The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-11-02
THE UTICA HORROR!
Trial of Russell and Walsh, the
Accused Ravishers and Muir
derers Of Little Maggie
Ann Cuddy.


for fine murder of Margaret Ann Cuddy at [ tica
on the sixth of May last began in the Circu''
Court on Monday Tee Indictment was read on
Monday afternoon and work begun on Jury
The regular panel lasted but short Time ana
nut three of them were taken by both SIDES
specia venire issued bringing u more OF whom
five were accepted; then another venire for 30 Is
sued from whom the remaining Jurors were Sc
lected. This makes 81 examined scarcely any OF
them being wholly ignorant Of the facts in the
ease rs stated by rumor or otherwise. The jury
was filed on Thursday about 1880 A. VI.
The opening statement for the people wa then
made by Henry Mayo, Esq, County Attorney.
He made fair, unmpassioncd prescntment OF
the supposed facts, in substance as follows:
Margaret Ann Cuddy, a little girl, unusually
bright and sclfreliant, aged Syears and months
lived at Utica with her mother and step-fathcr
James Monahan. On Monday morning, May 9th
last, she obtained permission form her mother
to 20 to the residence Of Mr.. Russell, the father
of one of the defendants, a distance of about two
miles to get kitten promised her by the sister
of Young Russell, one OF the alleged criminals.
Maggie as she was Familiarity called, took with
her BAG IN which 10 carry the kitten home
Her pathway was down the caral-On the tow
path She started at about 4. VI. and arrived at
Mr. RussclrG. There she remained half an hour;
there young Russell saw her. He and Walsh
we're at work in field near by. Russell went to
the house and talked with her; they had former
Iy-Russclrs and Monahan'o family-bccn near
neishbors and therefore the little glrl had per
feet confidence in young Russell, and had no
fear, when an hour after she consented, as
Russell aftcrward confessed. to 20 with him to
nick flowers across the canal, near where the
poor child's body was found. Several witnesses
saw her 90 down to RusSell's, and three or four
saw her return past the Zinc Works in the dircc
ton of and close to the place where the corpse
was found. She had been gone two weeks be
fore the discovery Of her body II was found on
the north side Of the -, T. |. * ?. railroad about
- feet from the track, in Il ravnc about 20 feet
above the railroad bed, in pool of water three
or four feet long, three feet wide and IS inches
TO two feet in depth. Upon her body we're piled
as,ouc weighing about 300 lbs. and one weighing
about - lbs. Her drawers were found near by,
with one leg torn. There was plain evidence of
her rayishncnt or an attempt as well as the
positive proof Of her murder.
Russell has made two confessions, one that
Walsh told him that he (Wnlsh) struck her on
the head with II rock to quiet her screams, and
another in which he helped TO bury her, and also
that, as hc says, "Shc was alive and kicking when
they put her under the Water
Parties resembling Walsh and Russell, who also
were said to be chums, were seen with II girl
answering little Maggie's description passing the
Zinc Works in the afternoon of the day she was
at Russell's. The sack in which she had the kit
ten was found near the pool where her body lay.
Russell and Walsh had both been seen, an unusu-
al thing, in the neighborhood of that ravinc after
the murder and before the finding Of the corpse.
On the morning Of the finding of the body of the
child Russell and Walsh started out, rs they
said, to find little Maggie Cuddy and in "A few
hOar~ returned and said they had found her.
They claimed once that they went out to hunt
rabbits; another time that they were after cat
bird Russell now denies his confessions, claim
ing that they were given by him under durcss,
while in fear OF being lynchcd when under arrest
at LA Sale.
The reason given why she was not hunted after
socncr is that she had relatives at Rockwell east
city, and that on previous occasions she had gone
there and visited them, staying several days at
time.
The attorneys are Henry Mayo for the people,
and, by appointment of the court, Mr.. Blanchard
for Walsh ana Bull for RUSSELL and Duncan for
Walsh employed by the lattcr'S friends.
The jury are: Francis johnson, +. Il. Camp
bell, william Watson, Thomas Patton, Reuben
Spencer, VI. H. Butcher, J. W. Moss, Cyrus An
trum, j. NJ. Hanna, j. d. Bullock, solomon 10y,
Nicholas Wimple
Mr. Mayo occupied the time from 1880 till
noon on Thursday and was followed by Mr.. Bull,
who most ably outlined his theory for the de.
Tense occupying the entire afternoon. He
claims and presented some strong arguments
and facts going to show that this foul crime
the work Of tramps who infested that ncighbor.
hood On yesterday Mr. Duncan followed in his
opening for his client. 1t was eloquent and sus-
cmctly presented the defense for Walsh. The
address was worthy of Mr. Duncan and an effort
worthy Ofthe occasion. He concluded at 1925
A. NJ. And then Mr.. Mayo presented the first
witness for the people,
MRS. MARY MoNAnAN,
the mother OF the little girl, Margaret Ann Cud-
dy. She said in substance that she lives ut Utica;
am the mother OF this girl; she would have been
. years old in August last She was killed in
May Last We had formerly lived opposite Rus
sells, across the canal. Our children were init
matc-played together. Her father was Patrick
Cuddy We came from Reconsideration
county think. In the early part of May last
dressed her up to go to school II was in the
morning. But she had been talking of going
down 10 RussclPs place-William RusselPs faith
er'sto get kitten. She had leased me to let
her go. gave her my consent to 20 to Russel's,
but told her TO come back. She had always
obeyed me- Charley RUSSELL or 10 years old,
visited us on Easter and Katy. They were there
at ms house on Easter SUNDAY She left about .
A. N. When she went away gave her flour
sack TO get the cat in. She was dressed with
chemlse, drawers buttoned on one side; had
sun-bonnet, a lindsey dress. | did not want To