DASTARDLY DADS FROM THE ARCHIVES (Louisville, Kentucky - 1892)

Father DENNIS MCCARTHY is found guilty in the shooting death of his wife. His seven-year-son was a witness to the event, and testified at trial.

From the archives of the New York Times, January 23, 1892.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C04E5DA1738E233A25750C2A9679C94639ED7CF&scp=10&sq=+father++child+murder+&st=p

HIS SON CONVICTED HIM.

A CHILD'S TESTIMONY AT HIS FATHER'S TRIAL FOR MURDER.

LOUISVILLE, KY., Jan. 22.--The trial of Dennis McCarthy for the murder of his wife on Sept. 7, 1891, was begun this morning in Circuit Court, and a great crowd of people gathered in the room where so many tragedies have been rehearsed to hear the testimony in this. During the trial a touching scene took place. The seven-year-old son of the murderer was placed on the witness stand. When Prosecutor Parsons began to ask the questions in a kindly voice the little fellow broke down and wept.

Between his sobs he said he saw his father trying to discharge the revolver again. His father was shooting his mother. He heard three shots, and his mother was dead. He was shown a knife and asked whether he had seen his father have it, but he had not. He was not cross-examined.

Late this evening the jury returned a verdict of guility and fixed the punishment as death.