Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-10-17
KILLED HER CHILDREN
Mrs. SchOll Murders Her Lit.
tie Boy and Girl.
SHE CUTS HER OWN THROAT.
Poison Fails to Operate, and the
Knife Was Too Dull-The
Latest News.

Il News of a shocking double murder
and attempted suicide, at Tustin, reached
this city yesterday. From dispatches
received from Santa Ana it appears that
AIRS. Eff J. Scholl was found in her
house at Tustin early yesterday morning
with frightful cut on her throat, and
near her we're the bodies of her two
children, boy years of age, and girl
3 years. Both children had their throats
cut. Later developments showed that
Mrs. Scholl had murdered her children,
and had then attempted to take her own
life.
Mr.. and Mrs O. r. Scholl were mar
ried on September %, 1883, and lived at
Tustin until about three years ago, when
he left for Tuolumne. Their married
life was not happy, and shortly
after he left her, Scholl brought
suit for divorce in Tuolumne county.
The case was transferred to this
county, where Mrs. Scholl filed cross
complaint, charging desertion. Mrs.
Scholl obtained the divorce and was
awarded the children. About year ago
Scholl returned to Tustin, where he lived
by himself and worked in a grocery store.
On the 11th of the present month Scholl
applied to the court for the custody of
the children, alleging that their mother
was not proper person to have charge
of them, and when Mrs. Scholl was
served with copy of the motion she
threatened that sooner than let the chill
dren go she would kill them and herself.
She lived next door to her mother, Mrs.
Goodwin, and yesterday morning about
5 o'clock Mrs. Goodwin heard groans in
Mrs. Scholl's house.
Mrs. Goodwin, after listening for some
time, became alarmed and went into her
daughters house, where horrible sight
met her as she opened the door. On
the bed directly in front of the door was
Mrs. Scholl, with cash in her throat
from which the blood was flowing. By
her side were the bodies of her little boy
and girl, with their throats apparently
sawed open, and the floor, bed and walls
OF the room we're covered with the blood
OF the three.
Mrs. Goodwin was so overcome with
terror at the sight that she had hardly
strength enough to give an alarm or call
for help, but assistance finally arrived
and word was sent to Mr..
5choll, who Immediately went for
medical aid. Life was found in
Mrs. Scholl, but the children had died
Long before the crime was discovered.
After the bodies Of the children were re.
moved an empty bottle, which had con-
tanned poison Of some kind, was found in
the bed, and it was evident from the con-
dition OF Mrs. Scholl that she had not
been content to cut her throat, but had
endeavOred to make her death certain by
taking poison.
A further search of the bed revealed
the presence of an old table knife with
ragged edge and a blade much worn. 1t
was covered with blood and had evidently
been used to saw the threats of her
children and her own. An examination of
the woman's body also disclosed the fact
that besides cutting her throat she had
attempted to stab herself with the knife,
but it was too blunt to do the work she
intended.
After Mrs. Scholl had recovered con-
sciousness she said, in reply to reporter
who questioned her: "Orr wanted the
children, and | was determined he
should not have them, for would kill
them first. / have tried to live with
Jesus, and my life has been laid down
because of lawyers, and the money of
Orr Scholl has bounded me to death. l
knew he would take the children. Scho,l
can lie worse than the devil, and he will
steal when he can get chance. He has
stolen chickens, and know it,"
She was then asked why she had at
tempted to kill herself as we'll as her
children, and said: 81 did not want to
live after they were away from me, SO l
took some carbolic acid and some muri-
attic acid, and then the pain in my throat
was so much that wanted to finish my
self with the knife, and stabbed myself
as hard as could, but the knife was too
blunt for me-"
When the reporter, some moments
after, tried to speak with her again she
opened her eyes, and gazing fxedly at
him, said: cat first 1 thought it was
Orr, and was going to slap your face.
1t is lucky you are not he, for l hate him
hate him / told them two days ago,
when made up my mind to kill my
babies, that / would never let him have
them alive, and 1 have kept my word.
Friends told me several times that those
devils, the lawyers, would take the chill
dren away from me, and as l could not
live without them, sent them to Jesus
first, and will now follow them myself"
The Coroner took possession of the
bodies Of the children, and two physi-
clans did everything in their power to
save the life of Mrs. Scholl, who it was
expected at first would die.
A special to the HERALD at late hour
last night says:
There has been great change in the
condition of Mrs. Scholl. 1t is expected
that she will die before morning, and has
been unconscious since noon. The feeling
is intense in the community ,and she had
she not been in the condition she is, it is
possible that severe measures would have
been taken by the citizens. At the Coro-
ner's inquest on the bodies of the children
the jury returned verdict of wilful MUIR
der against Mrs. Scholl. Should she
recover, she will be removed to the jail
and will be fully guarded by officers. The
doctors are in constant attendance.
A DIVIDED HOUSE.