 Denison Daily News
Wednesday, November 20, 1878 pg. 1 BLOODY DOMESTIC TRAGEDY James H. McKinney Shoots and Dangerously Wounds His Wife. Sherman Courier Last night about 8 o'clock there was enacted in this city one of those terrible domestic tragedies that make the heart grow sick in the effort to recite them. In one brief sentence, at that time James H. McKinney, the proprietor of the Continental Hotel, shot and dangerously, if not fatally, wounded his wife. The bullet entered the breast just above the right nipple, passing through one of the lungs, and ranging downward. The physicians who were called in were unable, from probing the wound, to determine the exact location of the ball. From the direction which the ball took, the wounded lady must have been sitting down and her husband standing up at the time the shot was fired. From parties who were in and about the hotel during the evening we learn that nothing unusual was observed in the conduct of McKinney previous to the shooting. He was attending to his ordinary duties about the house, did not seem to be laboring under any particular excitement, and only a short time before the deplorable occurrence had an order written to be sent up town for some needed groceries. The shooting took place in the room occupied by himself and wife as a family room, and which is situated on the lower or ground floor, not far removed from the office and dining room of the hotel. From what we can learn it appears that no one was in the room at the time of the shooting except Mr. and Mrs. McKinney. When Mrs. Doss, the mother of Mrs. McKinney, entered the room a few moments after hearing the report of the pistol, no one was found there except the wounded woman who was seated in a chair, and appeared to have fainted, and was breathing with difficulty. What may have prompted the awful deed is not known, and rumors in relation to the same are pure conjection. Both the parties of this lamentable tragedy formerly resided in Livingston county, Missouri, and have been married, we learn, about a year, each of them having been previously married to other parties. Immediately after the shooting McKinney fled, going out through the back yard of the hotel, and up to 4 o'clock this morning had not been arrested. Our officers are making diligent efforts to secure his capture, and it is not likely that he will long remain at liberty. At an early hour this morning the condition of the wounded lady was regarded as favorable, and strong hopes are entertained of her final recovery. We learn from Capt. Woods that at __ 1-2 o'clock a.m. on Tuesday, Mrs. McKinney was yet alive, but that no hopes were entertained of her recovery. The lady stated that during the morning she had some words with her husband regarding a letter which was addressed to a young man at the hotel, concerning a trunk she had opened. Her husband thought the letter was addressed to him and became very angry. At 8 o'clock in the evening she was sitting in a rocking chair in her room, when her husband entered. He at once went to the bureau, took out a pistol and pointed the same at her breast, with the words, "You've got to die." He then fired, after which she became unconscious.  Denison Daily News Wednesday, November 20, 1878 pg. 4 Mrs. McKinney, the lady who was shot in Sherman by her husband, is a sister to Miss Mabel Doss, formerly of this city. Denison Daily News Thursday, November 21, 1878 pg. 1 THE LATE TRAGEDY Further Particulars of the Affair - McKinney Still at Large Sherman Courier Mrs. McKinney, who was shot at the Continental hotel in this city by her husband Monday night is still living. Yesterday morning the surgeons extracted the ball, which was found lodged near the spine, having passed almost entirely through her body, in a downward direction, and at that time gave it as their opinion that the wound was necessarily fatal. The wound of the unfortunate woman has been bleeding inwardly, and she has at frequent intervals, thrown up considerable quantities of blood. All hope of her final recovery has been abandoned, and her dissolution cannot be long delayed. McKinney has not yet been arrested, and, so far we can learn, no certain clue has been obtained as to the direction in which he went, or the manner in which he took his departure. LATER At eleven o'clock last night Mrs. McKinney was resting easy with comparatively little fever, and perfectly rational, her pulse being at about 90. She yet retains color in her face, and her physician, Dr. Nesbit, seems to have much hope of her recovery. She is a woman of strong physical constitution, and unless some vital cord is cut of which the physician has no knowledge, she may yet recover. pg. 4 According to the last accounts received from Sherman, Mrs. McKinney, who was shot by her husband, Monday evening, was still alive, but little hopes however are entertained of her recovery. No trace has as yet been discovered of the murderous husband. His photograph has been sent to different towns and all possible efforts are being made for his apprehension. Denison Daily News Friday, November 22, 1878 pg. 4 We see from the Sherman Register that Sheriff Everheart has offered a reward of one hundred dollars for the capture of J. H. McKinney, who shot his wife Monday evening at the Continental hotel in Sherman Mrs. McKinney Dead. From parties who were in Sherman we learn that Mrs. McKinney, the lady who was shot by her husband at the Continental Hotel, Monday evening, died during the fore-noon of Thursday. McKINNEY THE MURDERER His arrest at Fort Scott, Kansas Sheriff Everheart returned Thursday on the afternoon train from Ft. Scott, Kansas, having in custody J. H. McKinney, who shot Mrs. McKinney in the Continental Hotel at Sherman, last Monday night. Our reporter gathered the following particulars regarding the manner in which he was captured. Immediately after the shooting, McKinney is supposed to have boarded a freight train at Sherman, which passed that place a few minutes after the crime was committed. He then went north from this city on the M.K.&T. night express and stopped off at Ft. Scott, Kansas. Next morning he went to the telegraph office at that place and sent a dispatch to a friend in Sherman requesting him to "look after his property." The receiver of the message notified the sheriff of McKinney's whereabouts and Everheart at once telegraphed to the police at Ft. Scott to arrest and hold McKinney until he could get there, and offering a reward of one hundred dollars for his capture. McKinney was found in a hotel at Ft. Scott and held until Everheart arrived on Wednesday morning. McKinney is about 45 years old, thick set, medium height, with black hair and chin whiskers and his complexion indicates that he does not belong to a temperance society. The sheriff with his prisoner left for Sherman on the Central train at 4 o'clock. The police of Sherman had no trace of McKinney until the receipt of the message from Fort Scott. If he had not been a fool as well as a murderer, he might have known that the dispatch would inevitably lead to his arrest. It is to be hoped both he and his "property" will now receive the attention that murderers deserve. Denison Daily News Saturday, November 23, 1878 pg. 4 The report that Mrs. McKinney died Thursday morning proved incorrect. She was alive Friday morning, though no hopes are entertained of her recovery. We learn that J. H. McKinney, who shot his wife at the Continental hotel in Sherman, Monday evening, has secured the services of the law firm of Hare & Head, for his defense. We think however that even these able attorneys will be unable to save him from the hangman's halter, if Mrs. McKinney should die. Denison Daily News Tuesday, December 3, 1878 pg. 4 At twelve o'clock last night Mrs. McKinney was restless and suffering great pain. Heretofore she has exhibited marvelous courage and determination; but last night her resolution seemed to give way, and her condition was regarded as extremely dangerous. Within the next twenty-four hours the problem of life or death in her case will be solved . . . Courier MRS. McKINNEY The Brownsville Herald says: "Many of our people were shocked last Friday upon hearing that James H. McKinney had murdered his wife in Sherman, Texas. The parties are both originally from Chillicothe, in this state, and were married at the residence of Elder Hancock north of here, in June of last year. Mrs. McKinney was a sister to Miss Mabel Doss, and at the time of her marriage to Mr. McKinney she had separated from her first husband - a Dr. Day, we believe, of St. Louis. She was a handsome, stylish woman. Denison Daily News Tuesday, December 24, 1878 pg. 3 CONFLICTING COURTS A neat little surprise was enacted in the judicial circles this morning. When McKinney, the would-be wife murderer was arrested, it was upon a warrant issued by Justice Rainey. He was lodged in jail under that warrant, and the hearing of the case has been postponed to await the result of Mrs. McKinney's wounds. This morning, to the surprise of Justice Rainey and the prosecuting attorney, McKinney was rearrested on a warrant sworn out by Colonel Gregg before Justice Dills. Under the latter warrant McKinney was brought at once before Justice Dills for examination. The county attorney plead to the jurisdiction of the court, on the grounds that Justice Rainey had already acquired jurisdiction of the case, and that the examination must therefore be held before him. After a heated argument, in which the counsel for the prosecution threw out some rather broad hints about the dodge taken on them, the court overruled the plea. The prosecution then announced that they were not ready to go on with the case and desired time. They were granted time to prepare the case, and meantime McKinney's bail was fixed at $2,000. He failed to give the bond and was remanded to jail. Considerable feeling was worked up over the unexpected turn the case took this morning, and remarks not very complimentary to the legal profession and courts of justice were rather freely indulged in. - Sherman Register Denison Daily News Wednesday, December 25, 1878 pg. 2 J. H. McKINNEY Brought Before Justice Dills and Held on Bail. From the Sherman Courier Yesterday morning at ten o'clock, J. H. McKinney, charged with an attempt to kill his wife on the 18th of November, at the Continental Hotel in this city, was brought before Justice Dills for examination. There was a question of jurisdiction raised by the States Attorney, the a just a moment of which consumed considerable time. The original complaint was filed before Justice Rainey, and the process issued from his court. Attorneys for the defense had a new complaint filed, and a capias issued from Justice Dills court yesterday morning, and the prisoner, J. H. McKinney, brought into court. After hearing the arguments of both sides, the court held that it had jurisdiction. The State not being ready for trial, the defense moved for the fixing of a bail bond, and $2,000 was adjudged the sum of the bail bond. The case will come up at 10 o'clock this morning, and in the meantime efforts will be made to give the required bond. The old gentleman seems to have stood the ordeal of being in jail without seriously affecting his health or nerves. During the discussion of the question as to the jurisdiction of the two daughters of the prisoner were brought into court as witnesses, and their meeting with their father was a truly affecting scene. He was allowed to go one side and converse with them for a considerable time, the first meeting since the fearful tragedy. The young ladies were about to start for their old home in Missouri, yesterday morning, when they were subpoenaed as witnesses in the case, and will be detained here until after the trial. Both the prosecution and defense hold them as witnesses. Denison Daily News Saturday, December 28, 1878 pg. 4 The examination of witnesses in the McKinney tragedy is being spun but to great length. Mrs. Doss, the mother of Mrs. McKinney, was examined this morning and this afternoon Miss Mabel Doss and the attending physician. Mrs. Doss's testimony developed the fact that there had been frequent ruptures between McKinney and his wife and more than one fight. It is more that probable the examination will not be concluded before tomorrow noon. - - - Sherman Register Denison Daily News Sunday, December 29, 1878 pg. 4 The testimony in the McKinney case was closed this morning, the defense introduced no witnesses. Justice Rainey fixed McKinney's bond at fifteen hundred dollars. He was taken in charge by an officer and an opportunity given him to consult his friends and make the bond, but had not succeeded at last accounts. - Sherman Register Denison Daily News Tuesday, January 27, 1880 pg. 1 Elsewhere we have given an account of a shooting affair in St. Louis between J.H. McKinney and one Frank Pierce, in which McKinney was shot in the jaw. McKinney is doubtless the same who is charged with shooting his wife, Mrs. McKinney, in this city more than a year ago. Frank Pierce is known to many citizens of Sherman. Mrs. McKinney, who now lives in St. Louis and keeps a lodging house, is doubtless the same woman who was shot by her husband. All the facts have not yet been drawn out that led to the shooting. Four shots were fired, and the supposition is that McKinney fired 2 and Pierce 2. We will notice developments. - - - Courier. Denison Daily News Wednesday, February 1, 1880 pg. 4 McKinney's First Wife Chillicothe, Mo., Feb. 7 - The statement of Mrs. McKinney at the inquest of James H. McKinney, in St. Louis last Sunday, to the effect that he was charged by his daughter with poisoning her mother, his first wife, is known to be false here, where the lady lived and died. Denison Daily News Sunday, March 28, 1880 pg. 1 George Pierce, who shot and killed McKinney at St. Louis, will probably be cleared, an important witness has turned up. A farmer named Thomas living near Carlisle, Illinois. He says he heard McKinney curse Pierce before the shooting began. He was then only about 10 feet away and when he looked around he saw McKinney level a pistol and shoot at Pierce. Then Pierce shot back. McKinney fired the 3rd and Pierce the 4th shot. It will be remembered that McKinney shot his wife in Sherman about one year ago. FELONY Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |