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Paul Halliday was the last husband of Eliza McNally aka Maggie Hopkins.
“Paul Halliday was for many years a resident of this city, and was employed in the saw factory. His first wife made him a good home, and was a good mother to his children. About twenty year ago (c1873) Halliday sold his little property in this city (Middletown, NY) and bought a wild place on the mountain above Burlingham, where he engaged in burning charcoal. After a few years the family removed to Providence, RI, where Halliday was employed as engineer in the office of the Providence Journal. After a number of years he returned to his old place on the mountain. His wife died some six or seven years ago (c1886), and after remaining a widower for a short time he married a woman said to be a gypsy, who has made his old age as wretched as that of any man could be. About three years ago, while Halliday was in this city with a load of charcoal, his house on the mountains was destroyed by fire. His youngest son, a half-witted fellow, perished in the flames. There were those who said that his devil of a wife had made away with the boy and burned the house to conceal her crime, but there was no positive proof to sustain the charge. About two years ago Mrs. Halliday disappeared from her mountain home, and when next heard of was in Newburg under arrest for stealing a horse. While in jail she displayed symptoms of violent insanity, and though some thought she was shamming, she was sent to an insane asylum from which she was released in May last.”
Chronology:
- 1873: Sells his property in Middletown, NY and purchases “a wild place on the mountain above Burlingham”.
