Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-11-19
NO.. 4.
THE NJ GINNIS MYSTERY.
From the New York Times.


1t is only recently that the facts in the
case of Mr.. and Mrs. McGinnis, of Green
Bay, Wis, have been made public. It
will be remembered that early last July
MIR. McGinnis, who is worthy gentle
man, eminent in the local brick and
mortar transportation business, appeared
at his post OF temporary duty-the new
Murray Block-ip a state Of profuse CON
fusion. His general appearance suggest
ed that he had been engaged in difficult
ty with locomotive engine running at
full, speed, and that subsequently all the
coal dust in the tender had been poured
over him. OF course little was said to
him on the subject, and he showed dis
position to reticence by knocking down
the first man who indelicately called
public attention to him. People quietly
assumed that Mr.. McGinnis had reasons
tor declining to explain the condition of
his countenance, and felt that the less
they might say about it the better.
Later in the day it was reported that
Mrs. iMcGinnis was even more obtrus-
lively black and blue than her her hrrs
band. The milkman asserted that her
face was swollen almost beyond recogni-
tlon, and that he never, in his whole Life
| had seen a woman with such an appar-
emily total absence of teeth and ewes.
Other witnesses confirmed the milkman's
story, and it was soon confidently assert
ed that the McGinnises had been engag-
ed in conjugal fight Of the most lively
description.
Good people were greatly panied by
this report, Mr.. McGinnis had long en-
joyed the reputation of being sober,
hard-working man, exceptionally fond Of
his wife, and quite model to other hus-
bands. Mrs. McGinnis was similarly be-
Heved to be sober and kindly in her dis
! position, and was even noted for her
smiling good-humor and her fondness for
her husband. How could these loving
and estimable people fall out and chide
and club one another? This was not on
ly a mystery to the public, but a source
grief. That the McGinnises should set
so miserable an example to the rest of the
inhabitants Of Green Bay was certainly
deplorable, and the suspicion that bad
whiskey was not wholly unconnected
with the affair was perhaps the most
painful feature of the case.
Neither Mr.. McGinnis nor his wife
deigned to furnish Green Bay with any
explanation Of their bruises. Gradually
the black and blue of their respective
countenances disappeared Mrs. McGin-
mis- eyes emerged from their eclipse, and,
although her missing teeth did not return
the smiling sweetness of her face was but
little impaired. AS for Mr. McGinnis,
his face regained its normal condition In
about four or five weeks, with the solitary
exception of his nose, which had been
too much discouraged to be able to reas-
sert its original prominence. The pair
seemed to be as happy as in the old days
and the public perceived no further signs
OF either intemperance or bad temper.
Very unexpectedly Mr. AcGinnis him
self abandoned, a few days ago, his policy
of silence, and gave to prominent citi-
zen of Green Bay full explanation of
the mystery which had so long been inn
| pervlOuS to solution.
Green Bay in the summer season is in
ordinately addicted to mosquitoes which
in size and ferocity far eclipse the largest
mosquitoes of New Jersey or Rockaway
Beach. There are mosquito-nettings in
the McGinnis house, as there are in all
other Green Bay houses, but last July an
accident rendered the mosquito-bar in
Mr.. McGinnis' bedroom useless. Ofcourse
the mosquitoes swarmed in, and about
midnight Mrs. McGinnis arose in most
exasperated frame of mind. On shelf
in the room stood bottle Of spirits of
camphor, and it occurred to her that were
she to bathe her face and arms with its
contents, the mosquitoes might be persu-
AIDED to give her little peace. fAccord-
ingly she carefully bathed her exposed
| surfaces, and performed like service for
the face and arms of her husband, who
slept peacefully in spite of everything.
| Having thus done her whole duty, she
crept back to bed, and being extremely
sleepy, fell into a profound slumber.
Mrs. McGlnnls has strong prejudice
against negroes and when she awoke the
next morning and found man of ex-
treme and unnecessary blackness Sleep
ing at her side, she sprang up with a
shrek and seized heavy club that stood
in the corner. The shrek awoke Mr.Mc-
Ginnis, who in his turn, was unspeak
dDly dSCOuSucu W SGT dI dou1tUIC UIetCh
woman in the act Of banging him on the
head with club Assuming at once
that felonious negro woman had broken
into the house, he proceeded to protect
himself and family. Mrs. McGinnis was
woman of exceptional strength, who
knew no fear, and was infuriated at the
supposed presence of a negro in her sleep
ing apartment 1t is unnecessary to
dwell upon the scene that followed. The
two combatants were not unequally
matched, in spite of the difference of sex,
and they fought with great enthusiasm
for the next twenty minutes. At the
end Of that time the wreck of white cloth
ing incident to a fight hotly conducted at
an early hour in the morning led to
mutual recognition. Mrs. McGinnis
threw away her club, exclaiming, "Pat!
and is it you?" and Mr.. McGinnis clasp
imp her to his bosom, begged for forgive
ness and an explanation.
Measures have since been taken by
Mr., McGinnis to prevent the possibility