LPD takes fresh look at unsolved 1990 death of Merchant Marine

LYNN – A DJ at the American Legion Post 6 on North Common Street made a disturbing discovery at the foot of the club?s rear staircase late in the evening on July 21, 1990.Lying on the ground, bleeding, dazed and floating in and out of consciousness, was John “Ernie” McGaughey, a Lynn native and lifelong Merchant Marine who frequented the local veteran?s club several nights a week, police say.Minutes before the Saugus man slipped into a coma for nine days and succumbed to his injuries, McGaughey, 65, mumbled to police that he was mugged by three white men who beat, robbed and forcefully pushed him down a flight of stairs.Now 21 years later, and still unsolved, Lynn Police Captain Mark O?Toole said the case is being reopened with the hope that someone comes forward with clues to solve the mystery.?His report and injuries are consistent with being mugged,” O?Toole said. “We believe there was a function going on at the club that night. The DJ said he found blood in the hallway and yelled to a bartender to call an ambulance when he saw McGaughey with a bump over his left eye.”Looking over McGaughey?s slim file, O?Toole came across the victim?s brown leather wallet, which he said looked as if someone had rummaged through since it only contained only a Veteran of Foreign Wars and a National Rifle Association card.?McGaughey said he was jumped by two patrons who hit him on the head with something,” O?Toole said. “Both of his arms were scraped. He said he fell down a flight of stairs before someone came running after him, grabbed him from behind and pushed him down again.”Because of McGaughey?s weak condition, detectives assigned to the case were never able to continue their conversation with him to determine exactly how the assault happened, O?Toole said. As a result, details have remained fuzzy without further tips.McGaughey?s childhood friend and retired Lynn police officer, Steven Anderson, said he last saw his pal a year before his death.?He was just an all-around good guy who didn?t deserve what he got,” he said. “It?s a shame.”Anderson said while he hasn?t heard any rumblings about his friend?s murder, he did speculate that the suspects could have been associate members of the private club.?Back then, a beer would cost someone only about .35 cents, and now only about $1.50, so it was a bargain,” Anderson said. “But then again, (the murder) could have had nothing to do with the post, and more that the area was at the onset of becoming a very bad one. Either way, he (McGaughey) never did anything in his life to anyone, he was a damn good guy.”Born and educated in Lynn, McGaughey was a graduate of Lynn Classical High. And a Navy veteran.McGaughey served as a seaman first class aboard the USS Ancon during World War II, and was a Merchant Marine for the American President Shipping Lines for 45 years until his retirement in 1989, one year before he was murdered.According to reports, another assault occurred at the club about a week before the murder, where a man was beaten in a restroom.Anyone with information on this cold case is urged to call the police at 781-595-2000. Anonymous tips can be submitted by texting the word tiplynn and the information to tip411. Tips can also be sent through the department?s website, www.lynnpolic.org, by clicking the “submit tip” icon.