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Case File: Conroy, Kate née Grundt (1896)
[Link to original] – Page 4, Column 6
CONROY ONCE A BRITISH
SOLDIER
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A DESERTER FROM "A" BATTERY
KINGSTON, ONT.
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Was a Good Soldier at Times, But
Very Cruel - Used to Abuse His
Wife - Some of His Feats
of Strength
From the Kingston, Ont. British Whig
It is almost an established fact that Frank Conroy, held at Ogdensburg on a charge of murder, killing his wife, was at one time a member of “A” Battery, deserting from that corps some years ago. He joined the battery on the 18th of August, 1887. In July, 1889, he deserted from the barracks, and nothing was heard of him until March 12th, 1893, when he walked into barracks and gave himself up. He was tried by court martial for desertion and given a sentence of sixty-four days for his crime. He served out his sentence and again took French leave, without having completed his term of service. His name appears on the pay rolls as John Conroy. The writing is cramped and is of the old style taught in the public schools years ago. The signature at a glance shows the writer to be illiterate.
At the barracks Conroy is given a general bad character. Capt. Hudon, however, said his much for him, that when he cared to or was in the humor Conroy could be a good soldier. He possessed the instinct and at times was all that could be desired in a model soldier. As to his ability as a pugilist, no one knows anything about it, although he had the reputation of being “handy with his fists.” He was known to be hot tempered, and being a powerful man, was ever for a fight, and in every case he came out the victor. He gave the authorities no end of trouble on account of his drinking habits and willingness to quarrel with his comrades. One time, being under sentence and while being transferred form the guard-room to cells, he broke away from the escort and darted out of the gate. He ran across the bridge and had covered a good portion of the road between the city and Gananoque before being captured. A half dozen men could not bring him back; he threw them off like so many children. Finally, before his capture could be completed and he was made to submit to return to the barracks his arms and legs had be roped.
On another occasion he made himself a hero in a novel manner. He and a comrade named McCue started out on a carousel, McCue furnishing the wherewithal. The last named was married and had a residence in the city. From there the couple one night started away in a cab. McCue was very drunk, but Conroy was not so much so. They started for Kingston Mills and on the way down McCue took off his uniform and threw it out the cab window, donning a civilian suit. The two put up at Cushendall and next morning Conroy sent word to the barracks for an escort, as he had put McCue under arrest for desertion and was guarding him in a room. McCue was tried for the attempt and convicted, Conroy being exonerated.
Major Drury said he never saw a more perfect specimen of manhood than was Conroy. He lacked twi inches, or there-abouts, of being six feet tall and was splendidly “put together,” but was, withal, a perfect brute. He was splendid horse-man, and in the care of horses excelled. When drinking he gave no end of trouble to the battery authorities, but at times was a very good soldier. He was married while a member of the battery, but his wife was not on the “strength” for rations. She was a servant in the capacity of cook for Major Drury. It was to assist her and Conroy that she was engaged by Mrs. Drury. As far as the major knew she was an excellent cook and very fine person. Conroy used to abuse her even then and they had been married only a short time. He had to be forbidden to visit his wife at the quarters of the major on account of his abuse. As to her relatives no one knows anything concerning them, but all who knew the murdered woman speak of her as a nice, tidy, respectable person
