Donnelly, Nora

[ John Kennedy, This drawing originally appeared in the 1880 newspaper coverage of the Donnelly murders. It is reprinted in Donald L. Cosens, ed. Nora (Hanorah) Donnnelly was the wife of William Donnelly. She married William in 1875, even though Will’s first love was Margaret Thompson. Norah was a Kennedy by birth, and some members of her family (such as brothers John and Rhody) were not keen on having her marry a member of the Donnelly clan even though they had all been friends in their younger years. After the marriage, Nora’s brothers John and Rhody had many entanglements with the Donnellys. Nora was home with her husband William the night of February 4, 1880 when the mob came to her home and shot her brother-in-law John Donnelly. Her brother, John Kennedy, was arrested for the crime, but he was never convicted.

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