The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
BLIND MAN A MURD ERER.
WV. {. MCORHICK KILLS THE MOTHER
or THE " OMAN NE COURTED.
Found Ills Sweetheart Entertaining An
other Man-Gropcd His Way to the Room
and Tried to XIII Both-womnn's Mother
Interfered and Was Stabbed to Death.

and Tried to XIII Both-Woman's Mother
Interfered and Was Stabbed to Death.
UNroNTowN Pa. June Mrs. Minerva
Monaghan WAS murdered IN her home on
jefferson street early this morning by Council
man William c. Mccormick. who also seriously
injured her daughter. Mrs. Gertrude McCogan.
and his rival. Richard Diffendcrfer The
tragedy was committed in 1T Of jealousy
Tho murderer is blind. and it is marvellous
that one in his condition could commit the
crimes he did
Mccormick has been paying devoted atten-
tion to Mrs. McGogan ever since she was
separated from her husband few years
ago. The gossips even say these aten-
tons antedate the separation. The testi-
mony at the inquest showed that Me-
Cormick has been calling on Mrs. McGogan
for q long timo and that they had an under
standing that she was to receive no other com
pany. He made his usual call last night and
he and Mrs. Michigan had Ice cream together
not far from her home. After their return
home she complained OF being sick and re
uuested Mccormick to leave her. which he did
For some reason he was suspicious and de-
cidcd to await developments.
1t now appears that Mrs. Michigan had an
engagement with Dlffendcrfcr which explains
her desire TO get rid Of Mccormick. Dihen-
derfers arrival was communicated in some
way to Mccormick. but how. he has not yet
told and an hour or so after his rival went into
the house Mccormick groped his way to the par
lor door only to And it locked. He then hoisted
the front parlor window and effected an en-
trance that way by climbing over potted plants.
and bric-h- brac. He had taken his shoes off
to make his movements as nOiseless as posi-
BILE. He felt his way along tho hail. up the
long stairs: he reached the room. In which he
heard his sweetheart and rival talking and
laughing. The door was locked, but with
lunge he shivered the lock and its encasemsnts
into pieces and lcaped into the presence OF
the astonishcd couple
As Mccormick burst in he said lie had come
to kill them. Mrs. McGoRan met him AT the
door and was knocked down by Mccormick.
who struck her with n large water pitcher
which was broken into pieces. Then u struggle
began. Dffenderfer tried to escape. but Nc
Cormick seized him at the door and cut
two ugly gashes across his back. The
men clinched and then Diffenderfer broke
loose ard lcaped downstairs. Mccormick
renewed his attack on Mrs. McGogan. who
struggled out into the hall. He struck her
over tho head with something he held in his
right hand. nflicting wounds at each thrust.
He was still slashing her and declaring he
would end her life whrn her mother. Mrs.
a sick member OF the family and was in her
nightclothes. Mrs. Monaghan shouted:
will, don't kill her"
Mccormick replied with curses and lercer
strokes. Then Mrs. Monaghan advanced and
took hold Of Mccormick as though to pacify
him. As she did so he made thrust at her
sending the knife or whatever he held in his
hand. into her neck She threw up her hands
and fell saying icebly
oh. he has killed me. my throat is cut
Mccormick CROPPED around in the dark till
he found his victim. whom he dragged into the
bathroom and dashed water into her face in the
vain attempt 10 resusctate her Mrs. McGognn
raised the window and gave the alarm. She
then ran from the house. She was met by
some neiGhbors, who took her to DR.. J. s.
Hackneys office nearby. whore the dozen
wounds on her head and face were dressed.
She was scarcely able to walk
Mccormick left alone With his victim felt his
way down the stairs and out into the street.
He went to his home where by the directions
otCoroner Taylor. who was summoned immedi-
ately after the tragedy. he was arrested.
taken to Jail. and placed in charge OF
his brother. Sheriff George Mccormick
OF this county. Young Difrenderier was
also arrested for completely in the crime. but
was later released when it was learned he was
In no manner responsible. Late this evening
he and Mrs. McGogan were both placed under
arrest TO thwart rumored attempt to spirit
them away. They have been released on bail
Tho Coroner's jury completed their work at
9 o'clock tonight, finding that Mrs. Monaghan
was stabbed to death by Mccormick. Nc
Cormick is ono Of the leading politicians and
business men OF this county For fourteen
years he has been elected to the Common
Council from n strongly Republican ward
though he is a Democrat He was once man
ager Of the amateur baseball team which won
the amateur championship OF Pennsylvania
for several years.