Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-29
McCUE MURDER TRIAL
PROSECUTION IMPEACHING We
RACITY OF PRISONERS SON.
Murdered Woman's Brother Tells of
Unhappy Home Life - Letters
Admitted in Evidence.

Several witnesses testified at the McCue
murder trial at Charlottesville, Va, yester-
day afternoon that young McCue expressed
the belief that his father had killed his
mother; that his father and mother had
violent quarrels and that his father once
attempted to shoot her.
Further evidence was adduced to show
that a number of persons were in the i'm
mediate vicinity of the McCue house about
the time of the shooting, the evident intent
being to discredit the defense's burglar
theory. The proceedings were attended by
innumerable objections on tie part of the
defense, nearly all of which were overruled
by Judge Morris and exceptions taken by
the counsel for the defense.
The most interesting witness of the day
was Ernest B. Crawford, young lawyer
of Harrsonburg and a brother of the muir
dered woman. MIR. Crawford said that
day or two after the murder of Mrs Nc
Cue young William McCue told him that
when he first heard of his mothers death
he knew his father had killed her.
Frequent and Violent Quarrels.
ION one OCCASION" said Mr.. Crawford,
The told me that his father and mother had
frequent and violent quarrels and that they
quarreled so at the supper table on the day
of the murder that he left the table and
went out on the porch. He said his father
followed him out on the porch In great
rage and said:
"Tll be - If 1 stand this thing another
day. I'm getting tired of it.
"At another time Willie told me that one
night he was in bed and his father and
mother quarreled His mother ran into his
room and jumped into bed with him and
begged him to protect her. His father fol-
lowed his mother into the room with "a
ed out of bed and his father threatened
to kill him. He added at the time that
his father and mother lived like cats and
dogs and that his home had been a perfect
hell for the last three or four years.
To Impeach Sons Veracity.
The defense objected to all of Mr.. Craw-
ford's testimony and moved that 1t be
stricken out as Illegal. Captain Woods re-
Piled to the objection by saying that the
object of the prosecution in introducing the
evidence was to impeach the veracity Of
young McCue. Judge Morris overruled the
objection. but cautioned the jury that the
testimony of Mr.. Crawford, so far as 1t re-
lated to what young McCue is alleged to
have said. should not be regarded as evil
dence against the prisoner. but merely as
evidence to impeach the testimony Of young
McCue.
The prosecution produced a piece of blue
writing paper. afterward proven to be a
ment made to him by John Perry. the me-
gro servant, who was in the McCue house
when the tragedy occurred.
The paper was shown to several wit
nesses by the defense. but its contents
were not read. 1t is said that it is a state
ment made to William McCue by John
Perry in which the negro said he heard
Mrs McCue cry "Oh, Sam. you are killing
mel" Immediately afterward he heard the
shot.
Mr.. Crawford said that only yesterday
morning he saw William McCue, and the
young man said he would tell on the wit
oflv hot 6n knA <n14 -
and the detectives. The defense tried hard
to shake Mr.. Crawford's testimony with q
severe cross-examination, but In vain.
Letters Ruled Out Yesterday.
The defense then produced lot Of letters
purporting to have been written to Mr.. Nc
Cue by his wife at the time Mr.. Crawford
was boarding with them The object was to