The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-04-07
SHOCKING TRAGEDY
Livingston Once More the Scene of
Cold BIoded Murder.
THE CAUSE A MYSTERY
A Northern Pacific Employe Shoots His
Wife and Then Ends His Own Life
with "A Razor.

LIVINGSTON, March 31.-This city was
thrown into fever of excitement by
the discovery of one of the most shock
ing tragedies that has ever occurred in
Montana. About 3 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon sounds indicative of an angry
quarrel were head by the neighbors in
the home of William Mallahan, general
foreman of the Northern Pacific ma
chine shop here, and r. McManus, a
young man who has recently been in
the service of the Northern Pacific as
brakeman and married to Mallahan's
daughter. The young compile were alone
in the house and lad who was in the
vicinity, brother of Mrs. McManus,
appears to have overheard the alterca-
ton and realized its Importance as he
at once gave the alarm at the house of
neighbor, asking excitedly if some
one would not come and save Mary
A moment later Mrs. McManus stag
gered from the back part of the house
and fell, at the same instant McManus
appeared outside at the front with blood
issuing from his throat, and in answer
to an appeal made by a Mrs. Wilson,
who was FASTENED to the house, as to
what had happened, simply shook his
head and returned within.
An examination of the PROSTATE wo-
man developed the fact that she had
been shot dead, and inside the house
the body of McManus was farther dis
covered lying face downward in a pool
of blood which had issued from a ghast.
ly wound in his throat. Clear traces
left of the tragedy Indicate that the
murdered woman was in the act of fee
and that after infiictiEg it the husband
returned TO their bedroom, extracted a
razor from bureau drawer, and having
administered to himself the fatal stroke,
walked out of the house to where he
was last seen alive, and then returning,
passed through the rooms to the kitchen
in which he finally fell. The revolver
with which the shooting was presumably
done was found on the floor of the bed
room and the open case of the razor in
a bureau drawer, which had hastily
been thrown down. trail of blood
could be followed throughout the house
where the assassin and suicide had
walked about after having dealt himself
the death blow
McManus had been for some wears
employed in the capacity of brakeman
by the Northern Pacific railroad. Lat
terlyshe had been laid off with the re-
duction of train service on the road.
He was about % years of age and a
little over year ago was married to
the daughter of William Mallahan, gen
eral foreman of the shops, member f
the city council and a much respected
citizen.
No theory can be assigned for the
crime other than that of dependency
on the part of the dead man, who has
once or twice, it is understood, threat
ened to take his own life, but so far as
is known he never had menaced that of
his young wife. The dead couple leave
an infant a few months old.
The coroner's jury have concluded
their investigations and no material
new facts beyond those above told were
brought out. Mrs. McManus was shot
in the back while trying to escape, the
bullet passing out at the breast. Other
shots were believed to have been fred.
but did not take effect. The murderer
and suicide after taking the life of his
wife set down in rocking chair before
a mirror and cut his throat. Afterward
acting in the manner ABOVE recorded.
Indignation is widespread and intense
and there is little doubt that the dead
mau would have been summarily dealt
with if he had not made away with him
self. The infant child of the couple
was found lying on the floor after the
tragedy unhurt.