Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-13
KILLED HER SISTER,
Mrs. Eugene Mccarthy,
Rutland, VT, Tells Story.
Argument Between Two and Miss
Kerrigan Disappears, Friday.
Found In Cellar Buried Under Two
Tubs as Confession Directed.

West Rutland. Vt. Aug. 12.-Mrs.
Eugene Mccarthy, 81 years old. con-
fessed. today according to the police.
that she had murdered her sister. Miss
Alice Kerrigan five years her Junior
who had been missing since n slight
quarrel between the two. last Friday.
Following the directions given in the
alleged confession, the police found
the body of Miss kerrigan. with IA bull
let hole through the head, buried be-
meath pile of dirt and covered by
two wash tubs.
Beyond saying that there had been
a triflng argument. Mrs. Mccarthy,
the police say, could give the officials
no reason for her act. They stated
that she would probably be submitted
to a mental examination after appear.
ing in the local court court, tomorrow,
on "A charge of murder.
Yes, | killed my sister. | shot her
through the head while she was lying
on couch. She wouldn't agree with
me. so | went up stairs and got a gun.
Then ! dragged her body into the cell
lar and buried it under a couple of
tubs. You1l find it there"
This was Mrs. MeCarthy's confession
as given out by the police. Their in
vestigation followed queries by Will
liam Kerrigan as To the whereabouts
of his sister Alice and the receipt Of
a mysterious telephone call by Deputy
Sheriff F. H. Patten. The call purport-
ed 10 have come from Miss Kerrigan,
saying that she was all right, that she
was visiting friends in Whitehall, and
that there was no need for alarm. II
developed later that the speaker was
Mrs. Mccarthy. who, the police be-
ieve, became alarmed at her broth
er's inquiries after his missing sister
Miss kerrigan's absence was not
known outside of her own home until
her brother began his search.
Miss kerrigan lived with her father,
Michael Kerrigan. on the lower floor
of Il house on Pleasant street. while
Mrs. Mccarthy. Kerrigans Other
daughter, lived upstairs with her hus-
band, a marble worker. and eight chill
dren.
There was no one in the house, Fri
day afternoon, except the two women.
According To Mrs. McCarthy's story
as given out by the police Miss Ker-
| rigan laid down on a couch in the liv-
| ing room of her fathers home, follow
/ ing n dispute, while Mrs. Mccarthy
went mp stairs. Mrs. Mccarthy came
down again, carrying shotgun.
Walking over To the couch upon which
her sister was doing she pressed the
muzZle against Miss Kerrigan's head
and fired. Death was apparently In
Simultaneous.
Mrs. Mccarthy. the story continues
said she dragged the body down eel
lar Immediately afterwards Digging A
hole in the dirt floor she put the body
into it, replaced the dirt and covered
the spot with two tubs. Her father
who is - years old. was outside the
house al the time and knew nothing
OF what had happened The police
said, tonight that he still thought his
daughter Alice was visiting some
where. as Mrs. Mccarthy had told
Mrs. McCarthy's children. who were
playing nearby. We're also in Ignorance
OF the occurrences within the house
The woman was locked up in the
house of correction AT Rutland. for
the night.