Dallas Co., TX - T. J. "Big" McDonough ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Sadie Kennedy USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************** Dallas Morning News 19 Nov 1885 page 8 MCDONOUGH'S CRUEL DEATH PROCEEDINGS OF CORONER'S INQUEST Awaiting on the other side the Bugle Call that is to Unite Him With His Comrades A large number of Curiosity-seekers crowded into Justice Kendall's courtroom yesterday as inquest proceedings were about to commence over the killing of "Big" McDonough by Jim Scott. Every eye was turned on Mrs. McDonough, the broken-hearted widow of the slain man, and on the wife of his slayer, who seemed to share her mother's grief. Mrs. McDonough was the first witness called. She said: "I live on the corner of Market and Jefferson streets, in the city of Dallas, and was the wife of T. J. McDonough, deceased. I am the mother of Mrs. Scott. About 6 o'clock yesterday evening James Scott came home from the jail to witness' house. He called his wife, who was there. His wife and deceased went out in the yard. Scott asked her (his wife) for his pistol and asked her to go home, to which she replied that she would not go home with him because he had abused her. He then asked his wife if she had made a charge against him, and she told him she had. He then said he would make a charge against her. Deceased then spoke, saying to James Scott that he (James Scott) was an officer and armed; that the (deceased) did not want to have any trouble about the matter, and that he would go with James Scott up to the Courthouse and "fix" it up; and he turned toward the gate, when Scott fired with a shotgun, the load taking effect in the deceased's back. There was a solid plank fence between Scott and witness, and she never saw the gun until the time it was fired. When the gun was fired deceased fell, and Scott then threw down his gun and ran off toward the Courthouse. Mrs. Mattie Scott was next called. She said: I live on Camp street, Dallas City. My name is Mattie Scott. I am the wife of Jas. Scott. The night before last Scott came home drinking and drove the witness out of the house. He locked the door and kept her out several hours. He finally opened the door and let her in. Yesterday morning he slapped her face. Witness then started for her mother, and Scott told her she should not go, and said that he had "it in" for her and McDonough, and that he would "fix them." Witness then went to deceased's house, and yesterday evening, about 6 o'clock, Scott came down to deceased's house and called witness. Mrs. McDonough told deceased that Scott was there. Deceased walked out, came back in a few moments and told witness that Scott was out there and wanted her. Then witness and deceased walked out into the back yard, a few feet from where Scott was, just over the fence. Scott then asked witness to go home. Witness refused, and told him that he had abused her, and that she would not live with him any more. He then asked her for his gun, meaning his pistol, which had been there. Witness handed him the pistol. Scott then asked witness if she had made an affidavit against him, and witness told him yes. He then said he would make an affidavit against witness, so that she would have no friends nor place to go to in Dallas. Deceased asked Scott what he meant to charge her with, to which Scott said that that was his business. Deceased said he would go up the courthouse and fix up the matter, that he did not wish to have any trouble about it, and turned toward the gate, when Scott fired upon him with a shotgun, the load taking effect as stated by Mrs. McDonough. Scott then said "he would fix Mattie next." He then threw down the gun and ran off toward Jefferson street. Witness did make an affidavit against Scott for aggravated assault and battery. At her request the deceased went with her to the courthouse and advised her to well consider the matter before making out such a charge. The deceased and Scott had not been friendly toward each other since April last, though Scott visited deceased's house. Witness did not see the gun until about the time it fired. THE VERDICT We, the jury, summoned to inquire into the cause, time and manner of the death of T. J. McDonough, are of opinion that deceased came to his death from the effects of a gunshot wound inflicted by James Scott. PAT O'KEEFE, P. B. FOUKE, H. H. HENDERSON, H. S. ERVAY, S. S. TAYLOR, C. A. MEYER. The remains were interred at Trinity Cemetery, whither they were attended by members of the family, some immediate friends, and a liberal escort from the Grand Army of the Republic, of which organization the deceased was a member. IN MEMORIAM Last night the following tribute of respect was adopted by members of the Dallas Post, G.A.R.: Mr. McDonough was a quiet, unobtrusive citizen, a true friend and a loving and devoted husband and father, who died in defense of a little woman, around which name all the purest and best thoughts of man cluster, like a diadem of love and affection. The many good traits of character of our deceased friend endeared him to those who knew him best, and his unfortunate death has cast a gloom among his many friends. He has only preceded us, however, to the grand encampment above, and, like an old and brave soldier as he was, he is waiting on the other side for the bugle call which will unite him again with the friends and comrades he has left behind.