St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-06
A Romance Of Crime Recalled
by the Release Of Convict
John Toohey.
The Ministers Decide to Con-
tinue Their Union Meet
ings as Of Yore.
Lupline Boat Club in Splendid
Shape, Financially and
Otherwise.
Doings Among Society People
in the LenCen Season.
Flour City Notes.
LEAF OF HISTORY
Turned Back by the Reappear-
ance of John TOoheY.

A LEAF OF h1SlON
Turned Back by the Reappear-
ance of John Toohey.
Apparently one case has been put on
record where reformatory institution
reforms. 1t is that of old, gray-headed
John Toohey, who walked curiously
through the streets of Minneapolis yes
terday, after confinement OF
nearly seven years in Still
water for wife murder. lie
went into the prison broken down
and utterly demoralized by whisky; he
came out new man, hale and hearty,
old. but vigorous. The story of his
crime and trial is most interesting one,
and contains little bit of unpublished
history in connection with the
lynching of McManus. Toohey was
helper in the st. Louis
shops and lived on Western avenue, his
home having been the scene of many
QuarrelS with his wife; they eliminated
in fight one night, and the next morn
ing TOohey arose, found a revolver and
killed her. He was defended by 'BilF'
Erwin and John S. Byrnes,
and the trial was notable
one. w. E. Hale was county
attorney, and employed D. A. Secombe
to assist in the prosecution. me de-
Tense was insanity, the result OF de-
lirium tremens, and Toohey SWore
that every time he aWoKe
during the night he saw a
white owl perched on the bed post.
Secombe made great use of this white
owl, and probably saved an acquittal.
AS it was, Toohey was convicted of
manslaughter in the second degree and
sentenced to seven years in Saltwater.
While in Jail, awaiting transportation,
he played a very important part in the
lynching of McManus. The commun-
lily was considerably worked up over
the crimes of Toohey, and when the
crowd surrounded the Jail he grew very
apprehenSive. fearing he might be the
victim. McManuS had been placed
in the Jail about II o'clock and the
crowd was not quite sure of his Identity,
so the result was that the work OF break
ing in was only half-hearted. Sledge
hammers were playing on the huge lock,
and for an hour the work was in vain.
The crowd grew weary with the
toll and uncertainty, and had about
abandoned the attempt. A young man,
with a dark lantern, here went through
the corridor, peering into each cell,
looking for McManus. The last cell
was that of Toohey and when the light
struck the old man he threw himself
upon his knees in deadly fear.
What's the matter?" he gaSped.
"This crowd wants you," was the
answer. Seven years was not enough
for you"
Toohey gasped out an answer and
the man with the lantern replie d.:
well let you off if you show us the man
who was put in here at II o'clock"
Toohey pointed out McManuS, who
was promptly identified. What did he
do?" asked Toohey, and when he was
told, he shouted: give me a gun and
femme shoot him." When the crowd
was sure of It's man, it went to work
with a will and in few minutes
later the body of McManus swung from
tree opposite the High school.
TOohey went to Saltwater and served
his time. He learned the trade of
machinist and then that of a carpenter,
and made all the good time possible.
Yesterday, with nearly $500 in his
pocket, he came back to Minneapolis
and hunted up Attorney Byrnes first
thing. He SwOre he would never
touch a drop of liquor, and though
1ifty-three years Of age and with sill
vered hair, started this world anew. 1t
is singular case all around. When he
had served three years an effort
was made to secure pardon.
Every juror and every witness
signed the petition. Judge Young
said he would sign if Hale would, but
Hale was sore, and would not sign
anything but paper to hang him."
Now Toohey is out and will endeavor to
make his living as a good citizen and is
an example of the reformatory work of
a prison,