Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-08-07
Hanged for Murdcr-Execution of J0hn
Mcguire at San Rafael.

SAN RAFAEL, August 6th.-One year ago
to. day, a man named John Mcguire, San
Quentin convict, committed an atrocious and
cold-blooded murder. His presence in the
State Prison at the time was due to a murder
of which be had been convicted. Mcguire,
known also by the alias OF Tim Murphy, was
charged with the murder of Tom Williams
on the Barbary Coast of San Francisco, in
1877. He was convicted principally by evil
dence that showed that the point of a knife.
blade found sticking in Williams throat fitted
knife which was found in his (AIsguire'sl
possession. For this he was sentenced to
seven years in the State Prison at San Quen-
tin. Under the Goodwin system of credits
his term would have expired in 1882.
His victim a year ago was fellow convict
named William E. Andrews. Andrews was
serving thirty years term for stage robbery.
seven years Of which had elapsed when he
was killed, but he expected to be pardoned
before Governor Irwin retired from Office. 1t
appears that Andrews excited the enmity of
Mcclure by reporting two of his friends to
the prison authorities for breaking lamp
chimneys or something of that kind It was
said that these men were very bitter in their
language toward Andrews, and even assaulted
him for which they were removed to another
cell. This proceeding only added fuel to
McGujre's burning anger. McGuire after
ward said that Andrews first excited his
wrath by speaking fayorably of former con-
vict, Charlie King, who had used harsh
language in talking of Irish Roman Catholics.
On the evening of August 6, 1879, Andrews
was seated on low bureau at one end of the
cell, in which thirty-six convicts were i'm
prisoned, talking to a companion. McGuire
was walking up and down the cell, sometimes
approaching near to Andrews and then walk
ing away again. At length McGuire rushed
up to him, and like IA fash drew a large knife,
and with savage thrust cut the throat OF his
victim from ear to ear The juGular vein
was severed, the windpipe cut through, and
the head was half separated from the body.
The alarm was given by the prisoners in the
cell Immediately, and physician came
promptly to his relief, but Andrews bled to
death in about two minutes. McGuire was
then taken and placed in solitary confne-
ment He was asked the next day if he
supposed he would be hanged for his crime.
He replied: 6 don't know, and what is
more, don't care He was subsequently
removed from the State Prison to the Marin
County Jail, was afterwards indicted by the
Grand jury of Marin county, convicted of
murder in the first degree, and sentenced to
be hanged on the first anniversary of the day
of his crime
Mcclure has two sisters and two brothers
living in London. He left Liverpool in 1867
and went on United States man of-war. He
afterward deserted, but was arrested and i'm
pr:soned for some months on one of the
islands in San Francisco bay. The murder of
Williams is the next prominent point in his
biography after he served out his sentence for
desertion. &Dassa
This morning Mcclure was quiet and COM
posed in his cell. He readily answered ques-
tions that were put to him, and he seemed
willing and ready to die for his crime, but ex-
hibited no signs of remorse. Fathers Reardon
and Cleary were with him all the morning,
and thought that he was prepared to die.
During an interview with the prisoner this
| morning in his cell he gave brief history of
his life and sang several songs. He said that
| if he could sing song and smoke cigar on
the scaffold he would die happy. He INDUCED
| in neither of these freaks, however, when the
| momentous moments came. Mcclure ac-
knowledged the murder of Williams and An
drews, but denied the commission Of third
murder, which was suspected of having been
! committed by him some years ago.
When the hour arrived Mcclure walked
steadily to the scaffold without any support
The gallows were at the rear of the Court
house, and the yard was surrounded by a
high board fence. The Sheriff asked the
| usual question, if he had anything to say be-
fore sentence of the law was executed. Nc
CURE replied that he thanked the Sheriff fer