The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-07
MGLUE ACQUITTED.
Close Of the Manslaughter
Case in the Court Of
Sessions Yesterday.
MRS. SCANLON MAKES 4 SCENE
Became So Demonstrative
That She Was Elected from
the Court Room.

MIS-. MdrSaFet ScaHioH, WiuoW u
James Scanlon, for causing whose death
John AfcGlue was tried in the General
Sessions Court, yesterday, created a sem
sation in Court and finally became so
denonstrative thai Judge Blair ordered
her elected from the court room. Mrs.
Scanlon was the principal witness for
the State. She is a stoutiy built woman
of a very aggressive character and was
! evidently anxious to make her testimony
strong enough to convict the defendant
if possible. The story of the trial was
partly told yesterday.
McGlue and his wife had a quarrel on
the night of February 4. and Mrs. McGlue
went to the house of her sister, Mrs.
Scanlon. on the opposite side of Halliday
street from where she lived. Scanlon
went cut to look for McGlue. followed
by the two women. and the men a a
| square, stand-up fight, which was Wit
messed by their wives and some others.
Scanlon lost his life, but the testimony
was to the effect that his death result
| ed either from heart disease or onges
ton of the brain, brought on by unusual
excitement.
Mrs. Scanlon was called to the stand
! shortly before recess. h was telling the
| story Of the ARRAY and the events lead
ing up to 1t when Prosecutor Erwin ask
ed her a question about the testimony she
had given at the Coroner's inquest. Law
yer Murphy objected, on the ground that
it might lead to the introduction of tes-
timony which would not be admitted in
court under the rules of evidence. The
witness became very indignant and could
- A,-1f x-l;1a AR ~
ply was talking.
HI'1l tell my story here she finally
broke in, 'or I'll go to a higher court
and tell it. Remember, I've been ordered
by the gentleman there to answer these
questions. and I don't want you to in
terrupt me again. BY the gentleman
there she meant Prosecutor Erwin.
1T places the defendant in a false POI
| %sition,'' said Mr.. Murphy. ignoring Mrs.
Scanlon's TRADE.
1T does not!' shouted the witness.
Judge Blair raped his gavel and told
Mrs. Scanlon that she would have 10
keep quiet and do nothing but answer
questions. The witness then went on to
tell about the ARRAY.
81 was excited" she said. "and I ran
down to the corner to get my husband.
McGlue was there and they began to
fight. Jimmy got John down twice and
then John got Jimmy down twice. Jimmy
never struck John when he was down.
All he said was, Get up, old man. john
struck Jimmy when he was down, and l
said, That's not fair Jimmy died in
the second fall. Mrs. McGlue took hold
of Jimmy's hand and / ted her not TO
hold him. / told Jimmy to get up. but
he never moved. Jimmy, Lord have mer-
cy on him, never breathed from that day,
and he never will again.
AT this point the witness began to sob
and cry, and. was unable to proceed with
her testimony for a few minutes She had
another outburst when Lawyer Murphy
began his cross-examination. Mr.. Muir
ply questioned her about something She
had said at the inquest.
tive told all / said" she exclaimed,
and I don't want any more questions
Mrs. Scanlon began crying again, ana as
it was impossible to get her to answer
any questions Judge Blair deemed it al
visable to take a recess a quarter of an
hour before the usual time to give her
an opportunity to compose herself.
The witness was in no more amiable
frame of mind after recess than she was
before so far as the lawyer for the de-
PENDANT was concerned. She refused to
answer Mr.. Murphy's questions until she
was instructed by the Court thai she
must answer them. She denied that in
a statement made to Captain McKaig she
had said, LET them go at it. let the best
man win" She also denied that her
husband was drunk or that she was under
the influence of liquor that night.
why didn't you try to stop the fght?v
asked Mr.. Murphy.
s'Sure, wasn't my life as good as his
or McGlue'sg' asked the witness, eva
sively.
Did Mrs. McG1ue try to stop it?"
She took hold of Jimmy's hand"
WAS Jimmy a drinking man?'
IF YOU were in his place you'd drink
ten times aus much as him." replied the
was excused and took her seat in the au-
dience. after casting a baleful look at
Mr.; Murphy as she passed him.
Edward Quinn; Of No. $50 Woodward
fight and that he saw canlo fall. He
did not hear anything that was said. Mrs.
Scanlon dragged her husbands body to
the house, When the witness first saw
the men Scanlon had his coat off and
McGlue had his on
Clarence Deakyne. of No. 2oSh Van
flOit NC oil COl, PlVfCA ~ NC q fCiS ilQRdlit
witness. He seemingly ooked upon the
whole affair as a huge joke. and was re-
buked by Judge Blair. Deakyne testified
that he ATTEMPTED to separate the mem.
Mrs. Scanlon cried OUTLET them go at
1t, let them see who is the best mani So
far as the witness could see Scanlon was
the aggressor. He had his coat off and
McGlue, who had hts coat on, seemed to
be nnly defending himself.
When the Stare closed It's case, Lawyer
Murphy asked Judge Blair to direct am
acqlrittal. The Judge said he preferred to
let the case go to the jury Neither the
Defendant nor his wife we're called to tes-
fifty. When Mr.. Murphy began to sum up
he said that Scanlon was the aggressor,
that he went out to look for MrGlue.
He did not" shouted Mrs. Scanlon:
you're a 1iar.." She refused to keep quiet
and judge Blair ordered her removed
from the court room. As she was being
led way she kent shouting hack at Mr..
Murphy that he was a liar. The defend
ant was acquitted.