Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-02-18
McCue Confesses and was Hanged
In Early forming.

McCue Confesses and was Hanged
in Early forming.
Charlottesville, Va, February w.
After a confession OF the crime TO MS
spjritual advisers, former Mayor >.
Samuel McCue, convicted OF the
murder of his wife, Mrs. Fannie III.
McCue. went to his death on tne
scaffold in the jailyard this morning
without a sign of fear. The Trap leii
at 1856 O'Clock. and McCue lived ~
minutes afterward. Death was due
to strangulation.
McCue made his confession volun
tarily this morning to his splrltual
advisers. who were requested by me
condemned man to make it public In
the form of signed statement. me
confession was brief and without any
"details whatever, and the statemen.
Was signed by Rev. &. L. Petrle' OF
the PRESBYTERIAN Church, McCue's
pastor: Rev H. b. Lee. OF the Epis-
copal Church, and Rev. 'Jonn b.
Purpin, of the First Baptist Cnurcn'
At 9 O'Clock last night Mr.. Petrlee,
who recently recovered from speii
Of sickness. was relieved by Rev. Mr.
Lee and Rev. Mr.. Turpin, who came
70 snend the night with the prisoner.
At Mr.. McCue's request Mr.. Branch
r .Teffries. one of the death watch OF
whom he had grown fond, was per
mitted to guard him through the en-
tire night. What transpired during
the long night vigil was told tlIer-
ward bv the two ministers and MIR:
leffries. McCue took short nap and
announced chat it was his Wish 10
spend the night in preparing lor
death.
Feeling that McCue would confess
before going to the scatfold, the min
isters did not urge him to do so, but
touched upon portions of the Scrip
tnres that were calculated to induce
him TO unburden his mind. Shortly
before daybreak Rev. Mr.. Petrle
ioiued his brother ministers and tnen
McCue said he had something i'm
portant to say. -, 4.
The condemned man was 10th to
die without making public the Iac'
that he alone was responsible lot NE
| wife's death; that he was lmpeileu &c
commit the crime by an evil power
| over which he had no control, ano
that he did not wish to have sus
picion rest upon any human being
ae also explained that when he wal
sentenced to be hanged and said "
am as innocent as any man In thl'
courtroom" he meant and honestly
| believed that he was not guilty, pu
that the evil spirit which PROMPTED
MIN was responsible for the crime
| Afterwards the three ministers pre-
pared and signed the following state
ment:
"Mr. J. Samuel McCue this morn
ing stated in our presence ana re
onested us to make public that h.
i did not wish to leave this world WIFI
| suspicion resting on any numai
being other than himself. That n
/ alone was responsible for the deed
impelled to it by an evil power De
vOnd his control, and that he recog
nized his sentence as just.
| lSipued) "G. l.. PETRIE,
III. b. LEE,
JOHN b. TURPIN.
In order to correct a story that az
neared in several Northern paper
: Saturday morning, which they sa
are calculated to wound the sensiol
Iities of some of our people ana Ger
tain to mislead the public, Or. jon
Turpin and the Rev. ii. b. Lee nav
= also given out the following state
? ment'
"First-Mr. McCue did not max
anv detailed statement of the dreac
| fui occurrence, and everything put
Ilished in regard to the bathtuo, tn
position occupied by Mrs. McCue an
I, the words attributed to her, are Ell
I tirely without any foundation.
+ "Second-At no time during I'd
whole of last night or the tryln
scenes of this morning was Mr.. McOu
incensed with any one. On the col
: trary. he spoke in the kindest tern
4 of all his attendants, and repeate%0.l
II expressed his gratitude to them. II
alleged sharp conversation betwee
s a guard and the prisoner about tI
t meals are without the remotest tra'
) of truth. 49,
"Third-The next statement thi
McCue was off his bed in minut
IS through the door of the CELL past u
s outside guard, and in motion towaI'
r the stairway is too absurd to oe u
nied. but is without a sclntllia
fect Mr.. McCue was not outside ri
0 cell st any time before he 1oIlow'
d Mr.. Rogers out. There is DO iounu
d ton whatever for The wild story
1--WE feel constrained to make tn
statement, 50 as to correct Wnat
n think is a cruel injustice to this pc,
el man and to save the feelings Oh
r. suffering loved ones"