When searching for our long-lost relatives in old books and newspapers, we are usually thrilled to find mention of a familiar surname. Usually. But sometimes we find folks that could possibly be related but, for a number of reasons, we would prefer not to have to acknowledge as relatives. And, then perhaps, we sigh with relief  when we discover that they are not actually part of our tree. Here’s one of those that I found recently:

Choked His Wife to Death

Latrobe, July 17 – John McCune, an Irishman, murdered his wife at the Whitney Coal Works near here last night  by choking her to death. He spent the most of yesterday in Youngstown drinking whiskey. His wife’s mother was visiting them, and was going home today. Mrs. McCune was helping her pack, and had occasion to go into the room where her husband was sitting. For some reason or other, he knocked her down, and catching her by the throat, choked her until life was extinct. A daughter, trying to help her mother, was struck in the face and had one of her fingers bitten almost off by her infuriated father. A deputy arrested McCune and took him to jail at Greensburg. When placed under arrest he said, “There is one more to kill.”

Source: The Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa. – 7/20/1894

This is definitely one of those cases when I am glad that my McCunes arrived in America much earlier than this fellow so that there appears to be no relationship!