Newspaper Page Text
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1912
THE DEMOOliMfKJ BANNER
PAGE
K
THk
i
WILLIAM B.
EMPTIES CONTENTS OF A SHOT GUN IN HFR
HEAD AS SHE LAY IN BED
i
Goes To Another Room, Reloads Gun And Discharges
It Into His Own Head
A Well Defined Motive For Deeds Is
lacking
PROBABLY DERANGED OVER
FAILURE TO SECURE THE
NOMINATION FOR
TREASURER
The community was shocked early Saturday morning
by a murder and an attempted suicide -which resulted in
the death of Mrs. Lola M. Magill and in all probabilities
will result in the death of her husband, William B. Magill,
a well known school teacher of Mt. Vernon.
The tragedy occurred, as near as can be determined,
at 6:30 o'clock at the Magill residence on North Gay
street, not far from Mcrund View cemetery.
The exact cause for the shooting will probably never
be determined.
Magill was a candidate for the Bepublican nomination
for county treasurer at the primaries last May and was de
feated. Ever since that time he has been a disappointed
man and frequently remarked to his friends and neighbors
that his financial condition was such that at times it was
difficult for him to make both ends meet.
It would therefore appear that his financial condition
preyed heavily on his mind, and secondly the man was un
der considerable mental strain recently on account of sick
ness in his family. It is understood that his wife had not
been in very good health for some weeks past and then his
young son, Morgan, aged 16 years, has been quite ill for
several weeks past and Mr. Magill was compelled to re
main up much during the night and then teach school dur
ing the day.
To a physician Friday eening, Magill remarked, "I
have not slept touch for almost a week and am nearly worn
out." ' v
The surroundings about the home would bear out the
report in regard to Magill's financial condition. The roof
of the house was in a bad condition and one could see the
daylight in several places. There was evidence that wat
er came through, when it rained and the paper was torn
from the wall in several places.
With all these things existing and preying heavily up
on the man's mind, the theory is advanced that he worked
himself up to such a high state of mind that he considered
he would be better out of the world than in it and accord
ingly determined to end all by first killing his wife and
then killing himself.
The neighbors state, and so do the relatives, that the
domestic relation: between the man and his wife were the
best and that there had been no quarrels of any kind. v
When a Banner reporter visited the
scone of the tragedy early In the morn
ing tho house and premises had trie
appearance of a slaughter houso. The
bed room and kitchen were spattered
with blood and a crimson path led
from the front door to tho gate and
Into the street and then in a circle
back to the door. The celling In the
kitchen was shot-torn where a largo J
v5
MAGILL KILLS
AND THEN
amount of a charge of shot had none-
trated
Tho murder and attempted suloldo
occurred, ns near as It Is posslblo to
determine, at 6:30 o'clock In the morn
Ing. Mrs. Magill was lying In bed,
while her husband moved about the
kitchen and adjoining room. Thorn
was no Indication of vlolenco on the
part of the latter, he having appeared
,
HIS
WIFE
HIS
to bo In a somewhat better frame of
mind than usual, until he stepped into
the bed room carrying a double bar
reled shot gun. Mrs. Magill was lying
in the bed, wlch' was located at the
northwest corner of the room, and was
In such a position as to expose the
left side of her head. Indications
were that tho position waB not cor
rect for the accomplishment of his
purpose from tho position he was In
on entering tho room so he wnlkod to
tho foot of tho bed and went between
It and tho wall. From this position
ho Is supposed to have placed the
muzzle of the gun close to the left sldo
of her head and fired. The entire
charge struck his victim and tore
away nearly all of tho jaw bone and
terribly mutilated the entire left side
of her head. She was asleep when he
entered the room and did not awaken
for the reason that he probably moved
cautiously In order not to alarm her.
She was not Instantly killed, but died
shortly before eight o'clock without re
gaining consciousness.
ATTEMPTED 8UICIDE
Immediately after committing the
terrible deed, Magill fled from the
room and went Into the kitchen where
he had first secured the gun. He op
ened the left barrel, the one which had
been fired, and,.. extracting the empty
shell, reloaded it. Having done this,
he placed tho muzzle against his right
Jaw and pressed tho trigger with his
foot. The left barrol was again ex
ploded and the charge this time went
Into his own head. The wound inflicted
was not as bad as that of his wife be
cause a large number of the shot did
not penetrate deep, but glanced and
went Into the colling over his head.
After shooting himself, Magill drop
ped the gun and staggered to the front
door and went out Into the yard. Ho
reached the gate and then turned back
and made his way into the house to
the bed room where his wlfo lay
sweltering In blood. He threw himself
across her body and lay perfectly still.
8HOT8 HEARD BY NEIQHBOR8
When the crime was committed Mrs.
Frederick .Krafft and her sister-in-law,
Mrs. Allen Ewalt, were sitting In tho
dining room In tho Krafft home just
across tho street from Magill's. When
the first shot was heard It Bounded
muffled and the women thought that
a neighbor had dropped a wash tub.
No attention was paid by them until
the second and louder report rang out
and then, becoming alarmed, Mrs.
Ewalt ran to the front door and looked
out Into the Btreet. -Just at this time
Magill htaggered out of the front door
with blood streaming from his jaw and
down over his shirt front to the
ground, Mrs. Kwalt saw him go to the
.front gate and start toward a small
tree in he yard. Seeing that some
thing terrible had happened, she quick
ly informed Mrs. Krafft who ran to
the home 'of William Hlssong a short
distance away. Mr. Hlssong, as quick
ly as possible, hastened to the Magill
home and found both Mrs. Magill and
her husband lying on the bed in a
mess of blood. Mrs. Magill was lying
lengthwise on the bed and he had
thrown himself crosswise over her
body.
A PHYSICIAN SUMMONED
Without lingering to attempt to In
vestigate the terrible scene that foil
under bis gaze, Mr. Hlssong 'ran back
home and telephoned to Dr. Harry W.
Blair who made all hast to the scene
of the tragedy. The man and woman
were In the same position as when
seen by Hlssong and both were still
Jlvlug. ChappeJearKaufman & Co.'s
ambulance was called to tho sceno and
Magill was rushed to the Mt, Vernon
hospital where he Is nbw lying In n
most critical condition.
Mrs. Magill was swiftly bleeding to
death when tho doctor arrlvod and ev
erything possible was done to save
her life. This was to no avail, howov
01, and she died about one and ono
half tiours after 'being shot. Her re
mains was taken to the Chappolear,
Kaufman & Co. undertaking establish-
'
A
.W
K
Sf
OWN I lit
ment to be propared forjburlal.
THE CORONER'S VISIT
Before the body of the.tnurdered wo
man was moved, Deputy Coroner B. C.
Deeley was summoned and an exam
ination was made. Nothing could be
found or heard to point to the shoot.
Ing being accidental so his finding was
"murder and nttempted suicide."
" POLICE ON SCENE
The police department was notified
of the murder and attempted suicide
shortly after it had occurred Saturday
morning. Chief of Police Clements
and Officer George hastened to the
Magill home, but Ctd.not arrive at
the house until after Magill had been
removed to the Mt. Vernon hospital.
The police have taken no action in
the affair at the present time. If Ma
gill should die there will be nothing
for the police department to do. On
the other hand should Magill recover,
which Is not likely, a charge of mur
der will be placed against the man.
MADE PURCHASES FOR SON
Magill wns down town Friday ev6n
Ing and conversed with a number of
friends, but exhibited no sign of his
mental condition. Ho talked to W. B.
Hnncock rolatUo to some business
matters and appeared at one of the
clothing stores and purchased somo
underwear for his young son.
DR. BLAIR'8 STATEMENT
Mnglll wns at Dr. Blair's office on
Friday evening and wus very much
worried over the condition of his son,
Morgan Mnglll, 16 years or age, atid
acted queer. Dr. Blair said his state
ments were feomotlmes 'of a rambling
nature and his mind did not appear to
bo exactly normal. Ho told the doctor
that he had not slept for ( nearly a
week and that he was feeling badly.
Dr. Blair said that the chances of
Magill's recovery are small on account
of the nature of the wound and the
great loss of blood. The lert side or
ins lower jaw was nearly all Bhot
away and tho upper part of his neck
was terribly torn on the left side. He
Is very weak from loss of blood and
perhaps will not recover! T
MAGILL'S QUEER ACT
One act of the man, arter he had
fired the shot Into his own jaw, is
hard to understand. Before going ouc
the door and Into the yard he drew
n package of letters and postcards
from his pocket and smeared blood
all over them. They were then drop,
ped to the floor and were later des
troyed It Is thought by neighbors who
attached no Importance to thorn. One
thing noticed about them, however,
and that Is the Interesting part. On
the front and back of each was writ
ten, "lies," In large letters. What this
one word might have meant Is not
known but It probably had some bear
ing upon the crime. It Is probable
thut tho contents of the letters would
havo given more light on tho affair
as far ns motive Is concerned.
WHAT THE SON SAID
Magill's son, Morgan Magill, who
was bleeping on n cot next to the
death chamber, said, on being ques
tioned, that he did not hear the first
shot fired and did not awnken until
tho second explosion came. He could
tell nothing about the affair, or said
that he could not, except that he was
frightened by the knowledge that
something terrible had happened and
screamed nt the top of his voice.
The boy has been ill for some time
and had been sleeping close to the
door leading into the bed room. Had
he been awake, he would probably
luive been in a position to see the
deed. 'Nothing tangible could be ex
tracted from blm and he appeared to
be backward about telling anything
or discussing the affair from any
angle. His Illness and physical con
dition probably hud a good deal to do
with his actions on being asked to an
swer questions.
WA8 SECOND WIPE
The murdered woman was MaglU'a
second wife, the first having died over
two years ago. Neighbors are at loss
to account for the act when consider
ing family relations because tho two
seemed to get along together excel
lently and were never heard quarrel
ing. The neighbors snfd Saturday
morning that whenever Mrs. Magill
showed a tendency to bo out of humor
at any time, her husband would say,
"I won't love you If you get mad."
When she would hear htm say this
she, it is said, alwas felt very badly
and vowed that Bhe would novor got
mad nt him. She always was vory
particular to please him in every way
and on Frldy evening asked a neigh
bor woman to mix somo plo crust for
her because she was afraid that star,
could not do It well enough to please
her husband. Trouble between man
.
nnd wife could not have been tho
muse of tho double crime.
HINTED HIS INTENTION
Ivan Magill, son of William Mnglll,
who Is married and lives In the west
nd of town, paid a visit to his falh
oi'h homo Friday evening for tho first
tlruo since the second marriage. Dur
ing his visit the father told him all
about bis troubles, real and probably
fancied, and acted In a rather strange
manner although his actions' w re not
noticeably erratic. He repeated tho
story of his defeat at the primaries
and said that he was undecided just
what was the best way out of the
trouble. Ono of the last sentences
ho uttered to his son, However, was
this: "You will know the end later."
This utterance gives rise to the belief
that tho man premeditated murder
and suicide and was successful In the
former Instance and perhaps In the
latter. No other Interpretation can
be made of the expression.
On May 27th, 1912, Magill married
Mrs. tola M. Taylor, the woman whom
he kilted, and brought her to Mt. Ver-
fion to live. She formerly lived at
Esto, Ohio, and had been divorced
from iher first husband. She had an
eight-year-old daughter at the time
when she married Magill, but the girl
has been living with her grandparents
In Rsto. Mrs. Magill's parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Edward Miser, are well
known residents of Butler township,
BROODED QVER ELECTION
Magill was a candidate for the nom
Inatlon for county treasurer at the
primaries last spring and belleted be
fore the election that he would get the
nomination. He failed, however, and
this carao as a blow. He acted queer
ly for u long time after that and told
several persons that ho was nearly
crazy with dlbappolntment nnd worry.
Tho failure at the polls evidently
prayed upon his mind all along for
ho frequently mentioned it all Bum
liner nnd fall. This along with contin
uous financial difficulties, probably
caused bis mind to be wrought up to
such a pitch that he committed mur
der and attempted suicide thinking
that It woud be the easiest way out
of all of the trouble.
On Friday morning Magill arose
early and persisted in leaving for his
school long before the usual time. His
wife tried to persuade him that It was
too early, but he Insisted that he must
go or he would be late reporting for
duty. Ho never acted this way before
and Mrs. Magill could not understand
his unusual behavior.
Magill has been teaching In the
county schools for many years nnd
this fall had been teaching at-the Clin
ton school on the Mansfield road Just
north of the city.
AN ACCIDENT THEORY
A very Improbable theory was ad
vanced by some of Magihs fi lends
the tragedy had occurred. They' said
Who 'visited the scene sometime after
that the left barrel of the gun was
ory easily exploded on account of a
ilgnler trigger spring and that they
believed Mnglll went Into the bed
room to ktbs his wife good bye before
u.nrtlng on a rabbit hunt and accident
ally shot her. Their theory Is, furth
er, that he was nearly wild with grief
over the terrible accident and chose
to die himself rather than live and
know thnt he had killed his wife. The
tncory is a very Improbable one and
Is believed by very few. Tho entire
situation points to a premeditated
crime.
Mnglll was 4C years of age on
September 21st, 1912, and his wife
was 29 years of ago on May 27th, 1912.
Magill Is the father or two sons and
one daughter, Ivan and Morgan and
Mrs. Harrison Houbler, nnd his wife
was the mother of one daughter, 8
yearH of age. The children were all
from former marriages.
LETTER8 ARE FOUND
The letters and post cards on which
the word "lljes" was written and which
could not belocated at first were later
discovert d to be in the possession of
tho oung son who has been sick for
several weeks and they were taken
possession of by the coroner and the
police. , All were examined thnrnnchly
but nothing could be found In them
thut might have any bearing upon te
crime.
CALLS FOR HIS WIFE
For several hours after having been
taken to tho hospital Magill was un
able to speak or comprehend anything,
but at about noon he gained strength
to some extent and talked to his at
tendants. He remembered nothing of
having shot his wife and himself, b'ut
repeatedly asked the nurse to tele
phone for bis wife to come to his bed-'
side. i
It Is the opinion of the physicians
that he was temporarily derangod on
account of loss of sleep nnd commit
ted the terrlblo act while his mind
was in this condition.
FUNERAL MONDAY
Tho remains of Mrs. Muglll will be
removed to tho home of her parents,
Mr, and Mrs. Edward Miser, at Esto
where the funeral will bo held Mon
day. ,
Occasionally a patient swears by
his doctor, but more often at him.
...jV, t, V,uj.j tfttM
Wlltd I Cociety I
Hay Now Adopt Any Forn
Of Givemeit
Tke Aneidaeit Ti bistiti
Hii Now Belli li Effect
Tho municipal home rule amend
ment provided by Ohio's now constitu
tion went into effect Friday. It vastly
enlarges tho powers of municipalities.
Municipalities may now determine
their form of government by any one
of three ways. They may, upon vote,
of the people, elect 1G citizens' to
frame a charter, which must be sub
mitted to tho people for approval. The
form of government they may have
can either be the commission, the
federal or any other plan not out of
harmony with the new organic law of
the stale.
Up until Friday the cities nnd vil
lages of the state could only have the
form and machinery of government
provided for them by the general as
sembly. They could not do anything
no matter how much it might tend to
improvement of city conditions and ur
ban comfort, unless the legislature
previously bad granted such powers to
them.
Now this is all changed. Every mu
nicipality, If the electors so order, may
frame Its own charter and choose Its
own form of government, without hav
ing to consult the legislature, and Is
given authority to 'exercise all powers
of local self-government.
In Columbus an ordinance Is already
ponding to provide for the election of
a commission of IS citizens to frame
a charter, it the people so vote. The
commission plan of government seems
to be favored there. In Cleveland a
similar move is on. The federal plan
seems to have the preference there.
Toledo, Cincinnati and Dayton are said
to bo thinking of taking action soon.
Another important feature of the
home rule amendment Is that it gives
municipalities the power to acquire,
construct, own, lease and operate any
or all of their public utilities. This
power is broad enough to Include tele
phone and street railway companies.
The authority to own and operate
utilities is subject to the limitations
fixed by tho general assembly on the
power of the municipality to levy tax
es and incur Indebtedness. A city
may raise money for such purpose by
issuing mortgage bonds beyond the
limit of bonded Indebtedness fixed by
taw, provided that such bonds are
made a lien only on the property and
revenues of the utility Itself.
Cities are given the right to appro
priate private property for a public
use, and this will enable a city to take
property for a civic center, park or
a street opening and a sufficient
amount of adjacent property to protect
the improvement
Cities are also given authority to
regulate billboard advertising. They
can restrict the size, location and char
acter of such advertising.
It Is probable that under the broad
powers vested in municipalities under
the new constitutional amendment, ex
periments will bo made in municipal
ization of public utilities within the
next few years that were undreamed
of years ago.
DEATHS
Emor Mitchell
Emor Mitchell, formerly of near
Lock, died Friday at his home In Be-
ment, III. His death was caused by
heart trouble. He was 50 years of age.
Mr. Edgar Ball of Columbus is vis
itng for several days with Dr. and
Ml 3. C. K. Conard.
Mr. J. A. Westrich has disposed of
his business in Howard, Ohio, his
brother, Mr. A. F. Westrich, purchas
ing the same.
Mr. and Mrs. George Welrick re
turned to their home In Mlllersburg
Friday morning after a visit with their
son, Mr. Charles Welrick, and family
of Hlawahta park.
Mr. jtussell Sellers of Starling-Ohio
Medical college, Columbus, is in the
city to spend Sunday with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Sellers, East Gam
bler street.
Mr. John M. Bocher Is lying at his
residence, West High street, in a crit
ical condition With Brlght's disease.
He is not expected to survive the day.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Allerdlng went
to Mansfield Friday afternoon where
they will be the guests of Mr. and
Mrs. C, N Allerdlng.
All porsons knowing themselves In
debted' to Mr. Westrich will ploaso
call and settle before Doc. 10th.
11-1G-U
Dr. Isabel Nlxoxn went to Fostorla,
0 this morning where she will be
the guest of friends over Sunday.
Mrs. Fred Soils of Utlca Is tho guest
of relatives In the city for a few days.
T J t -.. J-S. ,. U). t.ll'lkiy, y .. y, ,
Entertained
With Auction
Mrs, James F. Lee, North
street, entertained informally
nuctlon nt her homo on Friday aflat
noon In honor of Mrs, Kdmoatf
Bates of Alliance, who is the
of Mrs. Stephen A. Douglas of
Ohio Stato Sanatorium.
Leap-Year Dance
Enjoyed By Students
The young ladles of the ML Veraaa.
High school entertained with a toe.
year dance In the Pythian armory I'M
day evening in honor of the
men. Dancing was enjoyed ubUj
o'clock with music by Rails' orchee
Tho chaperones of the evening v
threo members of the High sebool :
ulty, Mrs. I. M. Wolvertoa sad
Frank Harper.
Enjoyable
Party
Mr. Charles Norrielc and Mr.
Norrlck entertained at their hosae
Oak street Friday evening In hone
their birthday anniversary. At aes
o'clock a two course dinner waa
ed. Those present were Miss
beth Strieker of Howard, Miss Agnes
Swlgert, Miss Irene Perish, Miss Ila.
el Hedge and Messrs. George Bpeaa
man, Andrew Proper, Warren Pipe.
Charles Norrlck, Bay Norrick. aae
Mrs. Norrlck.
The Elks' Dance
A Pleasant Event
The Elks' opened tho social season
of 1912-1913 with a most delightful
musical entertainment and dance la
their club rooms on Friday evening i
the event being the first of a series ot
dances to be given during tho winter
months. Tho home was attractlvetjt
decorated for the occasion. From eight
until ten o'clock a fine concert warn
given by the Troubadours AmuseBseah
Company. Dancing was then enjeyeei
from ten until two o'clock. Punch waa
served the dancers and a buffet taneh
eon was served during the evening. 'M.
number of guesta were present from ;
of the city. The next dance ot the
series will occur on the 'evenlac
December 12.
Lodge To
Entertain
The Knights and Ladles of SecarU
Initiated three candidates Friday ens
ening, this making five ror the moatt.
of November. This order has lncxeaa
cd the membership In the local coua
ell over fifty per cent In the last nine
ty days. There are some 'fifty appli
cants for membership who will job
the council during the month ot De
cember, and all who have not done ae
should be examined soon in order te
get into this class. Atthe meetlax
Friday evening the council decided I
hold an entertainment and luncheon
in January in honor of th,ese snn
members who have already been Inia.
lated or those who will be lintlatee
before January. A committee .waa air
pointed to make, arrangements for thh
occasion, and n very enjoyable time
is expected. ,,
Reception Given
By Kinsman Council ,
A most enjoyable social event of the
reception tendered Friday evening hj
Kinsman Council, No. 76,. Royal aael
Select Masters in honor of Mr. Lewie
P. Schaus, Moet Illustrious Graadr
Master, Royal and Select Master eJ
Ohio and Mrs. Schaus at the Mara!
Temple. A reception was held froaav.
8 until 9 o'clock during which tteu
an opportunity was given the mesa
bers, of the Kinsman Council aadl
their ladles to meet Mr. and Mm
Schaus. In the receiving Una were
Thrice Illustrious Master R. B. Ana
strong and Mrs. Armstrong, Mr. aa4t
Mrs. Schaus and Mr. end Mrs. Iliinii
C. Bostwick. 'During the hours el the
reception a fine musical program we'
rendered by M lid's orchestra.
Following the reception itinrif
was enjoyed until midnight with ex
cellent music by the Mild .orchestra.
Cards were played by those -who
not care for dancing. Punch was i
ed in the ball room.
At intervals during the evenlac
delicious buffet luncheon wa
in the banquet room. The tables '
handsomely devorated with caraatleem
and purple chrysanthemums., A large
number were present during the wast
ing and the event was one of msek.
pleasure to all., ,
:
A Great Building- Palls
when Its foundation Is undermined
and it the foundation of health goaeV
digestion it attacked, quick coll
follows. On the first signs of IT!?
gestion, Dr. King's Newi Life Plllsj.
should be taken to tone the stomach,
and regulate liver, kidneys 'and bow
els. Pleasant, easy, safe- and only
3D cents at G. R. Baker & Co,
; ! : zrr-
Banner Classified Ads. Pay.
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