The Trial of Barney McGinn

MCKENNA, MCGINN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 6/1/2011 at 08:10:42

Bellevue Leader, Bellevue, Iowa, December 28, 1893

The Trial of Barney McGinn

The trial of Barney McGinn for the murder of Ed McKenna on the 29th of last July has been concluded at Omaha, the jury finding McGinn guilty of murder in the first degree, but fixing no penalty. According to a law passed in Nebraska last April the jury must fix the punishment of a person convicted of murder in the first degree at hanging or imprisonment for life. There is a difference of opinion as to the exact time this law went into effect and the Supreme Court will be called to decide the question, upon which depends the life of the prisoner. McKenna was well known here.