Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-02-11
MccUE ECHOES.

AueddL-lbc tCC luul Ol Tue cAcCuIOA
OF J. Samuel McCue in Charlottesville
yesterday morning practically covered
everything in connection With the event.
Feeling that McCue would confess be-
fore going to the scaffold, the ministers
did not urge him to do so, but touched
upon portions of the Scriptures that
we're calculated to induce him to un-
burden his mind. Shortly before day
break Rev. Mr.. Petrie joined his brother
ministers and then McCue said he had
something important to say.
The condemned man was 10th to die
without making public the fact that he
alone was responsible for his wife's
death; that he was impelled to commit
the crime by an evil power, over which
he had no control, and that he did not
wish to have suspicion rest upon any
human being. He also explained that
when he was sentenced to be hanged
and said: 81 am as innocent as any
man in this courtroom, he meant and
honestly believed that hewas not guilty,
but that the evil spirit which prompted
him was responsible for the crime" AT
terrard the three ministers prepared
the statement published yesterday.
MeCue did not offer to 90 into details
as to his crime, nor was he asked 10 do
so by the ministers. During the night
be made only slight reference to his
dead wife. After making the confession,
McCue said be wished 10 offer prayer.
All knslt and the condemned man
prayed fervently for his relatives and
friends, mentioning each one by name
aud emitting none who was close to him.
Breakfast was untouched although it ar
rived at the jail at 6:15 o'clock and was
tempting. Beefsteak, rolls, biscuit and
coffee were sent.
The Progress, Of Charlottesville, says ::
'Upon the best authority it is stated to
day that J. Samuel McCue not only
made the above confession to his minis
tiers but that he also confessed 20 them
that he shot Mrs. McCue while she was
on her knees pleading with him to
spare her life. An inner guard heard the
details of the confession early yesterday
morning, it is believed, but further than
the above sentence he will net say. He
does admit, however, that the public's
idea of the crime is nearly corrsct--that
McCue became Infatuated at his wife for
upbraiding him for his association with
other women, that he hated the continual
'nagging' which he was forced to I'M
dergo day by day, that he struck Mrs.
McCue with his fist (not with baseball
bait, that she ran to the bath room to
escape from MIN and that he followed
and shot her while she was on her
knees pleading with him, ooh, Sam,
Sam, you are killing me. | shall die
anyway. Don't treat me so. ,"
The Charlottesville correspondent of
the Richmond Tines-Dispatch writes as
follows Gas soon rs the confession
had been written and delivered into the
hands of the gentlemen OF the press, Mr..
Lee supplemented it with an explanatory
statement. 1t appeared to be the par
ticular desire of the prisoner, he said, to
have it understood that nobody else was
responsible Tor the crime that he alone
murdered his wife, and that he recog-
nized the sentence of the court as just.
The prisoner bad further desired it made
plain that, while in this way he Vas re-
sponsible, in another way be was ire
sponsible when he committed the deed.
A spirit of Economical rage moved him
out of himself, and while in this frenzy,
when the devil bad overpowered him, he
struck, slew his wife. His regret could
not be measured in words. When be
arose 10 the court and made the plea
Of mot guilty. he meant simply what
has been said here, that an impulse for
eign to his real and better nature moved
his hand"
As the light of day began to break
through the narrow window of his cell,
which was lighted by a small lantern,
McCue grew restless aud appeared to be
anxious TO meet death as soon as posi-
BILE. When City Sergeant G. w. Rogers
entered bis cell to read the death war
rant and sentence Of the court to him,
this nervousness had disappeared aud
he was calm and composed. His march
to the gallows and demesnor in the
face of death showed nerve and COM
posure.
Samuel McCue was 43 years of age,
being born in 1862, and his wife, whom
he murdered, was only two years
younger. Nearly 20 years ago they
were married, and they leave four
children-W William, aged 18; J. Samuel,
jr., Harry and Ruby, the only daughter
who is 10 years old.
Mrs. Marshall Dinwiddie Mr.. McCue's
aunt, has taken charge of the children,
and they have been for some time &C.
cuping the handsome house on Park
street, Charlottesville, in which Mrs.
McCue met her death.
The man hanged yesterday had an
interesting career. At the age Of 10
McCue, who was native Of Albemarle
county, entered the law school of The
University Of Virginia. After his grsdu-
alton he began to practice Law in Char
lottesvile and took an interest 10 politics.
He soon became prominent, was elected
FIVE times to the City Council, ran for
Mayor and was elected. He was twice
reelected to that position, his last term
expiring the past summer.
From his3yopth; McCue had been an
operator Unreal estate, and fortunate in
vestments made him one ofthe woalthiest
men in Charlottesville. He owned
mineral lands and considerable real es-