The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-02-21
A DETECTIVES REPORT ON THE
McHENRY CASE.

Last saturdays Philadelphia IN
suiyer contained a report of Detective
Cosgrove on the McHenry murder
case. He was sent here in company
with reporter, and they spent several
days in Rohrsburg and vicinity. We
know nothing Of Detective Cosgrove.
The Inquire, states that he was highly
recommended by Capt r. ] Linden
as an expert in such cases. Much OF
his report is what was known and has
been printed before. We reproduce
his report below, as he seems to have
made special effort to solve the
mystery. Whether he is right in his
conclusions or not, we are not pre-
pared to say. Here is the report:
Beginning with an effort to establish
a motive for the crime, an interview
was secured with the father, mother
and sister of Thomas McHenry, who
live on the farm adjoining that of the
murdered man. Their first knowledge
Of the murder, they stated, was when
Harold, the S-year-old son of Thomas,
came running into the house and
cried out that his father had been
shot. Mcclellan McHenry, who had
arrived from Hazleton but three hours
before, came from his sleeping room,
dressed scantily, and hurried to the
scene of the murder. He found Mrs.
McHenry, attired only in a night
dress and without shoes, supporting
her wounded husbands mead in her
lap. After being shot McHenry ran
about forty feet into the front yard,
away from the spot where the ball hit
him.
Thomas looked up to his brother,
Mcclellan, and SAID: "Clell, who
could have done this?"
Clell asked him if he had any idea
who shot him, but Thomas repeated
his former question, murmuring 1t
over and over Mcclellan fastened
across the road to the home of a
neighbor, secured assistance and then
removed the wounded man to the
house. Two physicians were sum-
moned, but nothing could be done to
save the life of the man. He was
conscious until within short time of
his death, which occurred at SIX
o'clock. No attempt was made to go
near the barn where the murderer had
been in hiding when he fired the fatal
shot.
After hearing this story ofthe shoot
ing from the father, sister and mother
of the dead man, l made inquiry as to
whether Thomas had any enemies.
They knew of no one whom Thomas
could call an enemy. There were
serious rumors regarding farm hand
who had been discharged by him, but
there had been no threats made and
the men had not met for almost a
year.
l did learn that there was consider
able feeling existing IN the McHenry
family regarding the conduct OF The
farm occupied by Thomas. 1t is
owned by the father, Samuel McHenry,
and Mcclellan and a sister, Rose, had
$1,000 each invested in the farm. On
December 81, 1900, Thomas had
been served with notice by his father
TO vacate the farm. 1t was claimed
by the family that Thomas neglected
the farm, andinstead operated sawmll
at Jamison City. The rental of the
farm to Thomas had been made upon
the condition that he tender one-third
of the years crops in payment. The
brothers had not been very friendly
since the serving of the notice te
vacate the farm. Thomas did no,
like the procedure, and at the time o.
serving the rotice said he would have
vacated If asked to, the legal notice
not having been necessary.
The only other man with whom
Thomas had trouble was formel
employe of his mill. This man was
finally located in St. Louis, Mo.
/ set about to learn from nelghbors
the true character of Thomas Nc
Henry, but l could find no one who
would say anything but good of him
He would 60 out of the way to avol'
a quarrel. He was friendly with every
body except the persons alread.
named. l probably questioned NIT.
persons who were intimate witt
Thomas McHenry, but all Offered
testimony to his good character.
| learned that no examination ha'
been made of the barn and the vlclnlt.
until after II a. m. the morning OF th'
shooting. In the meantime crowd
of people had trampled over TIT
ground. learned that the only article
found was piece of coat lining tina
had evidently been used as waddln'
in an old-fashioned rifle. This is II
the possession of man at Rohrsburg