The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-11
CharIottcsVHIe's Former Mayor
 Dies on ScaFOId
HAD MURDERED HIS WIFE
Makes Statement to His Spiritual Ad- vlsers confessng to the Crime and Exoneratltng All Others
 From compIIclty. HE

Samuel McCue, formerly mayor of this city, was hanged in the county jail here at 734 o'clock this morning for the mur- der of his wife on Sunday, September 4, 1904
 McCue was pronounced dead eight min utes after the trap had been spring.
 After the execution McCue's three spiritual advisers gave out the following signed statement:
 "J. Samuel McCue stated this morning in our presence and requested us to make public that he did not wish to leave tIs world with suspicion resting on any hu- man being other than himself, that he alone was responsible for the deed, im- pelled to 1t by an evil power beyond his control, and that he recognized his sent ence as just"
 McCue listened calmly to the death war rant and when Sergeant Rogers asked: Do you think that if I 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 officers proffered assistance. It was not needed, however. There was no weakness. McCue merely slipped on the frozen snow.
 Watched by a silent crowd of thirty people McCue mounted the scaffold. By this time the sunlight was streaming across the house toward him. Not mus cle of his face moved.
 Ascends the scaffoId.
 Rogers and two guards ascended the scaffod with him. The prisoner was placed over the trap, his arms were pin toned and his ankles strapped. The black gown was folded around him and the moose was adjusted.
 All this while McCue stood without nov ing The hope that he might make some statement before he died finally passed away. The cowi dropped over his head and he had seen his last of the world. Not a word had he uttered.
 The guard took hold of the rope that was to release the trap Rogers standing alone upon the scaffold beside McCue 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. m. well advised few were moving in the direction of the 5all. An hour pdSStu anu Dy thAS tiihS the few who were to be allowed to enter were stationed within the prison enclos- ure huddled around a stove. Up to the very last the idea of a confession was discredited. After the execution, one of McCues spiritual advisers said:
 MT. McCue left this world with feel ings of bitterness toward no one human being in it. His heart was wonderfully softened He was earnest and tender. tx. hn to God a fervent prayer for his family; for his brothers and their wives; for his sister: for his uncles and aunt and last lv and most fervently of all, for his chill dren. He called them each by name. He invoked the blessing of Almighty God upon them all.
 Was Sensational Case.
 !. Samuel McCue was 46 years of age and twice had been mayor of Charlottes-' ville. 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 century.
 On Sunday night September A. McCue accompanied his wife to church. and they returned home about 9:15 o'clock. With in fifteen minutes after they had repair ed to their room to retire for the night, inc city was aroused by messengers an- nouncing 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 unconsciousess.
 He late. asserted that the s-ttack had been made by an unknown white man who had climbed through window Mrs. McCue had been dealt blow that broke her nose and her left ear had been al- most severed by a second blow. Death was caused by a gunshot wound just aboye the heart. McCue never was able to explain the presence in the bath room of 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 mur- der and a letter filled with endearing language sent him by one of his women clients was produced at the trial. McCue had ouarreled with his wife a number of times. She was 40 years old and the mother of four children. The coroners turv held McCue for the murder three days after 1t occurred and he had since been confined in the jail vehemently pro- testing his innocence. His trial was con cIuded November 5, and he was convicted. the jury being out only twenty-six min utes.
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