Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-11-18
MccUE GUILTY OF FIRST DE.
GREE MURDER.


Elk. Mayor Samuel McCue, OF Chariot
tesville, Va, charged with the muir
der of his wife. was found guilty
murder in the first degree last Satur-
day afternoon, Nov. S, after trial.
lasting three weeks. A dispatch OF
that date says:
The jury retired at 1907 o'clock
this morning.
Eight hundred hearts were stand
ing still when the jury entered the
courtroom at 1884. and handed the in
dictment to the judge.
Then the silence became frightful
and no words can describe the tensity
of the situation.
"Are you ready with your verdict,
gentleman of the jnry.. asked the
judge.
owe are, said Mr. Chieves.
What is your verdict asked the
court.
Then came the awful answer:
1--WE, the jury, find the defendant
guilty as charged in the indictment
of murder in the first degree ="
Then came an awful stiffness as
the accused was asked to stand up
ard hear the verdict.
Like figure of stone the man
lowered above his little company OF
weeping friends and relatives. Not
culver of muscle showed itself in his
face, not tear fell from his eye.
He was as one whose soul had al
ready left his body, and as being sus-
ceptible now to no human emotion,
no Joy, no sorrow, no hope or de-
spair, and when he sat down the
awful significance of the scene tell on
the great crowd like pail Nearly
every man, woman and child wept.
The ex-mayor's little children wep'
as If their hearts would break, and
the strong women VITO SC long have
supported the accused with their COM
tort and help gave way to agony of
giief.
Not once did single person in all
that throng show any sign of appro-
baton or disapprobatiou. All seemed
to feel that they were in the presence
of the Almighty, that they Lad pass
ed beyond the realm OF the mum
dane Tor the nonce, and that it was
asked vengence tor the deep dam
nation of poor Fannie Crawford Nc
Cues taking Oft.
Five or ten minutes alter the ver-
dict the prisenerleaned his head on
Mrs. Marshall Diuwiddle's shoulder
and then gave way to tears. But in
s minutes more he was himself again
and the old fire returned to his eyes.
Willie McCue. long after he had
heard the doom of his father, was
sobbiug like child--shaking ana
quivering like an aspen. Little Ruby
also gave way to paroxysms OF grist,
while little Harry. little knowing the
significance of it all, climbed TO his
fathers knee and enjoyed the caresses
of the hand which according to the
jury. had slain his mother.
1t unstrung the strongest men to
see the aged women of McCue's fam
lily as they alternately bowed their
heads to weep and then dried their
tears to offer a word of comfort to the
prisoner.
The brothers of the accused who
were present seemed almost prostrat-
ed at the verdict. They were far
more excited and much more over
come than the prisoner.
About fifteen minutes after the YER
dict Mr. Lee asked leave tor him and
his associates to retire for half an hour
so that thev might confer.
Before the jury retired Judge Nor
lis thanked them for their conscien-
tious work and asked them not to
leave town Tor an hour or SO, as he
might need them to testify as TO some
point arising in connection with their
conduct as jurors.
In other words, the court was an
tcipating any technical objections
which might be raised by Mccue's
counsel as to the behavior and bearing
Of the Jurors during their long term
oil service.
When the lawyers for the defense
at 1900 p. N. re-entered, after their
conference, Mr.. Lee arose and said:
III your honor please, on behalf of