The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-02-14
M'CUE PENITEAT
IN LAST HOURS
REQUEST FOR HIS CHILDREN TO
SPEND LAST NIGHT WITH HIM
DENIED.
BODY REMOVED TO HIS EARLY
HOME FOR BURIAL.
End Of One OF the Most Noted Grim
inaI Gases Of Recent Years.

maj OHd03 OF HoCGON IGdF8s
The details of the hanging OF J Sam
uel McCue at Charlottesville Friday
morning for the murder Of his vile were
published 10 the last issue OF this paper
The ministers who attended him aud
who heard his confession unite in saying
that he had done everything man in
his situation could do to prepare himself
for death. lie had murdered his wife in
a fit of passion and could not leave the
world without acknowledging the act,
lest suspicion subsequently fall upon in.
noceDt persons. McCue's deep penitence
could not be doubted In the last hours
Of bis life he found consolation In read
ing the Scriptures and in iervent prayers
for his children. bis brothers, and his sis
ter, and in imploring forgiveness for his
sins.
The ministers state that McCue's con
fession did notlnclude details of the trsg.
edy, and that they did not feel them.
selves justified in pressing him to tell all
Thursday evening McCue made the re.
quest that his children be allowed TO
spend the right with him. This WAS re-
fused, and then il was that the arrange.
ment was made for the two ministers to
act in the family = stead. When Messrs
Lee and Turpin reached the cell, about 9
o'clock, they found the prisoner a little
Hurried. These ministers began to talk
to him. and, the conversation taking n
personal line, McCue began to unbosOm
himself.
After the confession, the ministers read
numerous passages of Scripture, often
from portions OF the Bible marked by the
prisoner. Then a number oihymns were
read. some at his own request.
McCue himself frequently quoted from
the Scriptures, with which be had a sur
prising familiarity. He did not sleep IN
ill late hour OF the morning.
The prisoner ordered breakfast Friday
morning, but did not touch IL. lie arose
at $50. and while dressing the ministers
engaged in prayer Completing his toilet
be knelt at his bed, and with the minis
ters around him. made a most feryent
and lengthy prayer. While the ministers
were kneeling In prayer, DR.. Petrie ar
rived.
REPEATED HIS CONFESSION.
The condemned man was not quite sat
isfed with the statement previously
made to DR.. Petrie, aud repeated. in the
presence OF the three ministers, the con
iession, which they made public at his
request.
Some little time ensued before the SIR
geant and guards arrived, during which
it was evident that the prisoner was
ready to meet his late
Before closing his trunk, while waiting
for the guards the pictures OF the family
were taken down and handed to him
He kissed each one OF them siiectionately
and placed them in his trunk. The pho
togrs phs were those Of his vile, children
and other members of his family. lie
gave one OF the guards direction as TO
the disposition Of his minor effects, send
ing his favOrite cuff buttons to one OF his
boys, and other trinkets to other mem.
bers of the household.
"McCue left this world without bitter
ness to any human being" said Rector
Lee. He was soItened, and had changed
markedly from the mau he formerly was.
On Tuesday, January 20, ne confessed
to me, but not in detail. ~
WITNESSED BY FEW PERSONS.
McCue listened calmly TO the death
warrant, and when Sergt. Rogers asked:
"DO you think that II gsyeyOu my arm
YOU would be able TO walk TO the seal
fold ?" he replied calmly: 81 can walk
without your aid On the way he
stumbled once or twice, and the officers
proifered assistance IL was not needed
however There was no weakness. Me
Cue had merely slipped on the frozen
snow.
Watched by a silent crowd OF perhaps
thirty people, McCue mounted the scot
fold. The sunlight was streaming across
the housetops Not muscle OF his face
Rogers and two guards as
cended the scsffold with him. The pris
oner was placed over the trap, bis arms
were pinioned and his ankles strapped
The black gown was folded around him
and the moose was adjusted.
McCue stood without moving. The
cowl dropped over his head, and he had
seen bis last OF the world. Not word
had be uttered
The guard took hold Of the rope that
was to release the trap.
When everything was ready. Mr..
Rogers spoke to McCue, asking him II he
had any statement to make. None at
all, =" was his answer. The trap was
sprung and nineteen minutes afterwsrd
NcCue was pronounced dead Of strangu.
alton. His neck was not broken.
BURIED NEAR ALTON.
The body was taken down by the ser
Zeant and his assistants and placed on q
,tretcher The black cap was removed
and the physicians examined the remains.
There was no distortion OF features. |
Before the remains were turned over to |
Undertaken Alexander, OF Waynesboro
4 handkerchief was taken from a hip |
pocket OF the deceased, 10 obedience to |
ais previous request, probably the last
ne made, that it be given to one OF bic
little sons. The body was taken to the
snte-room OF the jail, where it was put
n the casket and sent at once to the
station.
AT noon the remains were conveyed on
he c. & U. train to Alton, accompanied
" members OF the McCue family and
,ther relatives The funeral and inter
nent took place at 1870 Saturday
morning at Brookesville, the home OF
hcCue's parents during his younger days.