Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-09-08
CHARGED WITH wIFE-MURDER.
Arrest OF Elk Mayor McCue, of Char
lottesviIle - Intense Excitement
Fears for Safety of Prisoner.

( Arrest or Ex-mayor mcCue, OF Char-
IottesviIle - Intense Excitement
Fears for Safety of Prisoner.
AS had been anticipated, former
Mayer J. Samuel McCue, of Charlottes-
vile, was arrested yesterday afternoon
at o'clock upon a warrant charging
him with the willful murder of his wife,
Mrs. Fannie McCue, upon the night Of
September 4. The arrest was made on
warrant sworn out by Commonwealth 5
Attorney Frank Gilmer, and was Issued
independently of the coroner's jury,
which was then in session.
For three days the popular feeling
against Mr.. McCue has been increasing
in intensity, and to prevent any danger
of lynching, a strong guard has been
placed about the Jail, in which he is In
carcerated.
The arrest was not surprise, as the
evidence before the jury showed that the
relations between McCue and his wife
had long been strained, and frequently
marred by bitter quarrels. Testimony
was given to the effect that McCue
intimacy with other women had much
to do with these domestic quarrels; that
he had before threatened her life with a
pistol; that she had talked about getting
divorce, and had predicted the tragic
end which had befallen her.
At yesterday evenings session of the
coroner's jury the seal of secrecy was re-
moved, and the public were admitted,
packing the courtroom to suffocation.
Ernest b. Crawford, youngest brother
of Mrs. McCue, was the first witness OF
the evening, and was easily the most dra-
matte. His testimony as to the relations
between Mr.. and Mrs. McCue and to Mr..
McCue's habits were starting, He had
boarded with his sister while he was a
student at the university law school, and
detailed his observations and his sister s
statements to him. At times during his
testimony witness was so choked by emo
ton that his voice broke and he had to
pause. Said he Ia his testimony;
"She went on to tell me how when she
was confined he was running to Richmond
to see woman there how he had threat
ened her and told her to 'keepher mouth
out of it.. He had pointeda pistol at her,
and she told me that on more than one
occasion he had followed her and pointed
revolver at her. Even when she was
about to be confined he threatened her,
and at that time was going to see another
woman"
The witness said that when he boarded
at the McCue home she was a splendid
housekeeper and did all she could to
make her home happy. She had told
witness the first years of her married
life were very happy, but the later years
very unhappy.
When he, as a law student, was board
ing there, he testified that she told him
that she believed it would give her hus-
band pleasure if she would commit sui
eide, but she did not intend to disgrace
her children. She further stated that
she would sue for q divorce, but for the
reason that when a woman was divorced
people generally blamed her. A further
reason for not asking divorce was that
she feared her husband would in that
event secure custody of her children.
Witness said he had urged her to get
divorce, nevertheless, but she would
not
He referred with emotion to the death
of Der mother, and at that time he had
told his brother that this sorrow was
not the worst they would have to face.
The mother had died a natural death,
but witness feared and had predicted a
tragic end for his sister. He was not the
only one who had predicted ii.
He said that conditions in the McCue
household were "sbout as bad as they
could be-" "She bad not only applied
to her own brothers, but to his brothers, I"
said Mr.. Crawford.
While the jury was in session yester-
day afternoon the arrest of McCue was
made. Immediately upon the issue Of
the warrant Police Officers Grady and
Eubank drove to the McCue residence,
and without ceremony entered the house,
where they proceeded directly to the sit
ting room. There they found j. Samuel
McCue, his brothers, Edward O. McCue
and William McCue, and the children.
Officer Grady, without preliminary state
ment other than the usual greetings, pro-
duced and read the warrant. When the
warrant had been read amid intense ST.
lence, Mr.. McCue said "By the grace
of God 1 will come out All right. Do
your duty, gentlemen.
The children had begun crying as
they realized the situation, and turning
to them the prisoner, himself weeping,
said:
''Do not be uneasy. | am not afraid
of the consequences if | get fair trial.
have committed no crime"
The father, against whom the awful
charge of wife murder had just been
lodged, then kissed the children good-by,
all weeping at the affecting separation,
and then turning to the officers, signi6ed
his willingness to accompany them, and
with them and his two brothers left the
room. The prisoner and the two brothers
and liveryman then got in vehicle
and drove to the Jail, two squares dis
tant, where the prisoner was locked up.
No application for bail has been made
nor has the time for the preliminary
hearing been fixed.
Last night every precaution had been
taken to secure the prisoners safety
against mob violence, although it is be-