The New York Times
10 July 1854
ATROCIOUS MURDER IN MACON -- On Saturday morning last, our citizens were startled by the news of a most atrocious and unnatural murder, committed in our midst. An Irishman, by the name of CONNELLY, boarding in the house of D. GARAUGHTY, on Bridgerow, killed his own wife in open day, and then effected his escape to the woods. He was in the habit of maltreating his wife, and when the people of the house heard the noise of contention in his room, on Saturday morning, they supposed that it was only a repetition of his usual brawling. When he came down, he was observed to have changed his clothes, and to look back upon the house with a frightened expression as he was going away. Suspicion was excited, and upon examination the unfortunate woman was found stone dead in her apartments. Her neck was dislocated and her head severely bruised and cut -- apparently from a knife. It is supposed that he forced her head over a beam, and thus affected the dislocation of the neck. He had changed his clothes, and the bloody garments were found huddled together under a table. He had straightened the woman out upon the floor, and placed her baby across her breast. He was pursued on Saturday, but without avail. On Saturday night, impelled by that irresistible instinct, which brings murderers back to the scene of their crime, the man came to the Mansion House, (not a hundred yards from the dead body of his wife,) and asked a woman of his acquaintance to give him hiding place. She did so, but immediately sent for the Police, who took him without difficulty. He denies, as we understand, all knowledge of the crime, nor is it ascertained what his motive could have been. It is variously ascribed to jealousy, drunkenness and other causes. The testimony must be altogether circumstantial. The murdered woman was buried on Sunday. CONNELLY is in Jail, and the case awaits investigation. -- Macon, Ga. Telegraph, July 4.
