The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-08
EEUTIyE CLEMRNCY MTERPOSED IN A
SINGULAR CASE or INJUSTICE.
Thr Cause Of Ten Years Sentence-Thc Story
or Man Who was WronGfuily Convicted
ef Murder.

of n Man Who was Wrongfuiiy convicted
OF Murder.
An Albany telegram says: Governor
Cleveland has signed the pardon Of James
McpougalI. who was sentenced 10 confne-
ment i'm Auburn State Prison for term Of
ten wears on October II, 1877, upon con-
yiction OF burglary In the FIRST degree. The
reasons given by the Governor for his ex-
ercise Of clemency outlined a very roman
tic case, and investigation OF the facts re-
yeals a singular chapter oil human eXpe-
1ience.
James McDougali came to America when
Young. from Ireland, and settled in Brook
iyn with his parents. He worked in that
city for fifteen years as laborer, and was
noted for industry and sobricty. lie Tell
In love with q Young woman Of his nation
ality. whose religious belief was Catholic
while he was a Protestant. Her position
in the social scale was lower than his, and
her associations were not OF the best. They
were married. She turned out TO be ver-
liable virago, and was continually quarrel
ling with her husband and neigbbors. How
ever, McDougall was completely infatuated
with his wife, and, save occasional resorts
TO the saloon, which he sought as an asy-
lum from her tongue. remained steady
man. They lived together several years,
and q son was born. Finally, in fit re-
sulting from a quarrel. the wife secretly
sold out their household goods, and taking
the child disappeared. McDougalPs love
for his wife had not been cooled by her
yixenish ways, and he set out TO ma
her Whereabouts. He heard, through a
friend, that she had returned 10 her native
place In Oneida county. in the central part
of the State, and FASTENED there. Hefound
her living at the house Of farmer named
William NJ. Brown, in Verona township,
MS a domestic. he was told. Brown was
rich. though his habits were irregular, and
his wife was hopeless lunatic in confine-
ment in State institution. II was alleged
that Browns treatment OF his wife had
made her insane.
McDougall met his wife and tearfully
begged her 10 return to Brooklyn with
him. she refused. In order to be near
her and his child, at this time 4 bright and
healthy lad. McDougal engaged as a Ia
borer in the vicinity. He had not been
there long before he heard whispers of his
wife's unfaithfulness. He did not at first
believe the rumors, but finally visited
Browns residence. Brown refused to
let McDougall sec bis wife unless
he might be present. McDougall con-
sented TO this. He entered the
house. but Brown persisted in sitting be-
tween Mr.. and Mrs. McDOugall throughout
the interview, which was thus an unSatis-
factory one TO the visitor. The next time
be called the situation was the same. with
an added aggravalion. Brown not only
sat between the husband and wife, but
called the little boy TO him and schOOled the
child to call him "Papa." This was more
than McDougall could bear, and he left the
house q deSpairing man.
At III O'Clock one night, when he had be-
come intoxicated after broOding over his
troubles, McDougall went to the house OF
Brown, unarmed. Opening the rear door,
which was unfastened, he proceeded to his
wife's bedroom, the location OF which he
had learned. and, turning the baton which
held the door shut, entered. He walked to
the bedside, and, putting his hand upon
his wife's shoulder, said: ado not be
afraid, it is me-James."
THE FATAL SHOT.
He quietly asked her to rise and go to
BROOKLYN with him. She asked him if he
had home prepared for her, and he re-
piled that, as he always had, he would fur
nish her with good home. While they
were talking, Brown, in his night-clotheS.
arose and fired from revolver at Nc
Dougall. The ball struck buckle on
McDougalrs braces and glanced harm
iessly of. The men clinched. Brown
fired second shot, which took effect
in McDOugall's right side. He fell and was
taken up by his wife and Brown and car
ried out upon the front stoop Of the house.
lie remained in an unconscious condition
until morning, when n neighbor discover
ed him and gave the alarm. A physician
was summoned, it is alleged, and said the
wound was fatal, YET upon Browns COM
plant the wounded man was hand
cuffed and conveyed to the Rome Jail,
where he fingered i'm a critical condition for
some time. Before his full recovery he
was indicted for burglary in the first de-
gree by the grand jury, and committed for
trial. The evidence against him, il is al
legged, was manly given by Brown and his
hired men. On the trial the wife was added
TO the witnesses for the prosecution. and
her testimony was especially damaging.
The prisoner had no money, and was not
defended.
Ii is claimed that since the trial, in re-
penting moments, she has frequently stated
that she pcriurcd herself, but that her fear
Of Brown was paramount. There had been
several burglaries in the vicinity, and. in
the excitement occasioned by their pcrpe-
tration, McDougall was easily convicted.
Some years ago, when the facts in the
case began to develop, movement TO Sc
cure the unfortunate mans pardon was
started. Governors Robinson and Cornell
were in turn pettioned. but nothing re-
suited. lne conduct OF the heartless wo-
man who caused the trouble finally grew so
bad that people in the neighborhood sec
Onded long and irllitless effort begun by
McDougail's relatives in Brooklyn for Exc
cutive clemcncy. The district attorney
who prosecuted the indictment, the Judge
before whom the trial was had, clergymen,
and others, took up the case, with the good
result reached.