Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-12-10
Execution in McKsan County.

I-nan1eu-at OinetlpOft, Mchedn
county, for the murder of his cousin,
Mary Reilly A dispatch to an ex-
change paper on the day of the exc
cution recites the particulars of the
case as follows
Andrew Tracy, executed here to
day, murdered his cousin, Miss Mary
Rely, on the evening of September
Is, 1878, while she was unsuspect-
ingly walking along one of the min
streets of Smethport in company
with Miss Bella Mullen, an intimate
friend Of hers. Tracy was a young
lawyer of marvellous book-learhinS,
but no adaptabiity. Several years
ago he was captivatei by the charms
of Miss Rely, who was not only at
tractive in appearance, but one of the
most accomplished young ladies in
the community. The parents were
Ill good financial circumstances and
gave their daughter the privilege of
ayailing herself of any Catholic
school OF instruction she might de-
sire. Although her cousin, Miss
Rely apparently reciprocated the af-
fecI of Tracy, various letters writ
ten to him by her showing that she
had a warm place in her heart for
/ him. Some of the correspondence
which she left as a legacy to him
breathed more than love-it indica-
ted that they had been betrothed In
one of the letters she appears as his
affi.nced wife. and in another as his
lear wife The letters written 10y
Tracy to Miss Rely were models OF
composition, and expressed tender
ness of affection for her that showed
that she was all in all to him. But a
change came over the young lady.
The Catholic Church, of which both
were members, prohibited the inter
marriage. Mr.. Rely, learning of the
relations existing between her and
Tracy. III a passion forbade him pay
ing his addresses to Mary, saying
that he would prevent them if it cost
him his LIFE The indignation of the
parent was aroused in the presence
OF Tracy and his sweetheart The
lover did not seem frightened IN the
least, but tore open his breast, need
his hand over his heart and tOl the
old man to shoot The girls father
remJnstrated with NM because of the
obstacles the Church iaterposed to
the marriage of relatives. Appreci-
ating the position in which she stood
Miss Rely struggled hard to over
come her love for the object of her
early affection, both because the
church of which she is a member and
and her father set up barriers against
a union of the two hearts. Although
Miss Reilly continued to write to HIM
whom she called her Dear Andy
until about two weeks before her
death, there was an apparent subsl-
dence of her love. Besides she had
formed the acquaintance of young
man named Thomas Carroll, and had
begun to write letters to him, which
indicated that ne was rapidly run
ming away with the love which once
belonged to her cousin. In these
letters he was termed her Dearest
Tommie" Sometimes she would
chile him. but it was only when he
committed some indiscretion, such rs
becoming intoxicated, which gave her
much pam. The knowledge of these
amatory relations came to the ear of
Tracy, and he determined that if he
could not have Miss Rely the new
suitor should not, and lie according
ly formed the purpose to Kill her.
Two months before she was murder
ed ne consulted surgeon in Smeth-
port with view OF ascertaining the
point where a gunshot would prove
most fatal. At the same time he
critically examined a surgical history,
which confirmed the correctness OF
the information of the surgeon, who
tod Tracy that the base OF the brain
WAS the most vital part OF the human
system. On the Monday preceding
the commission of the crime he was
asked by a neighbor why he did not
marry Miss Rely, when he referred
to her in condemnatory and WI lgar
terms, and on the very evening he
shot his cousin he mysteriOusly solil-
oquizel within the hearing of the
man, remarking that he would fix the
s. Of a b that night Miss
Rely never had any fear that Tracy
would do her bodily harm, but she
did express an apprehension that he
might commit suiciie.
On the evening Miss Rely lost her
life at the hands OF the one whom
she once SO ardently loved they had
been in each others company at the
house of Tracy's sister, but he was
in apparently morOse mood. He de
clined to play an accompaniment to a
song which she rendered, ana when
she bade him goodnight as she left
the house, he made no reply.
Miss Rely was in company with
Miss Mullen at the time. The girls
had nearly reached the residence OF
the latter when they heard footsteps
in their rear, which rapidly approach
ed. They gave themselves no con
eern about it, as it was not yet nine
o'clock in the evening. As they were
making the turn to go into Miss AIul-
lens residence the villain overlook
them, and in moment he discharged
a pistol ut the head of Miss Rely.
and she reeled to the pavement, while
her companion was ar est frightened
ont of her senses and as fell When
Mss Mullen arose she saw a man,
whom size could not then recognize,
standing over the bleeding form OF
the mortalIy wounded woman who
lived about half an hour after she
{ hal baap shot Tho rn1,t.,laro, mo 10