The New York herald., 1875-07-13
THE KEHOE WIFE MURDER.

SHOCKING PICTURE OF DOMESTIC LrE-A MAN
WHO FoREwARNED Ills WIFE THAT HE WOULD
BE HANGED FOR HER.
The trial of Patrick Kehoe, q blacksmith on an
Indictment charging him with the murder Of his
wife on the 2lst OF May last, was commenced in
the Court OF oyer and Terminer, at Jersey City,
yesterday. The prisoner, who Is about thirty five
years OF age, was brought Into court by SherH
Laverty ana took a seat beside his counsel Mr.
r. b. Seymour. Before the list OF jurors was
called counsel for the prisoner desired to retracs
the plea OF not guilty, but the Court refused to
allow 1t and the trial proceeded.
District Attorney Garretson opened the case
and stated that on the date mentioned Kehoe
went home TO mis- residence on Third street, Jer-
sey City, in the evening" and there beat his wife
and inflicted wound in her head from which she
died In q snort time. The chief witness against
the prisoner Is his son, about nine years old.
The other child, baby, aied since the murder.
The Court stated that the jury would be kept
together from the time the oath was administered
till a determination was reached, but that II any
member oil the jury desired 10 visit his nome No
could do so lii the company OIL an officer
The hTst witness Was u coored woman named
Louisa Johnson, VINO testlned;-I live at No. $40
Third street, Jersey City; Kehoe occupied the
moor above thai wnere | resided; saw Mrs. Kehoe
alive ior the last time on Friday in May, between
four aud six O'Clock IN the afternoon sne was Sit
ting IN the hallway and renamed there till Kehoe
came hone; heato dog Dark In Kehoe's room;
Kenoe TOLD the dog to smut up; next heard loud
groans lrom Mrs. Kehoe; the little boy went down
stairs and got water, with which kehoe told him
to wash his (the boy's) mother; Kehoe told tue Doy
sne would De all right in the morning; the boy
said, "Papa, what have you done to mamma Yii
he 4nsweled, Nothing, she was drunk and fell OF
the lounge;n the boy asked her IL sne let better
and she answered no; she asked the boy 10 take
OF ner old snoes; the boy came down for moro
asked the poy what was the matter with ms
mother; he answered, 'NothIng;u Kehoe yelled
Kehoe came DO On and asked him what was the
matter Win hls wiie; he replied, "5he's dead,
God damn 1t, she's dead; she ought to have been
oead long ago." he then asked me to go up
aud see ner; previous 10 this l heard him
say TO his vile, God damn you, this
VIII carry you out tonight; you'll never
be mere again TO bother me or the neIghbors .,
sent for an oficer; Kenoe SAID ne would go out
and get the doctor; ne came buck with the Cor
oner and an undertaken; when the police came
We went into the yard and found a pall flied with
undercothing, winch Kenoe had placed unoer
the pump; before Kehoe went Tor the doctor 7
heard hm drag Mrs. Kehoe across the floor and
place her IN the bed; be dragged her, as / should
door aud the kitchen window, where pool Of
blood was found; the blood Was near the lounge
Of mans feet from the pool to the bearoom;
saw Mrs. Kehoe lying on the bed; her face
was covered with blood she was uno ressed; tue
clothing unoer the hydrant was covered with
blood; Mrs kehoe was perfectly sober when |
last saw her awe IN tne hallway the boy earned
threaten his vie; on the sunday morning before
she uted he beat her, threw her down stalrs and
said, ii mean TO XII you yet; mean TO 90 hung
for you;" have often heard him come In late at
Night and beat her, after which he would make
her 20 out in the snow without any clothing; on
the night OF the murder before / heard the drag
glng sound l heard a noise Ike the tearing OF
clothing.
WIliam Johnson testified II am husband OF the
previous witness; remember the night MIS- Kehoe
died saw ner at nafpast six sitting on the stoop;
sue Dade me good evenings saw Keaoe soon after
pass IN and 90 up the stars; he did not speak to
his vile; while Kehoe and his wife were up stairs
heard loud knock up stairs, and piece OF glass
came out just over the place where was sitting;
something heavy pass across the 1oor and move
toward the sofa, anu there was sound
as II there was a all the sofa; heard
Mrs. Kenoe groanlng; her little boy came
down stairs In the meantime for pail OF Watesj
when the boy returned vita the water he gave a
loud cry and SAID, Papa, what have you done
with my mother2b Kehoe said tnat she was
drunk and iell or the lounge aud hurt herself and
killed herself, or something ike that; she cried
out, "Pete, take my old shoes oGi' kehoe called
to her to get up, aud sue cid not feel inclined; he
then SAID, ''Get up, you damned p-h, this VIII
alter this; you will be out Of everJ body's
way In the morning;i heard him then
say, "You damned old b-n, don't know what is
the matter; take her mp and put her into bed, she
10 either dead dying - went up stairs and felt
her pulse and said tnAt she was dead: Kehoe said,
and went TO hell aud came back again ~ replled
"Well, Mr.. Kehoe she Is dead now-she Won't
come back no more"
Counsel for tue defence asked the witness II Mrs.
Kehoe was sober during the week previous 10 her
deatn, but the Court overruied the question on
the ground that murder could not be justinable
even II the deceased were intoxicated. Inc case
was adjourned thl thLs norntuR