The sun., 1879-01-13
MURDER FIFTEEN YEARS AGO
ANOTHER CASE FOR MEN VINO OPPOSE
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Doubt. OF the Guilt OF sharpe ana Mcdonnell,
to be IanGeo To-Morrow-'rbe Testimony
Of the Proprietor OF the Coal Gazette.
To THE EDTToR OF THE SUN-Sir: News
came from Harrisburg early this morning that
the Board Of Pardons had refused to interfere
in tho cases Of Charles Sharpe and james
Mcdonnell. under sentence OF death for the
murder OF George X. Smith. The history Of
this case is peculiar. The murder took place
in Audenried, this county. on Nov. g. 1868. more
than fifteen years ago. At that time several
persons were suspected. The murder was
committed by a crowd OF fifty or sixty Buck
shots. but no one was actually arrested for tho
crime. The murder was one OF unusual bru-
taity. the crowd Of Buckshots forcing them
selves in Mr.. Smiths house. and shooting him
down in the presence Of his family. The MUIR
dered man was a coal operator. and his offence
was making known the whereabouts OF certain
men who had resisted the draft. 1t was one OF
the first OF tho long series OF murders in the
coal regons-a reign Of terror which ended
with the capture OF tho assasslns OF John T.
Jones in 1875. and the subsequent exposures OF
t1s s%asS S iS.msGs si 81 ins Oily Msg,ss o-s-r
Oath aud 25th of December 1877. Aman named
Thomas Durkin was arrested at the same time,
and the three were indicted for the murder OF
Smith ut the January Sessions. 1878.
Tho trial Of Sharpe and Mcdonnell took place
In April. and. contrary to the expectations OF
nG in PH rs ey were botn S ca Wa Sr1et o
sufficient is the opinion OF many persons; but
the rlghteous feeling Of wrath Is 50 strong
mon have not been able TO stay the iron hand OF
the law and they will probably bo hanged on
Tuesday next for crime which 1t Is very doubt
ful II they ever committed.
II is very hard thing to convict any one OF
y or MY PSSrSoqf Ssa engaged IN bSe as cGme
the difficulty Is increased. Indeed. in the an
nails OF America the list OF murderers convicted
fifteen years after the commission OF the Of
Tense does not exceed three names.
Tho Witnesses In these cases were Mrs. Smith.
wife Fl the murdered man her 81 sister Mr Geo
kerrigan, the well-known suuealer.' who was
one OF the three murderers Of Jones. and who
the Molly murders. and Manus Gull, another
"squealer." who was concerned In the murder
icssed to crimes that would MI a quarter Of n
column OF THE SUN. In the Mcdonnell case a
man named Charles Mulhearn. also self-con-
fessed murderer, was introduced.
Mrs Smith. her sister. and Mr.. Ulrch simply
sworc 10 the circumstances Of the murder. but
they were not able to identify either OF the pris-
oners as in the crowd. Indeed, Judge Drcher.
IN his charge to the Jury in both cases. said that
except 10y the testimony OF Gull and Kerrigan In
the sharpe case. and kerrigan and Mulhearn in
the Mcdonnell case, twill be- well TO bear this
mony OF Gull. Kerrigan. and Mulhearn?
kerrignn swore that he attended a ball in
seu{ESk ca9g8 oTn n SnHPS S S% Jazz
Douohue. since convicted and hanged for the
murder Of Morgan Powell. came in and took
| sharpe out and washed him. remarking 10 the
| crowd. seen the nght when Smith was muir
| dcred. that you would not be struck" Sharpe
| kertignn's testimony. Tho ball was in 1874
Manus Gull testified that in tho fall of 1868 he
met Sharpe in n saloon in Wilkesbarre. Tho
conversation. Cull said. turned on the smith
| murder. and Gallagher. n man who was pres
eni. said 20 sharpe. " 1t is a good thing you
clothes on your back" sharpe said. IT had
not held the door L would have gone hard with
| the Fitz girl" This tho Commonwealth in
| terpreted rs meaning that Gallagher knew Of
ShArpe's guilt, and the reply OF sharpe was a
and held the front door OF smiths house. and
| when the ptopcr time came burst II in. and
let n the crowd. This Is the substance Of Cuil's
On this evidence. and on il alone. Charles
Sharpe WIS !rs convicted nv OF murder In the y nrsl
sure rs TINT the sun shines.
In the Mcdonnell case kerrgan swore that
| green in 1867 in Tuscarora. Schuylkill County
While the remains lay there he and James Nc
| Donncl and Humpy Flynn concerned in the
| Flynn pointed a. Long Johns body and said L
| Mcdonnell. he WAS n brave soldier Oh Tho
| night Of the Smith murder" Flynn then wen
On TO upbrad Mcdonnell and the Tuscarorf
| Mullies for allowing Long Johnny 90 bc killed
| Getting warmer he charged Mcdonnell will
| not having done his duty at the Smith murder
| Mcdonnell defended himself and nsderabl,
| conversation ensued. The Commonwealth sait
| this WIS "a confession on the part OF Mcdonnell
| OF participation In the murder.
Charles Mulhearn 5wore that lie and MELON
| nell We're working together on the road IL
| Schuylkill County. and they had conversation
| in which Mcdonnell confessed 10 having takeI
| part IN the murder OF Smith.
| This all the evidence against the two
| men. Their defense was not full. principally
| because OF the Ignorance and want OF means D
| the prisoners. However. the defense entirely
deny all tho facts, and the prisoners say th'
squoalers " lied outright For instance
| Sharpe shows that he was not In Luzern,
| County In the year 1865. but worked in ALE
| gheny County. The defense also claim tina
Kerrigan's story is very unlikely, inasmuch a.
| he was very young man at the time OF th'
alleged conversation on the green in Tus
carora. and was not then member OF the Mol
| ly Mcguire order.
II sharpe and Mcdonnell are hanged thel
| will be the first men who ever suffered capita
| punishment in this country after having beer
| convicted on the uncorroborated testimony o
| infamous Witnesses f. NELL. BOYLE.
| Proprietor Goal Gazette
MAUcH CHUNK. Pa. Jan. 10. 1878.
| Poverty and Death.
In q cheerless room in rear tenement at 23