Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-11-09
McCue Found Guilty of Murder
in First Degree

in First Degree
The trial of J. Samuel McCue,
former mayor of Charlottesville
and a prominent member of the
Albemarle county bar, for the muir
der of his wife, Mrs. Fannie M.
McCue, on the night of September
4, was brought to a close last
Saturday shortly before noon. The
verdict was: eve. the jury, find
the defendent guilty as charged
in the indictment of murder in the
first degree
The verdict came as a climax to
one Of the most noted trials that
has been conducted in Virginia in
recent years. None has aroused
deeper interest or been more close
ly followed by the people. A large
number Of witnesses was heard
and a great amount of testimony
given, and over three days were
consumed in the argument by the
distinguished lawyers on either
side.
When the words determining his
fate were uttered, the prisoner
showed no signs of emotion. but
like figure of stone the man
lowered above his little con pany
of weeping friends and relatives.
Not culver of muscle showed it's
self in his face, not tear fell from
his eye. He was as u being sas-
ceptibe to no human emotion, no
Joy, no sorrow, no hope or despair,
and when he sat down the awful
significance of the scene fell on the
great crowd like pail.
Counsel for the defense at once
moved that the verdict be set
aside or the ground that it was
contrary to the law and evidence
and because the jurors had been
permitted to read newspapers dur
ing the trial. Judge Morris said
he would give the attorneys all the
time they desired to argue their
motions and today was fixed upon
as he time.
The merits of the case were ar
gued today before Judge Morris
and he declined 10 grant new
trial. A report from Gharlottes-
Vile today says TINT the prisoner
wjll hang in January.
;t is said that the jury repeated
~ prayed ever thsir deliberations,
asking the guidance of the Lord
in forming ;heir decision, There
was only one poll of tax jurors
ynd their verdict WAS unanimous.
HISTORY OF THE CASE
On the night of + unday, Sep
tembef 1, Mrs. Fannie NJ. McCue
was shot ard killed III her home.
in Charlottesville, She had just
returned from chnre3 ~ company
with her husband, and had DeapD
20 disrobe for bed when she was
killed By gunshot wound. At
the tisle Of the murder the only
persons in tsle house were former
Mayor McCGe &na T. negro stable
boy named Perry, When others
re; chsd the house, the f0FMer
mayor was bleeding from wound
III { be face and Mrs. McCue's body
was in i've bathtub. McCue claim
ed that he ara. his wife had been
assaulted with a baseball bal by
Al intruder; that he has been
Knocked unconscious, and upon
recovering lie found his wife's
body. No arrests wafe made until
later III the week, though $;is evil
dence at The coroner Inquest ai;
pointed to the husband rs the
guilty party. A bloody shirt Of
he former mayors WAS found un-
DEF the balbtub, and physicians
WHO eXamins& the wound on his
face said the blow tbst caused it
would not have stunned g child,
much less grown man. MoCH@
ga0 arrested on the night of Sep
.ember 7, sad the corOner's YER
iict, holding McGae for the crime,
vas made pablic September >, He
vas indicted September 10.
The accused was afIaigped on
%, and, on various
echnicalitIes, the defese secured
ielays, 80 that ,he former mayor
lid not plead to the indictment
intil some days later. The trial
vac seiieduled to begin on October
s, out considerable difficulty was
Experienced in getting jury.
'pecial venires were suBinNped
r. n Richmond, Petersburg and;
TIER places, and nearly $50 men
;ese examined tefore u panel of
q was secured. The taking Of
sstimony began on October 20. ,
he CCmmDnyealtb'e witnesses :
rstifie ! that the relations between
lcCue and his wife had been un-
leasant fer years; that on their
'ay from church they had seemed :
4 bitter spirits, and that McCue
adj threatened to kill her on .
everal occasions. Circums .antial
violence was very strong, the
lOOdy shirt and conflicting state
cnts Of the accused after the 7
..,xnJ,, famine li,Io in "a ctron,,