Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-17
MURDERS JUST PENALTY.
WILLIAM McGUAHEY PRIVATE
LY HANGED Ar MONROE.

Using knife and AK on his Wife tho
Crime Which led to his Death-Penf-
tenoe Gibberish on the Gallows-An
Indiana Brute Swung of for Double
Butchery.
MONROE, GA, October 16.--Wm. Nc
Guahey, colOred, was hung in the Jail here
to-day. Despite the fact that the exeou-
tion was private, there was a large crowd
in town, estimated at between 3,001 and
4,000, coming from all the adjoining coun-
ties. At II O'Clock the W alton Guards
formed IN line of march to act as a guard.
At 1 O'Clock the wagon started for the gal
lows. McGuahey's talk was more ramb-
ling and disconnected. He said that he
was reconciled to his fate, that death had
no terrors for him, and that he was going
to heaven. He acknowledged killing his
wife and cutting his own throat, but
claimed in justification that she was
unfaithful, and said that had
she been true to him she
would be alive to-day and he
free man. He advised colored parents to
train up their children in the right way,
and TO keep them from bad company. He
advised all colOred men to let bad women
alone. He misquoted a great deal of
scripture. He said that the day would
CpAue Wu6u Luey WOuIu all SlleT lOI Jdk-
ing his life. This is the third hanging in
this county in the last two years.
M'GUAHEY's CRIME.
On the morning of Feb. u, 1885, McGua-
hey was seen staggering towards Gala
way & NanHorn's drug store with blood
streaming from cut on each side Of his
neck. Upon questioning him it was as
certained that he had had difficulty with
his wife, and that probably she was then
in very critical condition. The NEWS
correspondent was very soon at the house
where McGuahey and his wife lived, and
On entering the door beheld a sickening
spectacle. In the middle of the room,
perfectly unconscious, lay Mollie McGua-
hey in pool of her own blood. On one
side of her was large ak, and upon the
other was a razor, both covered with
blood. Blood was still flowing from seven
or eights cuts upon different parts of her
body. The worst cut was upon her neck,
which extended from ear to ear. After
her wounds had been dressed, and con-
sciOusness had returned, it was learned
how the wounds had been inflicted.
STRUCK WITH AN AK.
After quarreling for some time her
| husband became so enraged that he
her murderOus blow behind the left ear,
knocking her senseless. He then piled
his razor, cutting her throat from ear to
ear. Even then his thirst for blood was
not satisfied. He cut her body in many
places, He then made two small cuts on
his own neck, and claimed that his wife
did il, and thai he acted ia self-defense.
But this story was too improbable to be
believed. as just the day before he had
| openly threatened to Kill her. He was
pnt in jail to await the action Of the court,
which convened the week following; but
on account of his wife still lingering IN an
unconscious condition, the grand Jury de-
ferred any action in the matter, but found
bill against him for beastiallty,
for which he was tried, convicted and SEN
fenced to serve ten years in the peniten-
tiary. His wife died on the 2ud OF March,
about three weeks after she was cut.
At the August term of the Superior
Court he was brought back from the PEN
itentiary, convicted OF murder and SEN
fenced to hang to-day.
FOR DOUBLE BUTCHERY.
CRAwFORDsvILLE, IND, Oct. 16.-
John W. Coffee was hanged here TODAY.
The drop fell at 1882 O'Clock. He was
executed tor the murder of an old man
named McMillen ard mis- wife in January
last, the house being burned afterwards
to hide the crime. During his imprison-
ment he made three confessions, implica-
ting at various times several other par
ties. James Dennis was also sentenced
to death for his connection with the
crime, but he was given a new trial by
the supreme Court and will now doubt
less be released, although last night he
was removed TO another county
as precaution against possible
trouble. Coffee became utterly pr0stra-
ted last night and refused food The
efforts of his spiritual adviser this morn
ing failed to afford him any consolation,
and he had to be carried to the scahold.
Before the drop fell he made a short
speech. The rope broke twice, but was
finally adjusted satisfactorily, and after
hanging twelve minutes Lie was pro-
nouncpd extinct