Individual Details
Michael T. Magney
(1804 - 7 May 1855)
FGS: From Jack Bujalski, 5100 John D. Ryan Blvd. #1201, San Antonio TX 78245; 1995.
DEATH: "Man Shot", Hudson North Star; 1855; p 5 col 2; microfilm, UW-RF ARC, River Falls WI..
DEATH: "ST. CROIX CIRCUIT COURT", Hudson North Star; 1855; p2 col5; microfilm, UW-RF ARC, River Falls WI.
DEATH: "The Magneys", Hudson North Star; 1855; p2 col4; microfilm, UW-RF ARC, River Falls WI.
From Jack Bujalski, Jan. 1999:
Emigrated to U.S. in (?) 1850; became a citizen 10 Jul 1852. Settled in Houlton WI and worked as a stonemason on new prison being built in Stillwater, Minnesota. Bought a farm in 1854. Convicted of murder in 1855, he jumped overboard while being transported by riverboat to prison. Presumed drowned; no evidence of the body ever being found. Family arrived via river boat from Galena, Illinois.
Per John N. Gorres (great grandson of Anna Maria Magney), the Magney family left Prussia, Rhineland Province, in 1852, traveled across the Atlantic for nearly 40 days by sailboat to New York. They went to Galena, Illinois, then via the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers to Stillwater.
DEATH: "Man Shot" HUDSON NORTH STAR; 1855; ; p 5 col 2; microfilm, UW-RF ARC,
River Falls WI; photocopy in possession of Nancy Hawkinson, 1995.
Michael T. Magney (1804-1855)
North Star, Hudson WI, 25 Apr 1855, p2
MAN SHOT
Near the Lake Shore and opposite Stillwater, Minn., in this country, on Friday last, at about half past six, P.M., a quarrel occurred between two Germans named Michael Magney and John Spech. The quarrel originated in a dispute about some lumber which had been taken out of the Lake and which was claimed by both parties. In the dispute hard names were called on both sides, and, it is said, Spech struck Michael Magney, Jr., a boy about seventeen years old. The end of the affray was the shooting of John Spech by either the elder Magney or the son. Spech died immediately. The affair occasioned much excitement amongthe Germans of that neighborhood.
On Saturday morning Justice Brown summoned a jury and proceeded to the locality, for the purpose of holding an inquest on the body of Spech. The testimony elicited before the jury was very contradictory. Two witnesses swore positively that Michael Magney, the elder, shot Spech, while Magney, his wife, and the son, each swore that the son fired the rifle and killed Spech. The jury's verdict was that "John Spech came to his death in an affray, by the discharge of a rifle in the hands of Michael Magney, Jr., and that Michael Magney, the elder, was accessory tothe deed." We are informed by Dr.Hatch, the examining Surgeon, that the ball entered Spech's head at the point of the left cheek and passed out immediately back of the right ear.
The Magney's, father andson, are now in the custody of the Sheriff. The matter was probably brought before the Grand Jury yesterday and we presume an indictment will be or has been found.
North Star, Hudson WI, 9 May1855, p2
ST. CROIX CIRCUIT COURT
State of Wisconsin, vs Michael Magney,Sr., and M. Magney, Jr.
The trial of the Magneys, father and son, for the murder of John Spech was submitted to the Jury last Thursday noon and the Jury, after having been out about two hours, brought in a verdict of murder against the father and manslaughter against the son.
This trial has excitedgreat interest in the minds of our community, both regards the enormity of the offence as well as the complexity which surrounded the case, and in fixing upon the proper one who had committed the homicide.
It seems that immediately after the murder the elder Magney applied to Justice Brown to have a coroner’s inquest held over the body of the deceased. The Justice summoned a Jury, who preceded to the place where the body was, being at the house of Magney, and the testimony of the witnesses examined convinced the Jury that the deceased had come to his death by the hand of the young man Magney. The most remarkable thing about the evidence was the fact that the father, mother, brother and sister of the young Magney voluntarily appeared and testified against their own child and brother. A course so singular and unnatural, so outraging the holiest feelings of human nature, give rise to doubt in the minds of many as to the truthfulness of the statement, and aroused suspicion that there was design in this unparalleled course on the part of the family.
The Grand Jury brought ina bill against father and son, and the result showed that the design was unmatched in the annals of crime for its audacity, and the moral turpitude ofthe family, who, for the sake of shielding the husband and father, sought to brand the infamy upon the son and brother.
The evidence showed that the deceased and one of the witnesses had gone over to the old man Magney's house, in relation to some lumber which they claimed belonged to them, and which had been taken out of the river and appropriated by Magney. After a slight altercation, the old man Magney drew a pistol and shot Spech through the head, causing instantaneous death.
Such was the chief testimony adduced to fasten the homicide upon the old man. Several points were raised at the trial with regard to the testimony and argued at considerable length and with great ability. The ruling of the Judge upon the questions raised seems to have been even satisfactory to the Attorneys who were overruled-- a rare thing for the captious and pugnacious members of the long robed fraternity.
The defense chiefly rested upon the supposed discrepancies in the evidence of the Prosecution.
A strong effort was made by the Defense, after the Prosecution had closed the evidence for the State, to have the young man dismissed, on the ground that there was little or no evidence against him, which the Judge refused to grant.
Levi E. Thompson, of Stillwater, made the opening argument on the part of the Prosecution, insumming up the case. His argument was impressive and complete, reflecting the highest credit upon his abilities. H. L. Humphrey, Esq., District Attorney, followed in a forcible argument, showing a power which his warmest friends had not expected. A. D. Gray, Esq., followed, onthe part of the defense, and his speech elicited the highest praise for its ingenuity, and the logical acumen displayed in dissecting the testimony. G.T. Curtis, of Stillwater, closed for the Defense, in a speech of three hours duration, which showed a thorough investigation of the case, and the power the ingenious mind has in rendering obscure what would otherwise appear clear and express. Allen Dawson, Esq., concluded the argument on the part of the Prosecution, in a speech of great ability and power. He reviewed the arguments of counsel for the Defense with a just but manly criticism; commented upon all the testimony inthe case, and concluded his argument with a beautiful tribute to the majesty of the law, in its securing the peace and dignity of the State, and vindicating the rights of the Sovereignty against all aggressors. His whole argument was able, and evinced that he was educated in the mysteries of his profession, and the still deeper mysteries of the human heart. His speech stamped him in the popular estimation as a young man of genius and talent.
There was a motion made in arrest of judgment which was overruled, and on Friday sentence was pronounced by the Judge, prefaced with the solemn admonitions appropriate tothe occasion. Sheriff Gallop started for Waupun with the prisoners on Sunday last.
North Star, 23 May 1855
The Magneys
Sheriff Gallop has returned and reports that he left the younger Magney at the State Prison at Waupun while the elder Magney escaped his sentence of imprisonment by jumping overboard while the boat (the Greek Slave) on her downward trip was laying at McGregor's Landing. The facts of this finale in the murder of John Spech are as follows: on the 7th inst., while on board the boat, in the custody of Sheriff Gallop, on their way to Waupun, the Magney's were bound together by chains; the younger Magney complained of feeling unwell, and was allowed to keep his stateroom, while the elder Magney was loosed from his chains to give an opportunity to go to the breakfast table. After breakfast he returned to the stateroom where both prisoners were kept. From thence, about noon, while the boat was laying at McGregor's Landing, the old man escaped from the stateroom,jumped overboard and was drowned. Efforts were made to rescue him, but without avail, ne making no attempts to save himself, and sinking before the yawl boatreached him.
The "Greek Slave" was a sidewheel packet with a wooden hull built in Jeffersonville, Indiana in 1849 for Capt. W.C. Francis for the Louisville-Tennessee River trade. On her wheel house were paintings of the celebrated statute "Greek Slave" by sculptor Hiram Powers. These were described by river reports as "large and as natural as life" and "very neat and chaste and very appropriate;attract attention of everyone." She made 18 trips, Rock Island to St. Paulin 1853, and was in the upper Mississippi trade regularly through the 1856 season. It is said the noted Louis Roberts, founder of St. Paul, was an owner.She was off lists in 1857. (Way's Packet Directory 1848-1983, compiled by Frederick Way, Jr., p198-199)
Note: Copy to Donna Jewell, 12 Aug 2015.
DEATH: "Man Shot", Hudson North Star; 1855; p 5 col 2; microfilm, UW-RF ARC, River Falls WI..
DEATH: "ST. CROIX CIRCUIT COURT", Hudson North Star; 1855; p2 col5; microfilm, UW-RF ARC, River Falls WI.
DEATH: "The Magneys", Hudson North Star; 1855; p2 col4; microfilm, UW-RF ARC, River Falls WI.
From Jack Bujalski, Jan. 1999:
Emigrated to U.S. in (?) 1850; became a citizen 10 Jul 1852. Settled in Houlton WI and worked as a stonemason on new prison being built in Stillwater, Minnesota. Bought a farm in 1854. Convicted of murder in 1855, he jumped overboard while being transported by riverboat to prison. Presumed drowned; no evidence of the body ever being found. Family arrived via river boat from Galena, Illinois.
Per John N. Gorres (great grandson of Anna Maria Magney), the Magney family left Prussia, Rhineland Province, in 1852, traveled across the Atlantic for nearly 40 days by sailboat to New York. They went to Galena, Illinois, then via the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers to Stillwater.
DEATH: "Man Shot" HUDSON NORTH STAR; 1855; ; p 5 col 2; microfilm, UW-RF ARC,
River Falls WI; photocopy in possession of Nancy Hawkinson, 1995.
Michael T. Magney (1804-1855)
North Star, Hudson WI, 25 Apr 1855, p2
MAN SHOT
Near the Lake Shore and opposite Stillwater, Minn., in this country, on Friday last, at about half past six, P.M., a quarrel occurred between two Germans named Michael Magney and John Spech. The quarrel originated in a dispute about some lumber which had been taken out of the Lake and which was claimed by both parties. In the dispute hard names were called on both sides, and, it is said, Spech struck Michael Magney, Jr., a boy about seventeen years old. The end of the affray was the shooting of John Spech by either the elder Magney or the son. Spech died immediately. The affair occasioned much excitement amongthe Germans of that neighborhood.
On Saturday morning Justice Brown summoned a jury and proceeded to the locality, for the purpose of holding an inquest on the body of Spech. The testimony elicited before the jury was very contradictory. Two witnesses swore positively that Michael Magney, the elder, shot Spech, while Magney, his wife, and the son, each swore that the son fired the rifle and killed Spech. The jury's verdict was that "John Spech came to his death in an affray, by the discharge of a rifle in the hands of Michael Magney, Jr., and that Michael Magney, the elder, was accessory tothe deed." We are informed by Dr.Hatch, the examining Surgeon, that the ball entered Spech's head at the point of the left cheek and passed out immediately back of the right ear.
The Magney's, father andson, are now in the custody of the Sheriff. The matter was probably brought before the Grand Jury yesterday and we presume an indictment will be or has been found.
North Star, Hudson WI, 9 May1855, p2
ST. CROIX CIRCUIT COURT
State of Wisconsin, vs Michael Magney,Sr., and M. Magney, Jr.
The trial of the Magneys, father and son, for the murder of John Spech was submitted to the Jury last Thursday noon and the Jury, after having been out about two hours, brought in a verdict of murder against the father and manslaughter against the son.
This trial has excitedgreat interest in the minds of our community, both regards the enormity of the offence as well as the complexity which surrounded the case, and in fixing upon the proper one who had committed the homicide.
It seems that immediately after the murder the elder Magney applied to Justice Brown to have a coroner’s inquest held over the body of the deceased. The Justice summoned a Jury, who preceded to the place where the body was, being at the house of Magney, and the testimony of the witnesses examined convinced the Jury that the deceased had come to his death by the hand of the young man Magney. The most remarkable thing about the evidence was the fact that the father, mother, brother and sister of the young Magney voluntarily appeared and testified against their own child and brother. A course so singular and unnatural, so outraging the holiest feelings of human nature, give rise to doubt in the minds of many as to the truthfulness of the statement, and aroused suspicion that there was design in this unparalleled course on the part of the family.
The Grand Jury brought ina bill against father and son, and the result showed that the design was unmatched in the annals of crime for its audacity, and the moral turpitude ofthe family, who, for the sake of shielding the husband and father, sought to brand the infamy upon the son and brother.
The evidence showed that the deceased and one of the witnesses had gone over to the old man Magney's house, in relation to some lumber which they claimed belonged to them, and which had been taken out of the river and appropriated by Magney. After a slight altercation, the old man Magney drew a pistol and shot Spech through the head, causing instantaneous death.
Such was the chief testimony adduced to fasten the homicide upon the old man. Several points were raised at the trial with regard to the testimony and argued at considerable length and with great ability. The ruling of the Judge upon the questions raised seems to have been even satisfactory to the Attorneys who were overruled-- a rare thing for the captious and pugnacious members of the long robed fraternity.
The defense chiefly rested upon the supposed discrepancies in the evidence of the Prosecution.
A strong effort was made by the Defense, after the Prosecution had closed the evidence for the State, to have the young man dismissed, on the ground that there was little or no evidence against him, which the Judge refused to grant.
Levi E. Thompson, of Stillwater, made the opening argument on the part of the Prosecution, insumming up the case. His argument was impressive and complete, reflecting the highest credit upon his abilities. H. L. Humphrey, Esq., District Attorney, followed in a forcible argument, showing a power which his warmest friends had not expected. A. D. Gray, Esq., followed, onthe part of the defense, and his speech elicited the highest praise for its ingenuity, and the logical acumen displayed in dissecting the testimony. G.T. Curtis, of Stillwater, closed for the Defense, in a speech of three hours duration, which showed a thorough investigation of the case, and the power the ingenious mind has in rendering obscure what would otherwise appear clear and express. Allen Dawson, Esq., concluded the argument on the part of the Prosecution, in a speech of great ability and power. He reviewed the arguments of counsel for the Defense with a just but manly criticism; commented upon all the testimony inthe case, and concluded his argument with a beautiful tribute to the majesty of the law, in its securing the peace and dignity of the State, and vindicating the rights of the Sovereignty against all aggressors. His whole argument was able, and evinced that he was educated in the mysteries of his profession, and the still deeper mysteries of the human heart. His speech stamped him in the popular estimation as a young man of genius and talent.
There was a motion made in arrest of judgment which was overruled, and on Friday sentence was pronounced by the Judge, prefaced with the solemn admonitions appropriate tothe occasion. Sheriff Gallop started for Waupun with the prisoners on Sunday last.
North Star, 23 May 1855
The Magneys
Sheriff Gallop has returned and reports that he left the younger Magney at the State Prison at Waupun while the elder Magney escaped his sentence of imprisonment by jumping overboard while the boat (the Greek Slave) on her downward trip was laying at McGregor's Landing. The facts of this finale in the murder of John Spech are as follows: on the 7th inst., while on board the boat, in the custody of Sheriff Gallop, on their way to Waupun, the Magney's were bound together by chains; the younger Magney complained of feeling unwell, and was allowed to keep his stateroom, while the elder Magney was loosed from his chains to give an opportunity to go to the breakfast table. After breakfast he returned to the stateroom where both prisoners were kept. From thence, about noon, while the boat was laying at McGregor's Landing, the old man escaped from the stateroom,jumped overboard and was drowned. Efforts were made to rescue him, but without avail, ne making no attempts to save himself, and sinking before the yawl boatreached him.
The "Greek Slave" was a sidewheel packet with a wooden hull built in Jeffersonville, Indiana in 1849 for Capt. W.C. Francis for the Louisville-Tennessee River trade. On her wheel house were paintings of the celebrated statute "Greek Slave" by sculptor Hiram Powers. These were described by river reports as "large and as natural as life" and "very neat and chaste and very appropriate;attract attention of everyone." She made 18 trips, Rock Island to St. Paulin 1853, and was in the upper Mississippi trade regularly through the 1856 season. It is said the noted Louis Roberts, founder of St. Paul, was an owner.She was off lists in 1857. (Way's Packet Directory 1848-1983, compiled by Frederick Way, Jr., p198-199)
Note: Copy to Donna Jewell, 12 Aug 2015.
Events
| Birth | 1804 | Rhineland |  | ||
| Death | 7 May 1855 | McGregor's Landing | | ||
| Marriage | Rhineland - Catherine Green |
Families
| Spouse | Catherine Green (1801 - 1886) |
| Child | Michael James Magney (1833 - 1898) |
| Child | Margaretta Magney (1836 - 1870) |
| Child | Mathias Magney (1837 - 1879) |
| Child | Anna Maria "Mary" Magney (1840 - 1903) |
| Child | Robert Magney (1847 - 1904) |
| Child | John Hubert Magney |
| Father | Albert Magney |
Endnotes
1. FGS: Jack Bujalski, 5100 John Ryan Blvd. #1201, San Antonio TX 78245, Jan 1999.
2. FGS: Jack Bujalski, 5100 John Ryan Blvd. #1201, San Antonio TX 78245, Jan 1999.