Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-06
DID NOTKILLROSS
Ban Shea. the Ward Thug and
Ballot Repeater,
GUILTLESS OF THE GRAVER CRIME.

Saved from the Electric Chair by the Con-
fessiOn of IA Fellow Thug and Repeater,
Who Admits That He Fired the Mus-
dcrous sho:-Been Lying Low in Hope
That Bats Sentence Might BE COMMITTED
Story of abe Crime.
ALBANY, Jan. 6.-The climax OF one of the
most dramatic and sensational criminal
incidents of the states history was made
public yesterday when, just forty-eight
hours prior to the execution of the death
sentence upon Bartholomew Shea, another
man confessed to the murder and Shea
steps from beneath the shadow of death
thrown by the electric chair. The invita-
tons for the electric killing of Shea had
been issued. the state electrician was al
ready upon the ground at Dannemora
prison, the governor had decided not to
interfere in the carrying out of the SEN
tence, and Shea had resigned himself to
his fate, when another prisoner in the
institution, u comrade of Shea and parti-
cipator in the election outrages when the
tragedy occurred, confessed to the crime.
Confessed to Save Shea's Life.
The man who voluntarily confesses to
the crime and who practically steps from
a prison cell to the menacing shade of the
electrical death is John McGough, of
Troy, now serving a sentence of nineteen
years and six months for shooting and at
tempting to kill William Ross, brother
of Robert Ross, who was supposed to be
SEca's victim. In some way known only
to conyicts McGough had contrived to
keep informed as to the success or the
failure of the applications for commuta-
ton made in behalf of Shea. When Shea
was resentcnced to die the s3rd of Deem
Der, it is believed that McGough was
ready to confess, but when he learned
that n respite had been granted he with
held his confession. After the holidays
he learned that the efforts to obtain n
communication for Shea had not coasod and
SO he made no sign. On Saturday when
Warden Tbayer was made aware that the
governor would not interfere and arrange.
ments We're being made for the execution,
Mctiough sent for the warden of the
prison.
Governor Morton Respites Shea.
When the warden had come McGough
told him that he wished to make state
ment concerning the murder of Robert
Ross. The warden had McCough taken
to the office and handing him pen and
paper told him to put down what he had
to say in writing. McGough wrote a
communication of about two pages and
signing it with his full name handed it to
the warden. To the surprise of the war
den and his deputies the paper contained
decided statement that he, McGough,
and not Shea, had shot and killed Robert
Ross. The statement contained no de-
tails of the shooting, other than the bold
confession of the fact Warden Thayer
at once sent a messenger to Governor
Morton and the latter upon hearing the
facts, granted Shea n respite until Feb l.
In the meantime Shea will be given q
new trial and McGough will be witness
The Murder of Robert Ross.
The conviction of Shea and the great
public sentiment against his relecse were
due not entirely to the fact he shot Ross.
but to the aroused public sentiment
against the disgraccful violation of the
purity of the ballot that had made the
city of Troy Il by-word. The crimes oc-
CURED upon the 9th of March, 1894 Shea
and McGough headed "A crowd OF reporters
who had worked almost every polling
place in Troy. They had been told not to
try their games in the ward in which the
Ross brothers, William and Robert, were
the head Of the Republican party, but an
nounccd that they would. It was shortly
after that the melee occurred, twenty or
more shots were fired, and the Ross BOYS
fell. 1t was while Robert lay PROSTATE
that somebody ran up and shot him In
the head.
Ward Thug Has Many Friends.
The crime was finally laid to Shea's
door and he was sentenced to death while
McGough was sent to prison for nineteen
years for his assault upon William Ross.
Shea's case was taken to the court of ap-
peals, which confirmed the conviction.
The governor respited him until after the
holidays. but Saturday refused to com.
mute his sentence Some idea of the
sentiment in Troy over the matter can
be obtained when it is known that the
citizens are erecting a monume mt in honor
of the Ross who lost his life At the same
time Shea had many friends, as was at
tested by the large memorials in his favor
signed by almost 5000 women and men