Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-05
McCUE FOUND GUILTY
Jury Says He is Responsible
for Wife Murder.
HANGING THE PEN Atty
SILENCE PERVADES COURT ROOM
WHEN JURY REPORTS.
Nervously Reads Biblical Verses
Rises With Calm and Set Features
to Hear the Verdict.
HANGING THE PENALTY

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, November >.
j. Samuel McCue for four years mayor OF
Charlottesville, today was found guilty oI
the murder of his wife. Fanny McCue, on
Sunday night. September 4 last. The
verdict was murder in the first degree
which carries with it the death penalty. The
jury deliberated less than half an hour.
A dead silence prevailed in the court
room when the jury filed back into the
chamber to announce the fate of the ac-
cused. The crowd that filled the court
room remained until the jury came in. Mr..
McCue had grown nervous as Mr.. Gilmer,
the commonwealth's attorney, was closing,
and the suspense while awaiting the jury 5
verdict was severe strain, but he held
up, occasionally taking a Testament from
his pocket and reading passage or two.
When asked to stand up to hear the ver-
dict he rose calmly and with set features
heard the verdict that sent him back to
prison condemned to the severest penalty
of the law.
During a half hours interim the attor-
neys conferred as to their motion for a
Eew trial McCue showed emotion. His lit
tie daughter Ruby climbed on his lap, her
eyes Redeemed by weeping, while there also
Cluug to his side two other small children.
Great tears streamed down his cheeks.
Surrounding the group were relatives, VINO
scarcely knew what TO say. The Veid'ct
was received in silence by the throng, which
literally obeyed the courts injunction that
there must be no demonstration
Counsel for the defense moved that the
verdict be set aside on the ground that
the jurors had read newspapers. The court
called the jurors to the witness stand one
by one and questioned them under oath
TO see if they had read the newspapers.
As a whole they said they had not been
influenced by anything they had read The
motion will be argued later.
ne of he hDnSp
jail accompanied by four guards, large
crowd was standing on the outside, but
there was no untoward act.
Verdict Causes Talk.
The verdict came as climax to one of
the most important trials that has been
conducted in the state of Virginia in re-
cent years. None has aroused deeper. in
terest or been more closely followed by the
people.
and a great amount of testimony given,
and over three days were consumed in ar
guments. The accused was defended by an
array of counsel-Messrs. Lee and Cole
man of Lynchburg and Sinclair and
Walker and f. o, McCue of this city. The
commonwealth was represented by Captain
Woods, a prominent local attorney; COM
monwealth's attorney for this county, Mr.
Gilmer; commemorative attorney for the
city, and Commonwealth Attorney Ker of
Staunton. Every inch of ground was fought
over. George w. Morris. judge of the cor
poration court, presided
One particularly sad feature of the trial
the fact that McCue had for years
been a lawyer at the bar before which he
was tried and convicted, and had been on
friendly relations with most of those iden-
tilted with the trial. The jury was patient,
and evidenced the greatest interest, fire.
quently questioning witnesses.
The foreman shook hands with the pris-
oner and the relatives that surrounded him
just before he was taken to Jail.
History of the Crime.
The crime for which the former mayor
was tried and convicted occurred on the
night of September 4. Mr.. and Mrs Nc
Cue had gone to church, returning home
about pm. Shortly afterward Mrs Nc
Cues dead body, clad in a night robe was
found in bath tub filled with water Mr.
McCue told those who came in that some
one mad entered the house upon their re-
turn from church; that he had been
knocked senseless'' and his wife probably
Killed. An investigation led to the arrest
on the charge of murder of the man who
only four days before had retired from the
highest office in the city
Mrs. McCue had received the contents NJ
shotgun In her breast, a sufficient wound
10 cause instant death, but in addition she
had been struck heavy blow on the head,
cutting an ear nearly in two
Throughout his trouble McCue has had
the support of his brothers The court
room has been crowded from the outset
of the trial. During the last few days il
has been Jammed. with the space in the
gallery reserved for the women filed some
of the women eating their luncheons in
their seats during midday recess
Only once or twice was there any attempt
at applause in the court room. Judge Nor
ris prevented repetition by threatening to
send any one to Jail found making dem
UnStratiOn.