The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-14
TELLS A TALE OF TRIALS.
MRS. PMURRAY RELATES THE
STORY OF HER WRONGS.

Dennuuces Hcr husbands state
ments as Untrue-Says She Win
Again Make Savannah Her Home.
In a shabby aud poorly furnished house
on East Boundry street, near Hull street,
there is a woman whose story is one of a
brutal husband, whose i'll treatment has re-
| duced her and her mother from a con-
dition of comparative wealth to almost
absolute poverty. In the house are none
of the comforts of home to which she was
accustomed up to the time of the inhu-
man treatment of her husband commenced,
| and she is without the means to purchase
the necessities of life. This is the Mrs.
Patrick McMurray, of whom so much APP
peared in the papers last spring. She re-
| turned from New York night before last,
accompanied by her cousin, James Prenty,
of Pittsburg, Pa.
Mrs. McMurray was born and reared in
Savannah, and this city was her place of
residence up to last November. when she
went north with Gerald McMurray, a
brother of her husband. Mrs. McMurray
dates her troubles from the time of her
marriage, seven years ago. Soon after that
event, McMurray's inhuman treatment of
his wife began, she says, and only ceased
when she was rescued from his clutches,
two weeks ago.
She was seen last night by a Morning
News reporter to whom she told her story:
Il have come back to Savannah"
she said, ito claim the
protection of my native city. My husband
swore to me that he would kill me within
forty-eight hours after reached the
place, and am fearful of his threats. My
life for the past ten month
has been perfect hell
on earth, and 1 wonder 1 am not in
an insane asylum as it was said 1 was.
When I left here Nov. 23 last, with Gerald
McMurray, it was with the understanding
that my husband and baby boy were to
follow soon. 1 was taken to a prison
when we landed at New York. and 1t was
only two weeks ago that I made my es-
cape from the place. This prison was the
Loretta house, a place for the detention
of inebriates. 1 do not know why they
put me there. as have never used
liquors"
why didn't you leave the place if they
II could not" was the answer, land be-
sides I would have had no place to go.
1 had no money, and all 1 could do was
to stay at the Loretta, hateful as it be-
came to me-
when did you see your husband last?"
Mrs. McMurray was asked.
Il saw him two weeks ago, the day be-
fore 1 left New York" she replied. HE
came to the house where 1 was kept and
| I hoo Cd To oil
to Savannah. He finally consented to
this, saying that he would bring me a
ticket the next day and allow me to leave
! the house. But he did not come the next
morning, and that afternoon l was delight
ed to see my uncle William Prenty of
Pittsburg. 1t was the first time had seen
him since my confinement in the house,
and he said he intended to take me away
with him. The nuns in the institution
had already told me that 1 could go when
l desired, but as 1 was entirely destitute,
not having even nickei, I could not do
so. My husband had insisted that
they keep me in the house for four or
five years but they told him they could
not violate the law by doing So My
uncle took me to Pittsburg, where 1 was
warmly received by his family MY
consin, who came down with me, has been
very kind to me- and I am able to appre-
! ciate a friend after the experience through
! maltreated me in many ways ever since
! our marriage. Only one month after our
| wedding he dragged me from the house
| by my hair, and since then his outrages
/ have been frequent. He reached New
! York last May and soon afterward paiA
/ me visit at the Loretta house, which Is
located at No. 504 East Ninetieth street,
! his talk to me on the occasion of his
! visits was heartless, and he struck me in
| the race at one time, binding my eyes
! for days. Then he took me for walks two
| or three times. l was told once that he
! intended to kill me ana that he would
| bury me in my wedding dress, which he
! has. He threatened to throw me into the
! East river one day as we walked near il.
| and again he flourished a knife and pistol
| in my face in Central park. l am
! afraid of the man, as do
! not think he would hesitate to kill me. At
one time he told me, shaking big roll of
| bills at me, that he had money enough to
| have my life sworn away il he should
care to bring me into u court of justice.
but think he is the one who would have
! justice to fear"
Mrs McMurray says that her husband
! secured between $1,000 and $4,000 by the
| sale of the property at the corner of Hous-
| ton and Perry streets and from the sale
/ of effects they owned He had secured a
! title to this property by an undetermined
/ proceeding, she said, but could lawfully
/ ulSpOSe OF IL. I1S nau gotten 1t transferred
! to him 70 further some plan that was afoot
in the family, though it was not I'M
derstood, his wife says, that it was to be-
| long to him.
'rhe money is not what I want, though"
/ said Mrs. MCMurray. Il want my release
/ from this man and 1 want my child i
| have come back to Savannah to try to
/ get a divorce from my husband and 10
/ gam possession Of my child. 1 called up
/ on my lawyer, Mr. A. c. Wright, this aft
4 ernoon, and he told me he would at once
institute proceedings 10 secure q divorce.
| The child, he told me, c3u d easily be got
ten, if l only had the money to pay for the
| costs of sending 10 New York and the pro-
! eesscs that would have to be gone through
/ in the courts My child is nearly years
old and is kept by McNurray az q house
near the corner of Scott end Perry ave-
nues, in Bedford Park. one of the sub
urbs of New York. His name is Gerald
| Prenty McMurruy."
! Mrs. McMurray said that she got along
! comparatively well with her husband for
! about three years after their marriage.
| They kept a green grocery on the proper
| ty disposed of by McMurray. About four
/ NaorS on CHI eovs yFoAT,rrr,,rf, 1,,-.4t- l..