The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-20
A NOTED MoLLIE MAGUIRE DEAD.
Death of the Only Man That Was Feared by
the Famous Detective McParlin

Death of the Only Man That Was Feared by
the Famous Detective McParlin
Shenandoah (Pa.) Special.
Mrs. Hurley the widowed mother Of Thomas
Hurley, who bore the proud distinction Of per-
forming some of the cleanest jobs ever commit
ted by the murderous Moie Mcguire organiza-
ton. received the intelligence to-day of his death
at Gunnison, Col, yesterday. The telegram
gave no details of how he eamo to his death, but
asked instructions as to the interment His
mother requested that his remains be given de-
cent burial there.
Among the organized band of desperapoes
who made life in the anthracite coal regions I'M
certain a dozen of years ago. Tom Hurley
prominent character, and the active part
which he took in several of the deeds of blood
that occurred in those days earned for him an
unenviable reputation and an earlier death had
he not evaded the vigilance of the law and Its
officers. Unlike most of his companions, be
combined tho qualities of bravery and cunning,
but despite his bravery he was a most PREACHER
Gus character. How many of the outrages per-
petrated during the three years reign of terror
in this section, between 1872 and 1873, he partic
ipated in will probably never be known, although
it is known he was the principal actor in several
outrages. Eleven years ago last Saturday
Aug ID, 1875-Gomer James was shot and in
stantly killed at picnic near kohinoor colliery.
The shooting occurred between ii and IL o'clock
at night and although several of Janiess COM
panionS were present at the time, they
were unable to identify the murderer.
Hurley suspected. but persons who saw the
shooting did not believe he committed the crime
and he was not arrested. About three months
later he. in company with another Mollis brutal
ly assaulted James Johns. young and inoffens-
i've man whom they met on the street late on a
Saturday night. For this he was soon after ar
rested and held in 81. 900 bail for trial, Barney
Dolau of Big Mine Run. becoming his surety.
Before the case came up for trial, Hurey's cum
ming and sa gacity enabled him to solve the mys-
terry of McParlins mysterious manner of living
without visible means OF suppart lie dropped
to the detectives game. and. knowing that Nc
Parlin had proof of his being the murderer of
Conner James. he skipped before the wholesale
arrests were made, and despite the promise of
Pinkerton agents that he would be arrested if
he went to the end of the earth, has managed
evidently to live in or adjacent to the United
States during all this time without being discov
| cred. Hurley about twenty four years of
age when he left Shenandoah. and the changes
wrought by time in his appearance have. no
known now that when he left here, he went to
Canada, where, under the name Of
John Skivington. he remained for a
| year, working as a laoorer on the
new Welland canal. In the fall of
1876 he left there with the intention of going to
South America but the presumption is that he
went to Colorado, where he has since lived, and
where, according to the dispatches received this
| morning, he died Hurley was the only one of
them of whom McParlin was afraid. The latter
was living dual life, lived in dread of him. 1t
| is doubtful, however, whether the famous de-
| tectlve ever knew how near he came to dying at
| Hurleys hands when he the of ac-
complishng his great task of breaking up the
murderous organization McPariin boarded
with Fenton Cooney. on West Coal
street. below Catherine. and one night,
shortly before he Hurleyl left the region. he
| called at the boarding house to see the detecb
| i've, and took him outside for the purpose of
| killing him. He was convinced of his treaehery
| TO the organization, and to save his own neck,
as we'll as the lives Of other offenders, concluded
| to put him out of the way. The two men crossed
| the street short distance below Cooney's house,
and went a short distance into the woods, where
| they took seat on log and talked over matters
! concerning the order. Hurleys intention was
| to shoot the detective then and walk away, but
on account Of information which he failed Co get
! from McParlin that night ne postponed the
| shooting to later date, and before another OPP
| portunity presented itself he had to fp from the
| country. Had he carried out his design on that
occasion tho "Mollies' would have fiourishsd for
| perhaps indefinite period, and hundreds Of
innocent lives would have been sacrificed.