Saturday, September 21, 2019

Shot by a Jealous Husband.

Daniel Monahan, aged 45, lived with his wife, Maggie, and their children on Henry Street in Binghamton, New York, and kept a saloon in a building adjoining the house. In 1885, a young man named Patrick Garvey began working as a bartender at Monahan’s saloon. Garvey, an attractive 34-year-old Irishman, grew especially close to Maggie Monahan. Before long she expressed her love for Garvey, and the two began an intimate relationship. Garvey became a frequent visitor at the Monahan home when Daniel was away, and their romance became the subject of rumor in Binghamton.

Daniel had already suspected that improper relations existed between his wife and his bartender, so he fired Garvey and openly accused his wife of adultery. Maggie replied that, yes, she did think more of Garvey than she did of her husband, and she would go with Garvey as much as she pleased. Daniel pleaded with Maggie to abandon the romance and not disgrace their little daughters, but she ignored his pleadings and continued to meet Garvey, not only at home but at various places in the city. In desperation, Daniel told her if she did not leave Garvey, he would shoot him. Maggie told Garvey about her husband’s threats and bought him a revolver to defend himself.   
Maggie Monahan



On May 9, 1886, Maggie told Daniel she was taking the children for a walk. They walked some distance from the house then met up with Patrick Garvey who was driving a horse and buggy. They dropped the children off with a friend then went off to spend several hours alone together. After she returned home with the children, Daniel saw her sitting by a window. He saw Garvey pass the house and wave at Maggie and saw her wave back. Enraged, Daniel grabbed a revolver, ran out the door and began firing at Garvey, hitting him six times. Garvey fell to the ground and died in front of the house. Daniel went immediately to the police station and turned himself in.

Daniel Monahan’s trial caused quite a sensation in Binghamton when it began the following May. The popular sentiment regarding the murder was that Monahan was justified in shooting Garvey and had acted in a fit of frenzy. When the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the grounds of insanity, it was well-received.

Sources: “Killed a Betrayer,” Evening Star, March 2, 1887.
“News of the Day,” Connecticut western news, May 19, 1886.
“Shot by a Jealous Husband,” New York Herald, May 11, 1886.
“Verdict in Accord Wtih Public Sentiment,” Cleveland Leader, March 6, 1887.
“A Woman Did it,” National Police Gazette, June 5, 1886.

1 comments :

djpass says:
September 21, 2019 at 5:57 PM

I often wonder how these stories played out after the trials.

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