Purtell, John

Johnny O’Connor claimed to have clearly seen John Purtell, a hired hand on the McGrath farm, in the Donnelly home on the night of the murders. Purtell was arrested for the murders, and was kept in jail throughout the two trials. He had connections to members of the Vigilance Committee, and had worked for some of them. The McGrath family testified that Purtell did not leave their house the night of the murders. James Feeheley claimed that Johnny must have been mistaken, that in fact Purtell was not part of the mob.