Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-11
HANGED.
McCue Pays the Penalty
for Murder.
Confessed to the Crime to
Spiritual Adviser.
Pathetic Scene When Little DAUGHTER
Appeals to the Governor.

out tfenlOr j. Samuel McCue met
death on the sca1fold at 1875 o'clock.
this morning, for wife murder. Hardly
had his struggles ceased when his con
feSsion was given out by his three spir-
ltual advisers, ReVs. G.. L. Petrie. II. Il.
Lee and John L. Thompson. McCue lis
tened calmly to the death warrant and
when Sergeant Rogers asked:
''Do you think that if | give you nv
arm YOU would be able to walk to the
scafold?" He replied calmly: II can
walk without your aid
On the way he stumbled once or twice
and the officers preferred assistance. It
was not needed. however. There was no
weakness. McCue had merely slipped
on the frozen snow.
Watched by a silent crowd of perhaps
80 people, McCue mounted the scaffold.
by this time the sunlight was stream
ing across the house tops around him.
Not muscle of his face moved. Rog-
ers and two guards assembled the scat
fold with him. The prisoner was placed
over the trap, his arms were pinoned
and his ankles strapped. The black
gown was folded around him and the
moose was adjusted
Before he placed the rope about Nc
Cues neck, Sergeant Rogers put his
arm over the condemn mans shoulder
and whispered something to him. When
everything was ready Mr.. Rogers
asked him if he had any statement to
make. "None at ALL" was his answer.
The trap was sprung and 10 minutes
afterward McCue was pronounced dead
of strangulation. His neck was not
broken. The body will be taken to
Erooksville, near Alton for burial.
In order TO thwart public curiosity
the sheriff kept secret the time Of the
execution. Many thought it would be
about noon. Yet early as G A. NJ. a
well advised few We're moving in the
direction of the Jail. An hour passed
and by this time the few who We're to
be allowed to enter were standing with
in the prison enclosure, huddled around
a stove.
Up to the very last the idea of a con-
fesSion was discredited. After the eX-
ecution, one OF McCue's spiritual ad-
visers said:
"Mr. McCue left this world with feel
ing of bitterness toward no human be-
ing in it. His heart was wonderfully
sOftened. He was earnest and tender.
This morning in our presence he offered
to God a fervent prayer for his family
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 AL
mighty God upon them ALL"
j. Samuel McCue was 46 years Of age
and twice had been mayor of the city
of Charlottesville. The tragedy for
which he paid the penalty created more
interest than any other crime that has
occurred in the state in the past quar-
ter of 4 century. On Sunday night.
Sept. 4. McCue accompanied his wife
to church and they returned home
about 9.15 O'Clock. Within Is minutes
after they had repaired to their room
the city was aroused by messages an
the murder of Mrs. McCue
and friends, physicians and officers
hurried to the McCue home.
Mrs. McCue was found dead in the
bath room and McCue was lying on the
floor with an abrasion on his cheek
and feigning Inconsistencies. He lat
er 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 severed by second
blow. Death was caused by a gunshot
wound just above the heart.
McCue never was able to judge the
presence in the bath room of a small
piece of cotton undershirt which fitted
exactly a torn place in the shirt which
he had on when the officers arrived.
Two women figured in the reports that
circulated as to the cause of the muir
der and a letter filled with endearing
language sent him by one of his women
clients was produced at the trial. Nc
Cue had quarrelled with his wife a
Of times. She was 40 years of
age and the mother of four children.
The coroner's jury held McCue for the
murder, three days after it occurred
and he had since been confined in the
Jail, vehemently protesting his 1nno-
cence. His trial was concluded, NOV.
:. and he was convicted, the jury being
out only &c minutes.