The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-02-23
The Riobbure Tragedies.

The Richburg Tragedies.
MCCARTHY DOOMED TO DEATH -
wIPPLE SENTENCED TO NINETEEN
YEARS AND SIX MONTHS IMPRIs-
ONMENT. -
From the Mexican Miner.
The second chapter in the tragedy
which ended in the death of Patrick
Markey at Richburg OH the 10th of
November last, came to an end on
Friday last, when Judge Daniels pro-
nounced the dread sentence of death
upon the murderer, John Mccarthy.
The trial lasted four days, and the
evidence given proved 1t 70 be a de-
liberate and cold-blooded murder.
The defence did not adopt the insanity
plea, but made an effort to lessen the
gravity of the crime by the introduce
ton of two witnesses named Ham
mond and Hogan, of Tarport, who
Bwore they saw knife In Markey's
hand at the time Mccarthy killed
him and that the murdered man en-
deavored to stab Mccarthy. Ham
mond produced knife in court with
Markey's initials on it, But the testi-
mony of these two witnesses had no
weight, as this version of the affair
was not heard of before the appear
ance of these two men in the court
room at Angelica, and they were not
seen or heard of ut either the Coron-
er's inquest or the preliminary exam
ination. For the prosecution, Mr..
Rude dwelt strongly upon the i'm
probability of their evidence, and the
jury were evidently of the same opin-
ion, Notwithstanding the earnest and
eloquent appeal of Mr.. Bernis for the
defense, ~ after forty minutes deliber-
alton they returned verdict of "Mur-
der in the first degree"
On Friday morning at 0 o'clock
Judge Daniels pronounced sentence
upon the prisoner, fixing the date of
his execution for Friday, Oath of
March next. When receiving his
sentence, Mccarthy showed very little
nervousness, his face betraying no
emotion. At the concluding sentence,
May God have mercy on your soul I"
he said II have been showed very
little here " Since his sentence he il
said to have ate and slept well and
seems to feel indifferent rs to his fate.
On Thursday night, after the con-
clusion Of the Mccarthy trial, Edwin
NJ. Whipple was arranged for the
shooting Of George in Richburg on
the lst of December last. " At the ad-
vice of his counsel he plead guilty to
manslaughter in the first degree, the
District Attorney having signified a
Willingness to accept such plea. In
order to enable the court to arrive at a
correct conclusion as to the proper SEN
tcnce to pronounce, the evidence of
the murdered mans brother was read
with Others who were witnesses of the
affair. Whipple was also put upon
the stand and he gave his version of
the affair. 1t was brought out that
he had been a gallant soldier aud
received four wounds in different
battles during the rebellion. One ball
in the shoulder deprived him of the
use of his right arm for which he re-
ceived pension. He received a
Brevet Licutenants commission in
the regular army for his gallant and
meritorious conduct while in battle.
He WAS brought iuto court for sentence
Friday morning and sentenced to
nineteen years and six months con-
fincinent at hard labor in the peniten-
tiary at Auburn, N. Y. In sentencing
the prisoner Judge Daniels called at.
tention to the danger. there was in Il
man addicted to liquor carrying fire
arms, and in aluding to the bad habits
the prisoner had formed since leaving
the army, said that the court was of
the impression that if he should de-
relop a character which showed an
intention of breaking off from his
previous habits the State might in
time be disposed to shorten his term
of imprisonment.