Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-25

A TAUNTON WOMAN MURDERED BY HER
MISUNDERSTANDING Cannon, tagged 40 years,
wife Of James Cannon of Taunton, came 10 her
death Saturday morning, under circumstances
which seem to leave no doubt she was brutally
murdered. The husband states that he was
abed with her and awoke at three O'Clock in the
morning and found. her ldead. He did not give
information ito any person for several hours al
terward, and the first intmation the authorities
received that there was anything amiss was at
about 10 o'clock A. N, from the undertaken who
was called to prepare the corpse for burial. City
Marshal Potter inspected the premises where
the death occurred, a small, single tenement
house on Bow street, and found that pools and
spatters of blood had evidently been wiped up
from the floor, the stairs leading to the bed
room, the walls of the bedroom and the bed
clothes. The city physician, DIR. n. Paige, was
summoned, and on a cursoly examination OF
the dead body discovered considerable rent
and confusion on the back Of the head
and several bruises about the person. Cannon
was taken into custody by Marshal Potter
and was lodged in the police station, where lie
now remains awaiting the result OF coroneTs
inquest. Cannon says his wife had been I'M
well for several days. He states that the stains
about the house are mostly those Of tobacco
juice, but he also says his wife had fall on the
9th Of the present month, receiving certain
wounds thereby, which dscoored the floor
little, These statements, however, do not ap-
pear to the police to be very credible, in view of
the developments thus far made in the case.
Cannon is about fifty years old. He is an Irish
man by birth, but has lived at TaOntOn for
many years. The woman deceased was his
second wife and was childless, but he had by a
former marriage several children, one or more
OF whom now reside at Fltchburg. The APP
pearance of the defendant does not indicate a
high de gree ofintelhgence, nor vets very strong
disposition TO brutishneSs or cruelty
SENTENCE OF DEATH IMPOSED ON MCEL-
HANEY.-rhe exceptions having been overruled
in the case OF James MeElhaney, who was con
victed of the murder of his wife, Nellie Emma
McEhaney, by shooting her with pistol at the
house of her parents in Boston Highlands in
August last, the prisoner was brought before
Judges Gray and Ames of the superior court for
sentence, Saturday morning.
After McElhaney had been placed at the bar,
Attorney General Train stated TO the court that
at the September term of the superior court
James Mc1lhaney had been indicted for the
wlul murder of his wife. This Indictment
was duly certified to the supreme judicial court,
when the prisoner was duly arraigned and plead
ed not guilty. Counsel Of his own choice was
assigned, and after trial he was found guilty
tober Exceptions were taken to the full court,
which had been OYeITuled, and nothing renamed
Tor him mir. Train) but to move that sentence
now be passed.
Judge Gray then inquired Of the defendant if
he had anything to say why sentence should not
be passed; to which McElhaney replied that he
had nothing to say, except that he was sorry
orwhat he had done.
Judge Gray then addressed Mclllhaney as IL
lows You have had all the defence and safe
guards which the law allows, have been defend
ed 10y counsel oil your own choice, and after a
lul and lair trial a jury after solemn delibera-
lion has found you guilty of murder IN the hrSt
degree. We need not say how much we sympa-
thize with you in your unhappy condition, and
do not propose to add anguish to your untor-
tunate situation, which was brought about by
your ungOyernable passions. We would advise
yuu TO take counsel of some spiritual adviser to
meet the great change which is to come upon
you, and turn to Almighty God who is willing
and able to forgive your great crime. Nothing
more remained for the court but TO pass the
sentence provided by law,awhich is THAT you,
James McElhaney, he removed from this place
and detained in close custody in the common
jail OF the county of Suffolk, there 10 be kept
until such time the executive shall by war
rant appoint, thence TO be taken to the place of
execution and there TO be hanged by the neck
until you are dead. And may God in His inf
mite wisdom have mercy on your soul"
McElhaney was much affected by the sen
tence, and wept bitterly as he was removed
from the court room. During the trial he man
Tested great indifference, but since his couviC.
tOn marked change has taken place and he
appears deeply peniteut.