Evening journal., 1896-01-06
WOULD SAVE BAT SHEA
Convict McGough Confesses to
the Killing Of Ross.
CHE GOVERNOR GRANTS A RESPITE

Committed tho Troy AIurdcr-Thc Eleo-
trio Chair Was Ready For Him.
ALBANY, Jan. Tho climax OF one Of
the most dramatic and sensational orimi-
nal Incidents of the state's history took
place wbon, just 40 hours prior to the ox-
ooution OF the death sentence upon Bar
tholOmew Shea, another man confessed to
the murder, and Shea steps from beneath
the shadow Of death thrown by the cleo
trio chair. The invitations for the electric
killing Of Shea had been Issued, the stnte
electrician was already upon the ground
at Dannemora prison. the governor had
decided not 70 interfere in the carrying
out of the sentence and Shea had resign
ed himself TO his fate when another pris-
onor in the institution, a comrade OF
Shea's and participator in the election
outrages when the tragedy occurred, con-
fessed to the crime
The man who voluntarily confosses TO
the crime ana who practically steps from
a prison cell to the menacing shade OF
the electrical death is John MoGough of
Troy, now serving q sentence of 10 years
and g months for shooting and attempt
ing TO kin William Ross, a brother Of
Robert Ross, who was supposed TO be
Shea8 victim. In some way known only
20 convicts MoGough had oontrived to
keep informed as TO the success or the fail
ure Of the applications for Communication
mado in behalf of Shea. When Shea was
resentenoed 10 die on the Esd Of Deoem-
Der, it is believed that MoGough was
ready to confess, but when he learned
that a respite had been granted he with
held his confession. After the holidays
he learned that the efforts to obtain
oommutation for Shea had not coasod
and SO he made no sign.
On Saturday, when Warden Thayer was
made aware that the governor would not
interfere and arrangements wero being
made for the execution, MoGough sent for
the warden Of the prison, Mr.. Walter n
Thayer, and when the warden had come
he told him that he wished to make a
statement concerning the murder OF Rob
ert Ross. The warden had McGough
taken to the Office and furnished with pen
and paper, telling him to put down what
he had to say in writing.
BIcGouGh's Confession.
MoGough wrote a communication Of
about two pages, and, signing 10 with his
full name handed it 20 the warden. To
the surprise of the warden and his depu-
ties the paper contained a decided state
ment that he, McGough, and not Shea,
had shot and killed Robert Ross. The
statement contained no details Of the
shooting other than the bold confession Of
the fact
Warden Thayer went at once to the tole-
phone when McGough had been taken to
his cell and called up the executive cham
Der. He asked the governor to please re-
coivo a messenger whom he said would
arrive and then at once dispatched the
prison stenographer Mr. Edward NJ.
Coughlin, to Albany. Mr. Coughlin ar
rived in this city and caught Governor
Morton at the Executive Mansion just as
he was leaving for church The governor
upon learning the nature Of the commu-
nication, sent at once for Pardon Clork
Joyce and Shea's counsel, Mr.. Galen r.
Hit
After brief conference the governor
decided to grant a respite for four weeks,
during which time counsel could take the
proper means to bring the matter before
the courts for new trial The respite
will be issued today and will DO in force
until Feb g.
Mr.. Hit will 20 before the supreme
court today and ask for a new trial for
Shea and the production In court Of Nc
Cough.
Tragic Series OF Events.
The confession Of McGough viii bring
20 mind the tragic series of events that led
up to the present dramatic results. The
conviction of Shea and the great public
sentiment against his release were duo
not entirely to the fact that he shot Ross,
but to the aroused public sentiment
against the disgraoeful violation OF tho
purity Of the ballot that had made tho
city Of Troy a byword The crimes occur
Al cal
and MoGough headed a crowd of repeat
ers, who had worked almost every polling
place IN Troy Thoy had been told not
TO try their games in the ward in which
the Ross brothors-William and Robert
were the head of the Republican party,
but announced that they would. In an
ticipatlon Of their visit the Rosses John
Boland and several other citizens had
armed themselves with clubs and some
with pistols loaded with blank cartridges.
It was shortly after that the melee occur
red, and, while 20 or more shots were
fred, the two Ro.s boys fell. 1t was while
Robert Law PROSTATE that somebody ran
up and shot him in tho head. This crime
was finally laid 20 Shen's door, and he
was sentenced TO death, while McGough
was sent TO prison for 10 years and Is
months for his assault upon William Ross.
Shca's case was taken 70 tho court Of
appeals which confirmed tho conviction.
Tho governor rospited him until after the
holidays but Saturday refused TO COM
muto his sentence. Some idea OF tho sonti-
ment IN Troy over the matter can bo OBJ
tainod whom &c Sc known that the citizena
are erecting a monument in honor Of
Rose, who lost his liic At the same time
Shea had many friends, as was attested
by the largo memorials in bis favor signed
by almost 8. 600 women and men and sent
to the governor.
Singular Phases OF the Confession.
Ono of the singular phases Of tho confcs-
sion Is tho fact that somn timo ago during
tho great agitation over the matter, a Troy
newspaper charged that the Democratic
leaders IN Troy had, in their ondeavor 20
get Shea cleared of the murder, tried 10
obtain a confession from Mc6ough. who
was then not suspected Of the crime. IL
was intimaicd that this confession might
be forthcoming any day, but as McGough
wen. 70 prison without making such con-
fession the story was exploded.
Later this same newspaper charged that
the officials OF the prison at Dannemora