Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-09-09
MURDER OF MRS ]. SAMUEL McGuE.
Deceased augusta County Woman.

a dispatch from Charlottesville re
ceiyed here on Monday last says:
A few minutes after nine O'Clock
last night former Mayor }. Same
McCue and his wife returned to theli
home on Park street from church, an6
Immediately went to their bed cham
her end prepared o retire NJ is. Mct!nt
had about completed her preparations
and Mayor McCue was partly disrobed
and in his slippers when u strange
man, i'm the garb of an ordinary work.
man or tramp entered the room and al
once assaulted him with base ball bal
Mayor McCue attempted to reach q
shot gun which was in the room, but
his assailant was so vigorous in his as
sault that he WAS knocked down and
rendered unconscious. Mrs. MeCue
fled from the room and was pursued
by the unknown man whe had seized
the gun which Mayor McCue had vain
ly tried to get. He followed her to the
bath room and discharged the gun at
her, the whole load taking effect in her
breast and passed through the body, a
part came out at the back. Her death
must have been instantaneous.
The man was supposed to be white,
but there is no clue to his whereabouts
or his identity, and there is difference
of opinion as to the motive of the muir
der, but majority seem to think that
be entered the house for the purpose
of robbery.
Mrs. McCue's body was found in The
bathroom with the hot water faucet
turned on. This bath room is back
some distance from the bed room.
Mayor McCue recovered conscious
ness in about half All hour and gave
the alarm by telephone.
The above was the first news of this
awful tragedy. But subsequent events
have developed what seems to be the
most startling crime that has ever
been committed IN this section.
The deceased was small woman
weighing about So pounds, her hus-
band being man of about feet 10
inches and powerful man. The
story be told of the affair was so I'M
and incOherent that in a
little while suspicion turned toward
him. and in after while sympathy
turned to Ioathing. when the public
mind had conferred on him as the per-
petrator. The Baldwin detective
agency was employed. Mr.. McCue
himself offered 81, 900 reward for the
of the murderer and the
detectives went to work. 1t was not
long however until proofs. which
seemed overwhelming, pointed to the
husband as the murderer and after
that only such evidence seemed to be
sought as tended to strengthen that
1t came thick and fast
according to report. In the first
place the murdered woman was terri
bly, praised about the face and head,
her left ear was in shreds, her nose
bruised, her head cut on the back
and finger marks on her throat, which
were SO pronounced that in dressing
her for burial these had to be covered
with chiffon to hide their unsightli
ness. The shot which killed her was
from a double barreled gun over the
left breast and her heart was torn =. to
pieces and the wadding as we'll as the
shot imbedded In the body. The body
was then placed in the bath tub and
The warm water turned on and in this
position with the head in the tub and
the rest of the body out. she was
found by the officers. These facts we
get principally from person relative
of the deceased who saw her body and
was in the house and at the funeral.
The only scar in the face of Mr.. Nc
Cue was small scratch on the cheek,
SO says this person. AT the funeral
Mr.. McCue was faultlessly dressed
and during the whole time expressed
the deepest sorrow, not only person
ally but for his children. He has four
children the eldest being about 10
years of age.
The coroner's Jury was in session
almost continuously for three days,
and after thorough and careful in
vestigation found as we learn on going
to press that 1.-THE deceased had come
to her death at the hands of her hus-
band, J. Samuel McCue, and that the
murder was wiltul and.premeditated."
Some time before the verdict Mr.. Nc
Cue had been arrested and is now in
the Charlottesville Jail.
Mrs. McCue was Miss Fannie M.
daughter of the late DIR.
VIM. Crawford of Mt. Sidney, prom
inent man in Augusta county in his
day, aud closely related to all the
Crawfords of Augusta. She was about
AZ years old, and leaves four children,
the eldest a youth 10 years of age. She
was a frequent visitor to Augusta and
Staunton where she was very popular.
DR.. Frank H. Crawford of Fl. De
fiance, a brother, has been in Char
lottesville several days, as also was Mr.
E. B. Crawford, another, brother an
attorney of Harl isonburg.
The McCue family is one of the most
prominent in Virginia. Mr.. j. Samuel
McCue, the bereaved husband, is a
grandson of the late Samuel o. Moon,
of Albemarle and son of the late Jas.
G. and Sallie j. McCue, of the same
county. He was reared on a farm.
and engaged in assisting his father in
a large farming and cattle business.
He attended private school at home,
later entering Pantops Academy, pre-
paratory to an academic and law course
at the University of Virginia. He
located in Charlottesville in 1884, and
has been practicing law successfully
ever since.
Mr.. McCue was alderman from :.the
first ward six years and chairman Of
| finance committee most OF the Time
He was may or for two successive termt
1896 1900) and declined denomination
for the third, under pressure of profes
slonal and private business. He was
mayor again from July 1st, 1902, unit
| September LIST, 1904.
| The home in Charlottesville is al
elegant one and hs reported to be
wealthy man.
| MIddIebr0ok Mention.