by his employer. On 26 June 1879, in Montclair, New Jersey. I'll be presenting a lecture on the case this Sunday, 13 March 2016: The Banker, the Busybody, and the Irish Coachman: A Montclair Murder Case. Admission free of charge, but donation strongly recommended.
Category: Crime and Punishment
Bigamy in the 19th century: how common?
I'm going to guess: not very common. And yet, it certainly did happen. I've actually come across very solid evidence of a bigamy case in the 1840s in the parish register for St. Philip's RC Church in Richmond. No relations of mine, or I would certainly post about the case. When you think about 19th-century … Continue reading Bigamy in the 19th century: how common?
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The Queen vs. Kelly: Part V
Continued from The Queen vs Kelly: Part IV (see also Part III, Part II, and Part I). What Happened to John Kelly and Mary Hourigan? When I wrote Part I of "The Queen vs. Kelly," I had no idea what had happened to John Kelly after his release from the Dominion Penitentiary in May 1842. Nor … Continue reading The Queen vs. Kelly: Part V
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The Queen vs Kelly: Part IV
Continued from The Queen vs. Kelly: Part III. Hard Times, Hard Labour As reported in Part III, John Kelly entered the Dominion Penitentiary at Kingston on 15 May 1841, to serve a one-year sentence for the manslaughter of his brother-in-law Michael Hourigan. Dickens described the penitentiary as 'well and wisely governed'... While we don't have … Continue reading The Queen vs Kelly: Part IV
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‘Wilful Murder’ and Black Sheep Ancestors: Introduction
Yet another tale of murder and mayhem in March township. And, like the case of The Queen vs. Kelly, yet another story of a drunken altercation between two brothers-in-law, ending in a shocking fatality. And, again like the case of John Kelly's killing of Michael Hourigan, yet another instance of either murder or manslaughter involving … Continue reading ‘Wilful Murder’ and Black Sheep Ancestors: Introduction
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The Queen vs. Kelly: Part III
Continued from The Queen Vs. Kelly: Part II (and The Queen vs. Kelly: Part I). John Kelly's trial for the murder of Michael Hourigan took place on Thursday, 20 May 1841, at the original Bathurst courthouse in Perth.[1. At the northwest corner of Craig and Drummond Streets. This building, erected in 1822, was destroyed by … Continue reading The Queen vs. Kelly: Part III
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The Queen vs. Kelly: Part II
Continued from The Queen vs. Kelly: Part I. The Queen vs. Kelly "We are informed it was committed whilst in a state of intoxication," wrote the Bathurst Courier (16 April 1841) of John Kelly's fatal stabbing of his brother-in-law Michael Hourigan. Not surprisingly, the Courier took a lively interest in the case, publishing three brief … Continue reading The Queen vs. Kelly: Part II
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Occupation: Inmate
Search tip: If someone'sU.S. World War I Draft Registration card lists his occupation as "Twine worker" and his address as the Minnesota State Prison in Stillwater, Minn., the guy's an inmate at the prison. Here's a photograph (Minnesota Historical Society, Photograph Collection 1925) of the twine factory at the Stillwater Prison. More photographs and background … Continue reading Occupation: Inmate
