The Murder of Fannie McCue

The Murder of Fannie McCue

The End of the Line

Setting the scene

It's 1904

One of the most heinous murders in Charlottesville is about to happen...

It was Just a regular sunday evening

Wait there's more

The McCues were walking to late services at their church ( something they could do from their Park St home that is right next to my house). Then Sam (the Murderer)McCue announced that he had to go back to the house to answer tha call of nature. Fannie (the Murderee) kept walking. when Sam arrived at the church Fannie was already there, seated in their pew. This not walking to church together, along with a trip taken earlier in the day by Fannie may have set later events of the night in motion.

Sam McCue was found guilty and sentenced to be hung on January 20 within the jail until he was dead. The day before his execution his daughter Ruby made a heartfelt plea for clemency. The governor denied it. His lawyers also made plea to through out the verdict on the grounds that jurors were allowed to read the newspaper and there were errors in the evidence. The night before the hanging Sam's children came to see their father for the last time. His will divided up his estate among his four children with their uncles appointed as guardians. On February 10 Sam had his last meal, sent from the Iroqois Resteraunt on Main Street although he didn't eat much, spending much time talking to priests. When asked if he had any last words he answered politely, "None at all".

On February 10 the same day the newspaper announced that sam McCue had confessed and people could pat themselves on the back for being right. Here is that confession,"J. Samuel McCue stated this morning in our presence and requested us to make public that he did not wish to leave this world with suspicion resting on any human being other than himself; that he alone is responsible for the deed, impelled to it by an evil power beyond his control; and that he recognized his sentence as just.

Signed: George L. Petrie, Harry B. Lee, John B. Turpin".

That sounds a little like he was trying to protect someone just an hour before his death. Sam could have known who the real murderer was and tried to protect her. Also, Sam's "confession" did not state that he killed Fannie, only that he was responsible for it. so now on February 10 this mystery was finally over.

The Players

Sam McCue

The Murderer

The Murderee

Fannie McCue

The Ghosts

The Coroners Inquest

Many say that Sam and Fannie's ghosts still haunt this house. Sam's ghost in the basement, and Fannie's in the bathroom where she was killed. There bathtub in which her body was found was in Comyn Hall's basement at least up to 2009, it may still be there today. Comyn Hall is currently an apartment building. If the people living in the McCues bedroom are aware of it'shistory. Do they care or do they simply not know of the murder that happened there.

The next morning. The whole town knew Fannie was dead. The people were irate and demanded a suspect. This is were things get tricky. Sam hired the Baldwin detective Agency from Roanoke to investigate the case. a very strange thing for a "guilty" man to do. The next day however, The Baldwin Agency informed McCue that they were now working for the city and not him. after less than a day working for the city, they were convinced Sam was the killer. Another suspect was implicated but quickly cleared. He had an airtight alibi.

At the Inquest

During the inquest there was absolutely no testimony indicating McCue had killed his wife. In fact evidence said just the opposite. The houseboy John Perry gave testimony indicating that Fannie cried out to Sam for help. Despite all this evidence against it the judge had to prosecute someone. Sam was indicted for first-degree murder. There were no other suspects.

The Trial

The prosecution had only circumstantial evidence. However it was used very skillfully. According to the Law no one was allowed on the jury who was against the death penalty or would not convict on circumstantial evidence. the defense team had many obstacles to overcome.The public was certain of Sam's guilt as was the press. The prosecution had a lot of physical evidence to prove their case. The defense only had some letters showing the couples love for each other. In the end this didn't matter Sam McCue was conf\victed of first-degree murder and sentenced to hang.

The Defense

Sam, on the other hand said that he was attacked and knocked out after he noticed someone enter his bedroom from the adjoining room (his daughter's). When he reached for the shotgun he kept next to the chiffonier something hit him in the face and he was knocked out. when he came to after a few seconds and went into the hallway, he saw and smelled gunsmoke. Getting the phone he told the operator to get anyone because his wife might have been shot. Along came his brother, who went upstairs and found fannie, dead in the bathtub. at this point the police had ordered a cordon around the house so no one could leave. They may have been just a little too late.

The Prosecution

The prosecution claims that in that time Sam gt in an argument with his wife and bludgeoned,strangled, and shot her. He did all this knowing his son Willie could walk in on him any second, an that he had no alibi as neighbors and family had seen him enter the house with Fannie. It was almost as if he wanted to get caught.

The First Step

Following services. the McCues returned to Comyn Hall where they appeared to go to bed very early at 9:15 which was remarked upon by their neighbors and would later prove to be a crucial point in the case. a little while later, those same neighbors saw Sam's brother Dr. Frank McCue rush in to the house. What happened between the McCues going into Comyn Hall and Sam calling for help? No one knows for sure. Here's what each sides thought.

There were many inconsistencies

A bloody T-shirt. at the inquest the undertaker swore that his hands were bloody from working on Fannie'd dead body when he was handed sam's undershirt. at the trial, however he said he had washed his hands before touching th shirt.

a doctor originally said a facial injury to Sam was a contusion before changing his statement to say it was only a lump. He could not explain this discrepency.

Sam and Fannie had a very tough relationship. with Sam having affairs with many woman

The entrances were undamaged which the prosecution tried to use to show that it was an inside job. However there were multiple windows open and then front door was unlocked

Time. Prosecutors said that Sam killed is wife in a fit of rage fueled by an argument. However testimony said the McCues said goodbye to the Dimwiddies at aruond 9:10. The police officer that arrived first said he arrived at 9:30. after Frank McCue. An engineer testified that at Fannies 115 lb it would have taken 16 minutes and 40 seconds to fill the bath.Fannie must have started the bath immediately after going upstairs leaving no time for an argument.