The Death of Mr. James McGrane Explained-1869

MCGRANE, WAPLES, CONNERS, MCCARRON, MCCABE, CANTILLION, HALL, HOOP, BOLAND

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 2/6/2020 at 20:04:14

Dubuque Daily Times, Friday, Apr 04, 1869, Dubuque, Iowa, Page 1

THE JONES COUNTY MYSTERY
~
The Death of Mr. James McGrane
Explained
~
A short time ago the readers of the TIMES will remember that an item appeared in this paper stating that Mr. James McGrane, of Washington Township, Jones County, died on the 18th of March under rather peculiar circumstances. It seems that on the 11h day of March last, the deceased started for Dubuque, with a yoke an oxen, when a few miles this side of Key West he met two men, Ned Conners and Thomas McCarron, of Washington Township, Jackson County, who refused to give the road. An altercation ensued, when both men approached McGrane and beat, struck, kicked and otherwise maltreated him in a cruel manner, after which they left him, more dead than alive, in the road. Recovering consciousness, McGrane continued his journey to Dubuque, and stayed all night with his brother-in-law, Mr. McCabe, who resides on Julien Avenue. The next day being Saturday, he returned home, and on reaching there complained of feeling very unwell, and was assisted by his wife into the house. He rapidly grew worse, and on the following Thursday died. An inquest was held, but no post mortem examination was made, the jury returning a verdict that the deceased had received injuries, but whether the same were sufficient to cause death they could not say. On Thursday last Coroner Cantillion was notified of the affair, and in company with the County Physician, Dr. Waples, he proceeded to investigate the matter. The body was disinterred and a new jury summoned, composed of W. F. Hall, Andrew Hoop, and Isaac W. Boland, all of Cascade, who, after a careful examination of the body, returned a verdict to the effect that James McGrane came to his death at the hands of the partied aforesaid, on or about the 11th day of March, 1869. Whether either of the men are under arrest we have not learned.