Born: March 1877
Died: May 1904
Allen E. Mooney murdered two women in 1902. He is buried in Malone.
Malone Farmer, November 12, 1902
HELD FOR MURDER
Allen Mooney Shoots three Persons at Saranac Lake and Now Rests in Malone Jail, Thinking it Over.
Saranac Lake village was the scene of another shooting affray on election day evening, this time the result of a mixture of whiskey and women, for which that beautiful village of enterprise and refinement is fast becoming noted; and it is apparent that the substantial citizens of the place need to get together and organize a crusade to clean out the foul spots which contaminate the pure mountain atmosphere there.
It seems that one Fred McClelland resided on Prospect Avenue with a woman known as Viola Middleton, as his housekeeper. At the same house was also stopping one Ellen Thomas, said to be formerly from Chasm Falls, who was known at Saranac Lake as Ethel Faysette, or by the more familiar name of "Maude." She had resided there with her mother for four or five years. One Charles Merrill, from Goldsmith's, is said to have been staying with the Thomas woman.
Allen Mooney, a brother of Mamie Jock, of unsavory reputation in these parts, who went to Saranac Lake from Goldsmith's about a year ago, became enamored of the Thomas woman and was jealous of Merrill. He wanted McClelland to let him have the woman, but McClelland warned him to stay away, whereupon Mooney told him in substance that he would pay for it and went down town and bought a 45 calibre revolver and cartridges. Returning to the house more or less under the influence of liquor between four and five P.M., he demanded admittance, which was refused and the front door locked against him. The lock on the side door was out of repair, but Mooney went away, secured more liquor and about nine o'clock P.M. returned "loaded for a bear." He entered the side door by pushing away a chair which had been propped against it and suddenly appeared in the doorway of the room occupied by McClelland and Viola Middleton with a revolver in his hand. Pointing the weapon at McClelland, he exclaimed, "If yon have anything to say, say it quick." As McClelland started to rise from the edge of the bed on which he was sitting, Mooney began firing a fusilade. The first shot went wild through a window, but another struck McClelland in the right breast and glanced off, making a flesh wound. It is thought that this shot also struck Viola Middleton, the ball entering her side and passing up into her body, inflicting what has proved to be a fatal wound for she died last Friday afternoon. Merrill and Ellen Thomas were in an adjoining room, separated from McClelland's room only by an arch and portierres which were apart sufficiently so that Mooney could see to fire between them. When he began firing Merrill hid under the bed and he did not see him, as the room was dark, but, after shooting McClelland and Viola Middleton, he fired shots toward the bed in the other room, two of which took effect, one in the abdomen and the other in the wrist of Ellen Thomas. The last ball in the weapon struck the ceiling and Mooney started to leave the house. Merrill then emerged from his cover, grappled and threw the man and took the revolver away. He held him until Policeman Moore could be sent for, who lodged him in the village lock-up. Ellen Thomas died within an hour and the Middleton woman lingered a couple of days. District Attorney Main and Sheriff Douglass repaired to the spot Wednesday morning and Mooney's examination was had. That night, he was brought to the Franklin county jail, held for murder in the first degree, the crime having clearly been pre-meditated. McClelland was able to appear at the examination. Mooney is about 25 years of age, and has been employed at the Lake as a plumber's helper. The case is evidently a vile one from top to bottom, and shows to what degradation and crime demoralization by rum and women leads. Notwithstanding the constantly recurring tragedies throughout the land from the same causes, the revelry goes on, in high society as well as low, and the world apparently grows no wiser, although on the whole it. seems to he growing better.
Another moral is that demoralizing places in our communities should be proceeded against as soon as they appear, on the principle that "a stitch in time saves nine." A little well-directed effort some time ago would probably have rid Saranac Lake of the conditions in the McClelland house and saved a big bill of expense to the county.
Shooting affairs and murderous assaults are becoming altogether too frequent hereabouts and our failure to discover in some cases the assailant and to convict in other cases has created much adverse comment both at home and in neighboring counties. So far as we have been able to learn by hearsay evidence this case appears to be a clear one. We hope that it will be tried on its merits and on the evidence, regardless of petitions which too often defeat the ends of Justice, for an example of absolute law enforcement, which will prove a deterrent to others, needs to be set.
A Plattsburgh dispatch Sunday stated that McClelland attempted to commit suicide that afternoon about 4 o'clock by drinking carbolic acid, but is still alive and may recover. The district attorney's office here had heard nothing of it Monday. He is a material witness in the case.
Plattsburgh Sentinel, May 6, 1904
MOONEY ELECTROCUTED
Went to Fatal Chair Calmly and Bravely
Execution Without Hitch
Murder of Two Saranac Lake Women the Crime for Which he Died - Body Taken to Malone for Burial
After spending nearly a year in the narrow confines of the death house at Clinton prison, Allen Mooney, the double murder, Tuesday shortly before noon closed his eyes in death and paid the extreme penalty of the law for his cold blooded and heartless crime, committed at Saranac Lake just eighteen months ago.
Mooney's last night on earth was anything but quiet and peaceful, and although he often threw himself upon his cot, it was only for a few minutes at a time, and he would then drop upon his knees in prayer. At an early hour he arose from his cot for the last time and dressed himself for the final scene in the tragedy in which he was the central figure. Mooney had been brought up in the Baptist faith, but shortly after the execution of the Van Wormer brothers he sent for the Rev. Father Bellanger, pastor of the Catholic church of Dannemora, and asked to be instructed in that religion. He was baptized by Father Bellanger on December 23, and on February 22 he made his first communion, after which he received Holy Communion twice, the last time being three hours before his death. From the day of his baptism he began with the greatest care preparations for the end, his fervor increasing as his last moments drew near. For over an hour immediately preceding the execution he held continually in his hand a large crucifix looking at it devotedly and carrying it with him to the chair and holding it until his life was blotted out.
Shortly after 11 o'clock the witnesses prescribed by law gathered at the Warden's office, and at 11:30 walked through the corridors and into the execution room. Electrician Davis and his assistant were in waiting, and within a minute after the gathering of the witnesses he turned the electrical current through the bank of lights resting on the arm of the fatal chair, thus showing the death dealing apparatus to be in working order. Warden Deyo then requested the witnesses to remain quietly in their seats until the condemned man was pronounced dead.
The Warden nodded toward the door leading to the condemned cells and about 30 seconds later the fatal procession could be heard coming down the corridor. At it's head was Deputy Warden Fulton, then came the condemned man with pallid cheeks, but firm steps, and by his side Rev. Father Bellanger, and officers Robarge and Lewis. At 11:35:15 the condemned man crossed the threshold of the execution room, reciting the prayer, "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul; Jesus, Mary and Joseph assist me in my last agony; Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I die in peace in your blessed company." He walked direct to the fatal chair and without assistance took his seat. Placing his head in the proper position, Officers Robarge and Lewis then adjusted the body, leg and arm straps while Electrician Davis placed the electrode on the head.
The officers then stepped back and at 11:36 Dr. Ransom gave the signal to the assistant electrician who dropped the lever into place and sent 1740 volts through Mooney's body. This voltage was maintained for eight seconds and gradually reduced to 240 volts. It was then turned completely off and after a fraction of a second the complete voltage was again turned on and held for five seconds. A third contact of 1740 volts was made and held for four seconds. Dr. J.H. Ransom, the prison physician, then made an examination and at 11:39:30 pronounced the man dead. Visiting physicians were then invited to make an examination of the body, after which it was taken to the dissecting room where the postmortem examination was held. This revealed the fact that all of Mooney's organs were in practical normal condition and that the defense of insanity due to liver and kidney trouble was without foundation.
On Saturday of last week Mooney was visited at the condemned cells by his two sisters, Mrs. Wood of New York and Mrs. Brown of Amsterdam. From the prison these ladies went to Malone, to await the arrival of their brother's remains.
Undertaker George H. Nicholson, of Malone, arrived at Dannemora Tuesday morning, bringing with him a casket in which the remains were placed and they were driven by him to Plattsburgh, where they were placed on the 5:20 train en route for Malone for burial by the side of Mooney's two sisters and brother.
The Crime
The crime for which Allen Mooney yesterday met death in the electric chair at Clinton prison was the murder of Ellen Thomas and Viola Middleton at Saranac Lake on the night of November 4, 1902.
The murder was entirely unprovoked and one of the most cold blooded crimes in the criminal history of Northern New York. During the afternoon of November 4, Mooney was out riding with the Thomas woman and Viola Middleton. The trio drank considerable liquor and early in the evening Mooney drove the women to the house of Fred McClellan where they were stopping. Mooney left the women there and returned the rig to the livery stable. He then went back to McClelland's and finding one of the women in company with another man, he left and going to the village secured a revolver. He then returned to the McClelland house and walking into the room where the Thomas woman was, he opened fire upon her. The bullet took effect and within a few hours she was a corpse. He then turned his weapon upon Viola Middleton and with such effect that she died within two days. McClelland was his next victim, but his aim was not true with him and McClelland survived his injuries and is now in Colorado.
Mooney was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree at the spring term of Supreme Court in Franklin County one year ago. Insanity was his defense. He was sentenced to be electrocuted last July but an appeal was taken, giving him ten more months of life.
Malone Farmer, March 2, 1904
R. M. Moore and G. H. Main argued the appeal in the case of Allen E. Mooney in Albany on Wednesday. Mooney was convicted here some time ago of murder in the first, degree committed at Saranac Lake and has since been under sentence of death at Clinton prison, the appeal in the case having postponed the execution of the sentence. His defense on his trial was insanity and during all the anxiety of those uncertain days he appeared stolid and indifferent to what was going on about him, even thanking the court after sentence of death had been pronounced. Whether Mooney will have another chance for life depends upon the decision of the appellate court for or against a new trial. His counsel, Mr. Moore, has no doubt made out as good a case as possible on the evidence developed on the trial.
