Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-11-10
TTnpsDAY EVENING. NOV. 10. 1904

j. SAMUEL MCCOE, '"N
Ch.rlottesyllle. was Yesterday sentenced
- no hanged on the 20lh of January,
1908 he having been indicted, tired
and convicted for the murder of his wife
in The early part of last September. The
circumstances in connection with the
case are still perplexing to many, as
McCue denies having committed the
AL nm, hi. conviction has been brought
I'm, s,,on, cir umstantial evidence.
p,t ia, n-oul. believe his version OF the
tragedy Nearly ali are convinced he
killed his wife, but the motive Is as
much of an enigma now as ever. There
must be something iu connection win
the case at present unknown 10 tne
world. 1t is hard to understand how
man can be 50 od-thirsty as to de-
l,berately plan to murder the mother OF
his four children, and there is every
reason TO believe that McCue committed
the deed in fit of frenzy and not as a re-
suit of deiberation. What caused the
setting on fire Of the course OF nature
remains to be discovered. These obser
Vations must in no sense be taken as
anv excuse for or extenuation of Nc
Cne's terrible crime. He is wholly re-
soonsible for his deed and will doubtless
receive the full penalty of the law. No
matter what may have caused the foul
deed the unfortunate wife had COM
mitted no ofense to cause him to
raise his hand against her. The
turning of the searchlight upon McCue's
private life after he was arraigned for
uxorcide has placed him in a position
to receive but little sympathy iron his
fellow-creatures. But his unlaithlul-
ness. inexcussble as it was, may have
had its origin III desperation because his
marital relations we're strained, the out
come 1T chronic varilnces. When man
finds his wife IA mPlainlng or
depressed mood be should endeavor to
maintain good humor. and vice versa.
But unfortunately many land McCue
was doubtless one of that ilk) sometimes
add fuel to the flames with serious results.
Hardly day passes that the newspapers
do not contain accounts OF husbands
killing their wives and then themselves.
There. is seldom any reason given for
such horrid deeds, and the reader often
wonders how a husband aud father can
thus imbrue his hands in the bloot OF
one he has vowel to love and protect.
There must he some explanation (appar-
emily 10 m0tlve) and II such crimes are
the outcome OF prolracted variances, hus-
bands and wives who have disagreements
should see that their course does not
reach an aggravating stage which may
cause one or the other to commit suicide
or some other overt act. Men take wives
Tor better or worse, and women incur
the same risk in choosing life partners.
None are infallible, and each should
bear and forbear But many yoked to-
gether in wedlock live at variance with
each other, and in some cases their rela-
tions are almost as far apart as though
they were boarders in the same house.
Such things should not be, as sooner or
later more serious arrangements follow
aud often with sad results. The unfor-
luuate McCue case should be warning
u all who have not found marriage what
they expected. There are trials and
vexauOns in all departments Of life, the
paths of matrimOny not excepted, and
husbands and wives should realize this
fact and each endeavor to cheer and en-
courage the other in the journey of life.