or
her credit admitted OF that indulgence; that, Is
rule, McGauley assisted, powerfully on every
stage OF inebrety they always quarreled and some
times desperately fought. On sunday evening last
MGAuLEY AND Peg GOT VERY DEUNE
and entered upon wicked fight, which was con-
nnaed at intervals until the gray dawn Of the next
woman. During sunday evening the fighting WIS
observed by several persons living IN the vicinity,
VINO congregated at short distance from the Snanty
TO watch the proceedings but who, regarding what
they witnessed as but repetition OF the scenes
often before gone through by the same pair never
once thought OF any interference. Through the
open door McGauley could be seen striking repeated
closed fist, and administering several Kicks with his
heavy boot until the woman
FELL PAINTING AND EXHAUSTED ON THE FLOOR.
Then he would cross the lot to a hydrant, return
with bucket OF water and fling the contents over
the PROSTATE body OF his vicum; ana when e had
restored
proceed to repeat her dose of punishment until 1t
became necessary resort TO the bucket again. THIS
Kept until late at night when sheer exhaustion
or drunken stupefacton compelled McGauley 10
shapty until after bedtime Before daybreak on
the following morning Mrs Bridget Higgins, re-
siding in basement on Fifty seventh street. oppo
site McGaueys shanty, heard
SOMETHING LIKE THE SCREAM OF A WOMAN,
other noise. About seven O'CLOCK, however, q man
living in the house was called upon by Mccall
ley, who wanted him TO buy the shanty on the spot
for tri1ing sum 1885, and VINO was In very ex- |
cited condition at the tme The man refused to make |
The purchase, saving he had no business with the
direction Of the shanty. In few minutes he re-
turned and SAID to the man, 'Mr. -, we have
THAT WOMAN is DEAD;
don't know what happened TO her." Them
McGauley is 10 90 straight up TO the police station
aud report the case TO Captain Gunner he viii soon
McGauley. and he went OF slowly in the direction
of the station house; but he did not go there d.
reached IL, little over three short blocks away
Meantime Mrs. higgins, above mentioned,
NcGauey stated ABOUT his having "a case
over there proceeded to the shanty They
found the door OPEN and they Immediately entered
the middle apartment, which served as a united
Kitchen and sitting room. small. plain table IN
ana cups used at the repast OF the evening before,
had just arisen from supper; but there no sign |
OF liquor IN the place except
TWO SMALL SODA WATER BOTTLES
In an OLD cupboard, one or which smeled Of sherry
and the other OF GIN. The women next entered the
apartment on the right OF the door. which they
knew was used as the bedroom OF Peg" They |
found her clothing all there hanging from pegs
10y the wall; the Ded was slightly disturbed |
ana presented the appearance OF having been |
lain upon Tor snort Tune by somebody |
VINO had not undressed, but Mrs. Reilly |
through the Kitchen AID INTO the room usually oc-
cupied by McGauley as sleeping apartment, and |
there blood-curdlng sight was presented 10 their
view The room was entirely devoid OF furniture. |
and in one corner OF it was spread out miserable
pallet on the bare floor. Between them and THIS |
pallet, If rudely kicked out oft, lay the BODY OF
the wretched "Pegi' Reilly,
STARK NAKED AND QUITE DEAD,
bnt not yet entirely cold ana stii All over the |
back, shoulders, sides, abdomen and limbs |
the black marks OF kicks and blows The head WAS
ngnuully gashed and the base of the skull, or occi
put, was mashed III, and from this wound, ana from
The nose and mouth, streams OF blood flowed along |
the moor. Every feature injured and !
nscolored, ana the whole face disngured |
almost beyond RECOGNITION. The women,
aud decently covered the max body OF the muir
dered woman with The scany clothing they found
III the room, and then lett the sickening scene TO
spread the alarm throughout the neghbornood.
When McGauley reached The Nineteenth precinct
polce station ne found Captain Gunner on hand,
whom he informed that
MS ''HoUs EHEEPER' DIED SUDDENLY
End nom some TO him unknown cause, during the
previous night. His extraordinarily nervous and
excited condltlon at the moment aroused the sus-
picons OF the aSiue captain who promptly called
Roundsman John Macarthur, formerly OF the detec-
tive force, and sent him back with McGauley
20 investigate the When the rOundsman
arrived the shanty, which then surrounded
by a Mortified crowd OF men, women aud children
he OF course, saw at glance what the matter con.
tanned; so he took possession OF the house locked
the door. took the names and the rough evidence OF
a number OF persons who VIII De useful as witnesses,
Al-.L... -tafi lL-nL