Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-03-13

CIoUs CRIME.
The real facts of the ruthless murder
of Mary Ann Murphy, of Riley, a:
reported i'll last weeks issue were
substantially true. A more careful
search, however, has developed fur.
ther particulars of interest to the pub
lie.
Although Daniel Mcmahon, the
murderer, was never Il recognized
suitor, it seems certain that he had Q
sincere affection for the girl, and was
very jealous of her. He is aged 81
and has been the hired man on the
farm of Mrs. Murphy greatly to heI
| satisfaction. He has been in the EN-
ploy of Mrs. Murphy since last April
and seemed to be a trustworthy man
lie had on several occasions shown u
jealous disposition, and positively re.
fused to put in or harness the team OF
teams of young friends who came tC
visit Miss Murphy; but otherwise he
seemed to be well pleased with his
position.
On Wednesday, at about noon, Mrs.
Murphy went to visit her daughter.
Mrs. James Sweeney, about one and
one-half miles distant, and toward
evening she started to return home,
but on the solicitation of her grand
children, and the promise that they
would return with her next day, she
remained all night.
THE MURDERER DISCOVERED.
On Thursday morning Chas. Murphy
= Lbrother of the deceased, according to
previous arrangement, Went over 10
his mothers residence to get the hlred
man, and together they were to get
out some timber. He went to the door
and found it was locked, and then he
looked through the window III the
wing to his sisters bedroom, and to his
horror saw her stetched out on the
bed all covered with blood, stone dead.
| lie then went over to his brother Will
iam's house and asked him to accom-.
pany him to the old homestead. They
Tried all the doors and found they
were fastened, and they finally agreed
to break in the back door. They en-
tered the house and went to their sis
ter's bedroom, and found her mur
dered, the wall and carpet being
covered with blood.
McMAHoN's THROAT CUT.
The two brothers then began s
search of the ouse, and finally wen
| up stairs where tney found the hireC
man in bed with his throat cut. They
spoke to him and received no answer
which led them to believe that the
crime was committed 10y outsiders, anC
they Immediately y notified their neigh
bors.
The announcement of Il murde
spread rapidly, and in Il short time tn,
house was full of spectators, eager t.
advance q theory or suppositiOn as Il
whom the culprit or culprits were
but it remained for the coroner's iur,
to satisfy their anxiety.
THE INQUEST.
At 10:30 Thursday morning Matthew
Haley, the Justice of the peace of Ber
lin, impanelled the following jury
w. ii. Butler, foreman; James Malloy
Chas. Abbott, Chas. Lefever, Bernard
w. Burns, Sr., and James Cogley
The verdict of the jury was that "Mar,
Ann Murphy, of the township of Riley
came to her death by a knife in TIL
hands of Daniel McMahon." The fol
lowing gentleman and ladies wer
sworn at the inquest: Charles Murphy
brother of the deceased; VIM. Murphy
also a brother; DR.. Abbott, Bernard
Burns, Mrs. Annie Muspratt and Mrs
Ellen Sweeney.
MCMAHON CoNFEssEs.
During the inquest Mcmahon cor
fessed that he committed the murder
but had nothing further to say. III
could only speak in n whisper, an,
that was very indistinct.
ATTEMPTED TO OUTRAGE HER.
The murder must have been com
mitted between II and | O'Clock, a
William Murphy, the deceased's broth
er, spent the evening with her and tn
hired man until II o'clock. When tn
murdered girl was found by her broth
ers in the morning she was quite col,
in death. After Miss Murphy's broth
er departed from the house, and sh
retired to her room for the night, it
believed Mcmahon, the hired man
entered for the purpose of assultin
her, and becoming baffled in his al
tempt, resorted to murder, which h
committed i'm n henious manner, an,
to mislead the household attempted b
suicide, which was only partly accon
pished.
THE VICTIM.
r Mary Ann Murphy, the victim of hi
crime, was a beautiful lady, 2G year
of age, and of medium size, brigh
eyes, intelligent appearance, and lon
wavy black hair. She was devou
. nnpnnhpr of the Catholic church at En-