The herald., 1896-01-06
The Electric Chair Had Been
Made Ready
A MOST DRAMATIC CLIMAX
Brought About by the Confession of a
COmrade
John rlcGough Confesses to the Murder OF
Which bat" Shea Was Convicted.
A Respite Granted
Associated Press. Special Wire

ALBANY, y. Y, Jan. 5.-The climax of
one of the most dramatic and sensational
criminal inc c.dents of history was made
puoic today, when, just forty-eight hours
prior to the execution of the death sen-
tence upon Bartholomew Shea, another
man confessed to the murder, and Shea
5 cps from beneath the shadow of death
thrown by the electro char. The invita-
tons for the electrocution of Shea had
been issued, the state electrician was
already upon the ground at Dsnnemora
prison, the governor had decided on Satur-
day not to interfere in the carrying out of
the sentence in the inS'i.u ION, when a
comrade of Shea's in the election outrages
when the tragedy occurred, confessed The
crime.
The man who voluntarily confesses to
the crime, and who practically steps from
a prison chair to the menacing shadow of
an electric death, is John McGough OF
Troy, now serving sentence of nineteen
years and six months for shooting aud at
tempting to kill William Ross, brother
OF Robert Ross, who was supposed to be
Shea's victim. In some way known only
/ to convicts, McGough had contrved o
keep informed as to the success or the fall
ure of the applications for commuta ion
made in behalf of Shea. When shea was
sentenced to die December %, it is be-
ieved that McGough was ready to confess,
but when he learned that respite had
been granted he Withheld his confession.
After he holidays he learned that the ef
forts to obtain Communication for Shea had
not ceased ard so he made no sign.
On Saturday, when Warden Thayer was
made aware that the governor would not
lIterfere and arrangements were being
made for the execution, McGough sent for
the warden of the prison and, when he
came, told him he wished to make a state
ment concerning the murder of Robert
Ross. Tne.warden had McGough taken to
his office and handing him paper and pen,
told him to put down what he had to say in
writing. McGough wrote communication
of abou two pages and signing il vita his
full name, handed it to the warden. To the
surprise of the warden and his deputies, the
paper contained decided statement that
he, McGough, and not Shea, had shot and
killed Robert Ross. The statement con-
tained no details of the shooting other than
the bold con ession of the act.
Warden Thayer went at once to the tele-
phone, when McGough had been called TO
his cell, and called up the executive
chamber. He asked the governor to please
receive messenger whom he said would
arrive, and then he at once Dispatched the
prison stenographer, Mr.. Edward Nc.
,oughln, to Albany. MIR. McCoughlin ar
arrived in this city this morning and caught
Governor Morton at the mansion just as he
was leaving for church. the governor, up
on learning the nature of the commuuica-
ton, sent at oncs for Pardon Clerk Joyce
and Shea's counsel, Mr., Galen Rnitt After
a brief conference the governor decided to
grant 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 tomorrow and vii. be in force until
February 4th. Mr.. Rhitt will go before the
supreme court tomorrow and ask for a
new trial for Shea and the production in
court of McGough.
The confession of McGough will brine
to mind the tragic series OF events that led
up to the presentdramatic results. The con-
vic ion of Shea and the grea public senti.
ment agains his release were no entirely
due o the fact that he shot Ross, but to the
aroused public sentiment against the dis
graceful violation of the purity OF the bal
lot that made the city OF Troy by-wori.
The crime occurred on March 6, 1894.
Shea and McGough headed crowd of re-
peaters who had worked at most every
polling place in Troy. They had been told
not O try heir games in the ward in which
the Ross brothers, William and Robert,
were the head of the Republican pa 'ty, but
announced they would. In anticipation of
their visit, the Ross brothers, John Boland
and several other citizens had armed
themselves with clubs and some with
pistols loaded with blank cartridges. 1t
was shortly after five o'clock that the
me ee occurred, and while twenty of
more shots were fired, the two Ross broth.
ers fell. 1t was while Robert lay PROSTATE
that somebody ran up and shot him in the
head. This crime WAS finally laid at Shea's
door and he was sentenced to death, while
McGough IVES sent to prison for nineteen
years for his assault upon William Ross.
Shea's case was taken to the court of ap-
ppals, which confirmed the conviction.
The governor respited him until after the
holidays, but Saturday refused to commute
his sentence. Some idea of the sentiment
in Troy over the matter can be obtained
when it is known the citizens are erecting a
monument in honor of Ross, who lost his
life. AT the same time Shea had many
fViends, as was attested by the large
memorials in his favor signed by almost
5000 men and women and sent to the gov
ernOr.