New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-07
is JOHN MGOUGH LYING?
HIS CONFESSION" TO SAVE BAT" SHEA
DOUBTED.

on NOVEMBER IL THAT MGOUGH WAS GoiNH
TO ss7-GovERNoR MORTON RE-
PRIEvEs SHEA AND SENDS COM
MISSION TO TAKE MGoUGHs
AFFIDAVIT.
rBY rErrcR RAPH TO THE TRrBuNE.l
Albany. JAN 6-Goyernor Morton will make a
thorough investigation OF the truthfulness OF the
confession" Of joan McCough that he killed Rob-
Ross the watcher at the polls. who was de-
Tending the ballot-box at the election in Troy In
March, 1924 and that BAT" Shea, convicted OF TIE
crime was guiltess Of it. one of his reasons for
doing so. undoubtedly Will be that about November
20 he received a long and strongly worded letter
from Senator Edward Murphy jr., imploring mercy
for Shea ard asking that his sentence be commuted
10 life imprisonment Mr. Morton must have be-
leved thai senator Murphy had an extraordinary
In Shea but. nevertheless. he did not grant
the Senator's request McGough's confession.
however. in all probability has again brought SEN
ator Murphys letter to the Governors mind
Mr.. Murphy according TO common report here In
Albany owns large share of The Albany Ar
gus" That journal on November l3 printed an ar
tcle which in view Of McGough's confession" on
Saturday would seem to be extraordinary 1t
was the only newspaper IN the United States which
hal the story The Argus article had the fol-
lowing headings shea May Not D.e-Rumor that
McGough Has Confessed-Robert Ross Slayer
May Not BE the Man Awaiting Death-'ircum-
stantal Evidence Brought About the. Conviction Of
Bat Shea and There Is a Possibility That 1t
Was Not Just Verdict
THE ARGUS'S" PREDICTION.
THE Argus" article contained the following state
ment:
Bat" Shea may vt be saycd from the electrical
tcnccd to die for the murder Of Robert Ross on
Election Day in the sphg OF & IN Goy His a nno ol
ccncc Now comes substantial rumor that Nc
Cough who was partner OF shea IN that iatal
Election Day fight has mad" a confession. which
exculpates Shea and announces that was ne VINO
fred The shots, any one of which was sufficient 10
cause Robert Ross death shea was arrested ana
convicted on purely circumstant!al evidence. Nc
Cough was also arrested on the charge OF shooting
william Ross. brother OF robert; VINO was Killed
and. convicted OF assault. first degree. was sem
fenced 10 Dannemora for the term Of ten years The
report mat A!c.'"pHh hau com SSH i ~
many who are familiar with the case. The friends
Of Shea do not appear dovncast over Ms rsentence,
and profess to believe thai the senth'" VIII nrV"r
be executed When hey are asked to give reasons
for this buoyancy OF spirii they merely look wise
and say nOthinE
II thus appears that. as carly November 70
Inst some person attached TO The Argus" knew
that as a last resort = save shea, 'confession'
might be- produced alleged 20 com" from McNoush
II would seem that IN the Interest Of Justice TINS
knowledge Of what McGough was asserted TO have
said Shout! have been brought to Governor Nor
ton How dd this animation Of NcGoughs con-
fcsson leak ont oi Clinton Prison ns carly as No
yernber iss Walter y Thayer The Warden %. C"n-
ton Prison. who made public McGoughs COMES
sion" on SATURDAY. was appointed through Senator
Murplt's Influence in ls'g l. u possible that Th"
Arr,,s" STORY. of a confession was put forth a
'lcel,r' TO So. how IN pshlic would regard IL
THE GoVERNOR's COMMISSIONERS.
Gov.rrcf Morton sent 20 Clinton Prison 20 lay 70
.ryes,Ien,e ihis remarkable anrir Gilbert j. B
uasbrouck Deputy Attorney General 10 represent
the state and Eugene Burngame. Dlstrict-Attor-
n-y Of Albany. represent the Governor person
ally They "rr" accompani"t by stfnos'aph"s'
who will take down McGouehs confession Galfn
H. NM sl.l's counsel accompanied ihe party. Il
is understood mat ex-Assembiyman Geors" Weed
,.i.yr,rn.l ih. Governor tha; h. would take ;he
commission 20 DAunempra tonight in a special
,r,in tn. Commission should reach ihtiSDuis
about O'Clock and the special irAin ought 10 H;i
.n fDaur.mpii 80. IL'ri man '-f " go q NJ
rurlngam~ siI that " there VA n' hit'h III thr
arrangements hoy could get thtois" t'l7 "n'i.n
AMI return to Albany in ia" night MI liiit ssiL
a new friAl for shea until after McGough had
'i'y r,ntI,' 20 shr. until Tuesday Tebruary :, was
granied by th" Governor today. ST.. .....
The pros.cuilrs counsel - me m,a' %, 9i'S ",,
Assistar.t D'~trict-Auorney Of Kr'ssel'"r '9nniy.
Spcaklns about the "coniessio" 'o-''>' MI '"s'"
..Ia the ar.t place The confession. II made. VIII
not Lad - the conviction of thc conieSsor because
th-re rorrohorative evll'n,r ID thr Sass ~,
.a-iai4 TIE ,Asor, iha, INA. ';oih ot4 n3 pace
IN. c5nfes'lon. m The second place, should be
ptrso. who ,hot Robert kosa must hatr stool 20
:he eas; and north ~ him. but At the tr'h oi Sne':
~" me- w. w. WI nr.G tb fltd shot From fourteen to
that It was shea who shot ana Killed itob"ii h.-'.
- nGlcf he mor,a wound There was NO Witness
swora upon the trial who placed Mciopgh Tn posi-
WcGonrh' in his sworn testimony At the trial OF
Bat" 6iea. said ihat II was R''"nd VINO ir'i the
shot which killed Robert Ross
mn. -