Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-04
TWO LINERS

A Man and Woman Each Convicted OF
Murder in the First Degree-They Pass
Through st. Paul En- Route to saltwater
"A Call Upon Them at the Depot.
A cursory glance at the occupants of the
ladies' waiting room at the jackson street
depot yesterday forenoon, would have dis
covered nothing unusual in the half score of
passengers who with the air of listlessness
characteristic of such occasions, awaited the
time of departure of their several trains.
But appearances are almost invariably de-
ceptive. At least two of the persons in that
room had record. At least two of the
souls present were fettered with an awful
suspense; two of the lives were on the TIRES
hold of unutterabie gloom, the shadow OF
which shut out inevitably the prospect of
hope or liberty.
The parties whose lives had fallen in such
fearfully unpleasant place were Thomas
O'Connor and Mrs. Mary @. Weishar, con-
victed of murder in the fist degree at LIE
Sueur and sentenced to the State peniten-
tiary for life.
The casual observer would detect nothing
particularly strange in either of these per-
sons. To all appearances they were Ordi-
nary folks, fatigued with travel, and on their
way home. The man looked like granger;
obese, we'll fed, and phlegmatic,
with dull eyes and dirty,
but not repulsive countenance.
The woman was quiet and wore an air that
might be characterized as degree less than
refined. or perhaps. sensitive. ALI women
are clever In their assumptions In emergen-
cy. There was something IN the flushed
face and downcast eye of this woman, how
ever, that was unspeakably ,humiliating.
The prisoners were en- route to Saltwater,
and in charge of Sheriff Joe A. Blair and
Deputy Sherihs Ross Towsley and Sam
Reynolds, of LeSueur.
The crime for which Thomas O'Connor
was convicted is murder. He was tried and
convicted for the killing of Lawrence or
Larry Vaughan, the husband of his niece.
Phe murder took place at the residence of
the latter, near Waterville, LIE Sueur
county, in October, 1879.
On the night of the murder O'Connor was
on his way home from st. Peter, where he
had drank during the day. He lost his way
and brought up at the residence of the
Vaughans. The latter was aroused by some
one at the door, and went down stairs.
Vaughan came out of the house and the
men exchanged some hard words. It is be-
ieved that they clinche5, and while strug-
Cling, Vaughan was stabbed to the heart.
The prosecution relied for conviction on
the charge that O'Conuor had threatened to
kill Vaughan and that the latter was his
deadly enemy. He was ably defended by
Mr.. w. w. Erwin, of this city. He pleaded
not guilty and the trial resulted as above
stated.
O'Connor is Al years of age, but looks
ten years older. He is an Irishman, but
has the full round, face, sandy complexion,
mutton chop whiskers and general appear
ance of an English yoeman. He has gray eyes
and looks phlegmatic and stupid. He has a
wife and is the father of ten children, six of
whom are living. He talked freely to a
GLOBE reporter and expressed the hope for
a new trial. He thinks that his trial was
not as fair as it might have been.
In appearance Mrs Weishar is quite inter-
esting. She is below the medium height,
rather petite, with good figure, has soft
black eye, fringed with long, handsome
lashes, wears her luxurious jet-black hair in
coil, and mas pleasing complexion, as
dark as gypsey's.
She is 20 years old and don't look a day
older, and is the mother of four children.
She was dressed in black. with straw hat
and cloak.
The crime for which this young and in
terestiDg woman has lost her liberty for life
is that of killing her husband. Tue killing
was simply the climax of long series of
trouble. She was married to a stolid, mer-
cenary German, much older than herself in
years, and between the two there existed a
wide difference in temperament. The mar
riage was neither the result of affinity or
love, and these wanting, union of poverty
and dislikes engendered the germ of hate.
The lot of this woman from infancy has
been unhappy. She came from Pennsyl-
vania when five years old and has resided
most of the time In Kasota. Her
protection, or lack of protection, was a
scapegoat brother, the notorious and desper-
ate Tom Terrier, whose conduct had much
to do with marring the happiness of his sis
ter. She drudged her way to womanhood
and married for home while vet girl. The
family occupied forty acres of land in
Kasota township. Here they existed in the
most abject squalor and poverty. Since her
trial Mrs. Weishar stated that if given her
life to live over again she would much pre-
fer the penitentiary.
The woman was desperate at her poverty,
neglect, i'll treatment and want of affection.
On the night of the 18th of April. man and
wife had a family row. The next morning
Weishar was found on the floor of the
shanty, shot through the heart. Mrs.
Weishar was arrested for the crime, but up
to the present has denied her guilt, attribut-
ing the murder to the secret work of his per-
sonal enemies. She was defended by Messrs
Severance, Caldwell & Paul. trinity of as
good legal talent as there Is in the State. She
was convicted and sentenced to States pris-
on for life. They were taken to Saltwater
yesterday afternoon.
THE COURTS.
Supreme Court of Minnesota.