The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-08-21
A WIFE'S INFIDELITY
Resulted in q Ten Years Sen
tence for James Nc
Dougall.
False Testimony Brought About
The Result-A Pardon Pro-
cured at Last.

/ AAA~A ava q PoAuobs AOSShSiy, "
James McDougall, who was sentenced to
Imprisonment In the Auburn prison for ten
years, in October, 1877, for burglary in the
first degree, outlined a very romantic case.
The facts fill the outline OF strange human
who emigrated to this country when young
and settled in Brooklyn, where ne was an
industrious and temperate laborer for 6f-
teen years, fell in love with young WON.
an whose associations were much lower
than his, and whose religious belief was
contrary to his own She was a Catholic,
while be was a Protestant. They We're
married. when she developed into a veriia-
Die vlrago. Her temper was such, it IS
said, that when she failed to induce dis.
turbance with neighbors, her husband was
compelled I'D become second party to a
brawl. However. McDougal
WAS THOROUGHLY INFATUATED
with his wife, and during their quiet pc
riods lived happily for time. A son was
born to them, but the wifs's temper did
not improve, and McDougall occasionally
sought the saloon as an asylum from her
tongue. His life was so regular, however,
that his employment was steady, and dur
ing his absence from home one day bis
wife, in pet, sold out their household eff
fects and left for parts unknown. Nc
DougalPs aft ctiOn for her had not abafed,
and he set out to learn her whereabouts.
He was It'd that she had gone 10 Oneida
county, her native place Proceeding
there, he found her and the child at the
house of William NJ. Brown, a wealthy
farmer of Verona. Browns wife was
helpless lunatic, in confinement in a state
asylum. Mrs. McDOugall was ostens;bly
employed by him as a domestic McDoug-
all besought his wife 10 leave Brown and
return to Brooklyn with him. and on her
refusal to do SO, engaged as labo.er in the
vicinity for the purpose of being near her
and his little son. He had not remained
there long before he
HEARD WHISPERS OF IMPROPERLY.
1t was rumOred that his wife was in
wrong relation with Brown. He visited
Browns house, and it is claimed that Brown
consented that he might speak with
his wife ON condition that he (Brown)
might be present at the intervi. w. Ii is
alleged that Brown sat hetw, Ell McDougall
and Mrs. McDougall during this visit, and
that on another occasion, when McDougall
called, Brown coaxed the little hoy To him.
took the child on his kness and schooIed
him to call him ''papa." This was bitter
ness indeed to McDougall who left the
house IN discoDsolaIe mood. Soon
after, it is sail, McDougail visited
his wife and Brown lin Geld, where they
were picking berries, and pileousiy legged
Mrs. McDougall to return TO him, and en-
treated Brown TO discharge her. Br.wn
ordered him from The premises, with
threats of shooting. Exercised by exasper-
ating things told him bs nvi ,hbors relative
to the conduct OF his wife and Brown.
McDougall started for Browns house one
night at about ii O'Clock,
IMAM INTOXICATED CONDITION.
He entered rear door. which was un.
locked, and proceeded to his room occu-
pied by his wife, having ben informed of
Its location. Opening the door, which
was secured only by a wooden button, he
approached the bed. and laying his hand |
On his Wits shoulder, awakened her, at |
the same time revealing his identity. He |
her TO return to Brooklyn with |
him She asked him if he had home pre- |
pared for her. He replied that he had |
While they were quietly conversing Brown |
upon the scene i'm night clothes,
and fired revolver at McDougalI. The |
bal struck a buckle on McDougaIl's braces
and glanced harmlessly away. The men |
then clinched, when Brown fired a second |
shot, which took effect in McDougall's side, |
aud lac fell TO the floor apparently dead. 1t |
is claimed that Brown and Mrs. McDoug-
all lifted the unconscious body of her hus-
band and bore it upon the front stoop, and |
that McDougall remained there like one
dead until the morning, when he was dis
covered by a neighbor and the alarm
given. A physician
PRONOUNCED THE WOUND FATAL
yet upon Browns complaint, charging him
With burglary, the unfortunate man was
and taken to the Jail at Rome,
where he langulshed for a long lime.
Upon his partial recovery, he was indicted
y the grand jury and committed for trial.
It is said that the indictment was based on
he evidence of Brown and men in his em-
,loy. On the trial, however, Mrs. Nc
Dougail was added to the witnesses for the
Her testimony is claimed to
rave little reference to the facts, and it is
aid that she has several times since, i'm
moments OF repentance, admitted its falsity,
While pleading fear of Brown as para
mount at the time Of the trial. Several
urglsries had been committed ia the
a short time before. and in
he excitement which they occasioned Nc
)ougall was easily convicted. HiS full
entence would not have expired until Oct.
4, 1887; with deductions for
GOOD CONDUCT IN PRISON.
would have terminated April ii, 1884.
lis behavior in prison has been good, but
e is said to be heart-broken man. Steps l
ere taken to secure his pardon several
ears ago, but they availed nothing. The
radual development of the facts in the
ase, together with the openly shameless
onduct of the prisoners wife and her par
mour. at last led the officers of the law in :
rumental in bis conviction to join in q
lovement for his release that had been un-
pursued for wears by the prison. !,