Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-09-09
A WOMAN MURDERED.
She Is Shot Four Times by
a Divorced Husband.
HE THEN ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.
An Affair Which Created Consider
able Excitement at San
Pedro Yesterday.

Yesterday morning about 10 O'Clock
the sound OF five pistol shots coming
from the interior of the Crocker House.
at San Pedro, and the report that a
woman had been murdered, created
quite an excitement among the peoplein
the immediate vicinity. A few seconds
later crowd gathered in front of the
house, and the hasty exit of the muir.
derer, with his pistol in his hand, aided
in creating as lively scene as has been
witnessed at the seaport for some time.
1t appears that quite number of years
ago Mr.. and Mrs. John McGuffrie were
married: At that time Mrs. McGuffrie
was widow with one daughter. Their
married life, though blessed with four sons
and three daughters, was not very
happy one, and about three years ago
they were divorced. It was about this
time that McGuffrie and his etep.
daughter had quarrel, and it ia said
that the young lady either shot him in
the leg or shot at him. At any rate this
little affair only assisted in breaking up
the family. Since the divorce McGuffrie
has at various times when he met his
former wife made things very unpleasant
for her and has accused her of bringing
up the children in the way in which they
should not 90. 1t is even said that he
went so far as to make some threats to
her which ggaaye her feeling Of nneasi-
ness lest ne should in some way injure
her or the children. No violence was
attempted, however, and for some time
past McGuttrie has resided at Hyde
U hn
Guthrie had been at San Pedro, and hear
ing that she was stopping with some
friends, about week ago Mr.. McGuffrie
went down from hyde Park to see her.
He searched about the town and made
inquiries, but did not succeed in finding
her. He then returned to Hyde Park.
and later in the week he heard that she
was stopping at the Crocker House at
San Pedro. Yesterday morning he made
q second trip to San Pedro, and without
difficulty found the Crocker House.
Several parties who saw him noticed that
he seemed to be laboring under some
sort of excitement, but they paid no at
tention to it and only remembered MOTTO
ing it after the shooting had been made
public.
When he arrived at the Crocker
House he requested Mrs. Crocker to send
his wife to him, as he wanted t. see he,
on important business. Mrs. McGuffrie
was then in another part of the house,
but when informed of the visitor who
wanted to see her she expressed q
nervousness, but did not hesitate, and
entered the .parlor, greeting her former
husband rather coldly.
Mrs. Crocker was about to turn around
and leave the room, but McGuffrie re-
quested her to stay and be witness to
what he was going to say. He said he
was going to propose some arrangement
whereby the children could be brought
up in a decent manner. A very few
words then passed between McGuffrie
and his wife, she refusing to assent to
any proposition which he could make.
and denying that the children were
being improperly Brought up.
McGuffrie then put his hand to his hip
and drawing 3S-caliber revolver, fred
four shots at bis wife in rapid
succession, each bullet striking her. The
unfortunate woman half turned as if to
run, and as the last bullet struck her,
penetrating her lungs, she fell to the
floor, where she expired Immediately,
without uttering word. So sudden had
been the shooting that Mrs. Crocker had
not time to escape, and Witnessed the
whole scene.
When Mrs. McGuffrie fell to the floor
McGuffrie threw himself on her body
and placing the revolver to his abb
domen, about six inches below his
heart, shot himself. After uttering some
words which were not understood,
by the terrified people who had been at
tracted from other parts OF the house,
McGuffrie sprang to his feet and rushed
to the street with his pistol still in his
hand. By this time quite crowd had
collected in front of the house, and as
the people came running from every di-
rection McGufrie threw the pistol into
the street and announced that he was
the one who had killed the woman. No
sooner had he thrown the weapon away
than he was seized by some Of those in
the crowd, and Constable Leo Nor
rie, coming up at that moment,
McGuffrie was turned over to him and
was locked up in the Jail, where he will
remain until after his examination.
1t was not discovered until he had
reached the Jail that he had shot himeelf.
When he was being searched at that
place he said that he had shot himself,
and pointed to the place where the
bullet entered. He was then stripped
and the bullet wound discovered. Very
little blood had flowed from the wound,
which it was thought would very likely
prove fatal. He was 30 certain he would
not recover that during the afternoon
he called in lawyer and made out his
will, leaving all his property to his
children. The exact nature of its con-
tents could not be learned.
McGuffrie, when questioned ct the
jail, said that he did not want to live,
and was sorry that his shot at himself
had not been Immediately fatal.
McGuffrie is a native Of Liverpool, 48
years of age and his wife was As years
old. Mrs. McGuffrie was always held
in high esteem by all who knew her and
so far as was ascertained at San Pedro
yesterday, there have been no whispers
Of any ill conduct on her part. 1t was
said, however, that McGuffrie was quite
quarrelsome and very exacting, and that
he made her life very miserable for her
for some time before their divorce. The
|step.daughter of McGuffrie, who shot at
him three years ago, is residing in San
Pedro. Coroner Meredith was sum-
moned to San Pedro yesterday afternoon,
and the inquest will probably be held
this morning.