The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-11
M'CUE HANGS F0r, MURDER Slave Wife COnfesSeS :fOre the End. P S ALONE RESPONSIBLE Former Mayor Met His Death
 Calmly. History of the Crime Which Caused . Trial Interesting Entire Country. Jury Was Out Only Twenty-
 ak Minutes.
S ALONE RESPONSIBLE

Samuel McCue, formerly Mayor of this city, was hanged in the county jail here at 7:34 o'clock this morning for the murder of his wife on Sunday, Sept. 1, 1904. 'McCue was pronounced dead eight minutes after the trap had been sprung.
 After the execution, McCue's three spiritual advisers gave out the follow ing signed statement:
 "J. Samuel McCue stated this morn ing in our presence and requested us to make public that he did not wish to leave this world with suspicion rest ing on any human being other than himself. that he alone was responsible for the deed. impelled to 1t by an evil power beyond his control. and that he recognized his sentence as just
 McCue listened calmly to the death warrant and when Sergeant Rogers asked: DO you think that If. give you my arm you would be able to walk to the scaffold?" he replied calmly: T can walk without your aid"
 On the way he stumbled once or twice and the oficers proffered assistance. It was not needed. however. There was no weakness. MeCue merely slipped on the frozen snow.
 Watched by silent crowd of thirty people, McCue mounted the scaffold. By
  across the house to pass around him. Not a muscle of his face moved. Rogers and two guards ascended the scaffold with him. The prisoner was placed over the trap. his arms were pinioned and his ankles strapped. The black gown was folded around him | and the moose was adjusted.
 Made No Statement.
 All this while MeCue stood without ha I-sa some statement before he died finally passed away. The cowI dropped over his head and he had seen his last of the world. Not word had he uttered.
 The guard took hold of the rope that was to release the trap Rogers stand- ing alone upon the scafkold beside Mc@ Cue. turned his back and lifted his hand. The trap fell His neck was broken.
 In order to thwart the curiosity of the morbidly inclined. the sheriff kept secret the time of the execution. Many people believed that it would be close upon noon. Yet as early as a. nn., a well advised few, were moving in the direction of the Jail. An hour passed and by this time the few who were to be allowed to enter were stationed within the prison enclosure hudd1ed around a stove. Up to the very last the idea of a confession, was discredit- ed. After the execution, one of Mo- Cues spiritual advisers said:
 'Idr. McCue left this world with feel ing of bitterness toward no one human being in 1t. His heart was wonderfully softened. He was earnest and tender. This morning in our presence he offered to God a fervent prayer for his fam fly; for his brothers and their wives; for his sister; for his uncles and aunts, and lastly and most fervently of all. for his children. He called them each by name. He invoked the blessing of Almighty God upon them all.
 J. Samuel McCue was 46 years of age and twice had been Mayor of Char lottesville. The tragedy for which he paid the penalty created more interest than any other crime that has occurred in the State in the past quarter of a century.
 McCue's Crime.
 On Sunday night, September 4, Me- Cue accompanied his wife to church, and they returned home about 9:15 o'clock. Within fifteen minutes after they had repaired to their rooms to re- tire for the night, the city was aroused by messengers announcing the murder of Mrs. McCue and friends, physicians and officers hurried to the McCue home. Mrs. Mccue was found dead in the bathroom, and McCue was lying on the floor with an abrasion on his cheek and feigning unconsciousness.
 He later asserted that the attack had been made by an unknown white man who had climbed through a window. Mrs. McCue had been dealt blow that broke her nose and her left ear had been almost severad by a second blow. Death was caused by a gunshot wound 1 just above the heart McCue never was able to explain the presence in the bathroom of a small piece of cotton undershirt which fitted exactly a torn l place in the shirt which he had on when the oficers arrived.
 Women in the Case. Two women figured in the reports that circulated as to the cause of the murder and a letter filled with endear- Ing language sent him by one of his women clients was produced at the trial. McCue had quarreled with his wife a Rumber, of times. She was 70 years q and the 9tother of four chill dren. The coroner's jury held McCue for the murder three days after it occurred and he had since been confined in the Iaii vehemently protesting his inno- acnce. His trial was concluded Novem- her 6, and he was convicted. the jury being out only twenty-six minutes.