Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-09-14
sesE rs, a.
Ex-Mayor McCue Shot His Wife
in Charlottesville


in Charlottesville
Charlottesville and Virginia were
greatly stirred last week by the
reported killing of Mrs. McCue.
wife Of Mr.. j. S. McCue of that
city, on Sunday night, September
Ath. The circumstances were such
as to cause the suspicion that her
husband was responsible for the
woman's death. On Wednesday,
the coroner's jury, after full in
vsstigation, rendered the following
verdict:
"We find that Mrs. Fannfe q.
McCue came to her death by a
gunshot wound in the chest inflict-
ed by ]. Samuel McCue, her hus-
band"
The prisoner was sent to Jail to
await the investigation by a grand
Jury, which will begin Its lnquisi-
ton next Monday. 1t is said that
owing to the intense feeling IN
Charlottesville, the trial may be
held elsewhere.
Mrs. McCue was daughter OF
the late DR.. William Crawford OF
Mt. Sidney, and she has connec-
tions in Rockbridge. Her mother
was Miss Rachel Crawford OF
Brownsburg.
Tho Charlottesville Progress
gives the following summary OF the
crime:
Mrs. McCue had been on visit to
Red Hill and Nj. McCue Oh a bust
ness trip to Washington. The former
returned at 8 o'clock Sunday after
noon aud the latter an hour later. In
stead OF greeting his wife who was in
the library, Mr. McCue went at once
to the bath room to remove the marks
of travel. Later they both started to
church ard when near High street,
Mr.. McCue says he turned back and
went home and asked William (his
SOM If his mother was there, William
said his mother had gone to church,
then II went back and found her at
church." After church he said TO his
wife: Fanny. l thought ! would
oyertake you, but had, Oeen back to
the house thinking would find you
there"
Upon returning home both Dir. and
Mrs. McCue began to undress. When
Mrs. McCue was ready to retire and
Mr.. McCue had removed his coat,
vest and negligee shirt, Mr.. McCoe
heard a click and noticed a man NOV
ing toward him. The man was a
dirty white man." in dark clothes
and with a mustache. According to
one Statement Mr. McLue looked in
he.chiffonie drawer for his pistol
and finding it gone, reached for his
gun which stood near by. Just as he
got his gun, he was struck and rem
dered unconscious. The lick, accord
Ing to two expert physicians, would
net have rendered an infant unGOn-
scious. When he came to himself, he
did not raise window and call for
help, or 20 Ia search OF bis wife, but
went to the telephone and called up
his brother, physician, and the
family Of Capt. 4. j. Williams, whom
he asked to come at once as he had
been knocked down and Mrs. McCue
probably killed" That Mrs. McCue
had been badly beGtsG agd choked
before being shot, was clearly proven
by the wounds on her face and neck. |
Upon 10 theory OF robbery or venge-
ance upon Mr. McCue can the killing
OF Mrs. McCue and the very slight
bruise upon Mr. McCue be explained.
There was blood upon Mr.. MeCua's
undershirt ut both wrists, down the
front, and under the arm pits. That
ut the wrists. and In front had been
washed partially out. Mr.. McCue ex-
plains the bloody marks by saying
TIA at siie' Eli braeed his dead wife after
her body had been laid opt, but the
evidence upon this point is CON
tradicted.
In the bath room where the body
was found. was piece OF the under
shit worn by the accused at the time
OF the tragedy. A negro on the ad'
joining lot heard Mrs. MeCue crying
as in distress, but not for help, apd
the negro employed by DIR. Mccue.
who was In back room heard the
crying and also heard Mrs. McCue
say: "San. heis killing me-
A brother Of Mrs. McCue testified
that Mr. McCue frequently cursed and
abused his wife aud bad threatened
her lite; that OH one occasjOp he had
run her out of the room with pistol
and that she fed to her son for protee
ton.