Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-06-11
THE STORY OF A CRIME.
The Details of the 1cGlincy Hurder
i'm California.


we gather the following details Of the
| horrible murder Of Mr.. Richard P Nc
Glincy, formerly of Shepherdstown,
and five other members Of his family,
at their home near San Jose, Calitor-
MIA. The murderer was James c. Dun
ham. His victims We're his wife, Mrs.
Hattie Durham; his father-in-law, R.
P. McGlincy; his mother-in-law. Mrs.
R. ?. McGlincy his wifes brother, Jas.
X. Wells; maid servant, Minnie
| Shesler; and farm hand, Robert Bris-
coe. The scene Of the murder was
Sycamore Rancho, about seven miles
from San Jose
Several years ago, says the Eraml-
ncr, Colonel McGlincy married Mrs.
Wells a widow with a onand daugh-
ter, James X. and Hattie NoGIncy
took his newly welded wife and her
/ children to his country home. The
girl Hattie had a -wce,lcart in San
Jose Charles Duuham, a handsome tel-
/ low, a year or so her senior During
the courtship Hattie met her lover ;
brother, five or six years older than he,
II thnftless fellow, who had worked as
a cook, in San Jose, in Sacramento in
some other menialoccupation, in Stock
tom at any thing be could find.
He seemed unable to make money
and less able to keep it, Hattie found
little in him to admire. certainly moth
ing to inspire affection. She knew Of
him only as her swcetheart's brother.
Through William she learned that he
had gone to San Diego, and again had
taken some land in Monterey county.
He had quite passed from her mind
when she went to the Sycamore farm
with her mother and stcpiathcr
\ correspondence with her fauce,
Charles, began. These love letters are
now exhibited ina murder case. About
fifteen months ago Colonel McGIincy
was surprised TO see James c. Durham
at the farm, an applicant for work.
The young fellow had found it mpos-
SibIe to obtain work. He had passed
from place to place, now in trouble
with the authorities, always in distress
and never in condition to make his
own way. Colonel McGIincy knew
him to be shiftless fellow, but gave
him work. No one knows why James
c. Durham asked for aid at the home
of his brothers sweetheart. Whatever
may have been his motive, it led to
this frghtful crime. He obtained what
he asked. Three months later he was
married to the gnI who had been en-
gagged to his brother.
That marriage was not a welcome
one in the country home Colonel
McGlincy took no pains to disguise his
dislike for the young husband
Hatties brother, James K Wells,
was antogonistic 10 young Durham.
Mrs. McGlincy was displcascd and for
some months at least the home was am
unhappy one. But between James c..
Durham and his brother Charles there
seemed no disagreement The aticc-
ton that each brother felt for the 9TH
Ell was not disturbed, although one
robbed the other of his prospective
wife.
A. time passed in the McGlncy
household the relations of the occu-
pants became more cordial, although
the members Of Mrs. Dunham's family
still showed the GOODNESS they felt to-
ward the young husband. For many
year, the home of Colonel McGlncy
had been noted for its hospitality to
the neighboring farmers and to friends
from the citv. After the wedding Of
Durham and Hattie Wells this hospi-
talitv came to an end fora time. Sew
eral months ago it was resumed and
the neighbors accepted the invitations
to parties and dances and saw an ap-
parently happy family About four
weeks ago there was another quarrel
The house was closed to guests and the
ueighboring farmers knew that trou-
bic had come again tothe home Col
onel McGlincy took no pain, to dis
guise even from MS neighbors his an
tipathy toward his stepdaughters hus-
band.
James K. Wells expressed a positive
hatred toward the young man. Col
onel McGlincy did not speak to Dun
ham and the latter threatened to IN
stitute a suit for damages for injuries
received while in the service Of his
wifes stepfather Herepresented, too
that he had been robbed Of $1,000,
part of a legacy from his mother, and
that a member Of the family must be
the robber Yetin all the quarreling
there seemed 10 be a bond Of affection