Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-30

The closing scenes in the MacGregor
tragedy were enacted yesterday with
the coroner's inquest, and the burial of
the dead man and his child wife. All
morning the morgue was besieged by
curious and morbid throng of specta-
tors eager to catch glimpse of the re-
mains of the two suicides.
1t transpired yesterday that Mrs.
Benjamin, the mother of the child wife,
had an interview with her shortly be-
fore her death on the preceding even
ing. II took place during one of her in
tervals Of semi-consciousness.
''Leah," said her mother, "did you
take the poison, or were you forced to
take it?"
''Bert made me take it" wasthe weak,
half inarticulate response.
"Where did he get it?' asked DR..
Westlake.
"He got it at Beckwith's."
"What time did he force you to take
the poison. Was it after O'Clock ?'
EYES," she family replied.
Leah then became unconscious again,
and did not'revive sufficiently thereafter
to tell the tragic story of the scenes Of
Sunday morning in that lonely hotel
room. Gradually the stupor deepened
into the last white sleep of death.
LEAH's WOUNDS.
When the remains of Leah MacGresor
were taken to the family residence on
Boyle Heights an examination made by
Coroner Weldon and DIR. Westlake re-
vealed such wounds ON the head and
body that they at once accepted the
startling theory that the young girl had
been violently forced to take the poison
by MacGregor. On the back of herhead
there were three large Commissions, while
on the left temple there was an ugly
cash as if made with the handle Of a
revolver found under MacGregor's pill
low. 'On the girls chin there were two
gashes, as if made in violent effort on
the part OF MacGregor to force her
mouth open and pour the deadly drug
between her parted lips. Her
verely confused, SO much 80 as
to give the impression that lit was
broken, and limbs and body were COW
cred with black and blue bruises and
abrasions. In fact, everything indi-
Gated that the poor child had made
terrible struggle for life. 1t is Coroner
Weldon's theory that McGregor per-
,suaded his child wife to go with him to
the hotel, and there unfolded to her his
plans for double suicide; that he told
her that his prospects in life were
blighted by misfortune and disease, and
that finally he swallowed dose of poi
son and then demanded that she also
partake of her deadly potion. At the
last moment Leah refused to take it, and
that then fearful scene ensued.
"A sTRUGGLEsEoR LIFE.
1t wa struggle between a desperate,
opium-crazed husband, and young girl
wife, who loved the hand that trstruck
her, and sought by frenzied blows to
death. 1T was struggle in which all OF
the odds were against her, and finally
sinking exhausted on the bed the NOR
phine waspoured past her lips and the
deed of double death oOnsummate0.
The funeral OF Leah MacGregor took
place at an early hour yesterday after
noon from the home OF her mother, at
Evergreen cemetery.
A .FoRssER SUICIDAL ATTEMPT.
Among the curious throng of morbid
watchers who gathered at the mo-gue
yesterday morning was Mrs. Evans of
Santa Barbara. She was dressed in
black, and made many manifestations of
grief. She had been companion of
MacGregor at one period, and made a
statement to the effect that MacGregor
had made q previous attempt to commit
suicide. 1t was while she and the de-
ceased were together fre weeks ago.
AT that,particular time he had nothing
in this world to lire for, and had decided
ito take his ownllde. She atdirst thought
he was not serious, but finally he drew
out razor, and before she could pre-
went him, he cut an artery ia his arm.
1T is a fact that sor some time past
MaeGregor had been afflicted with an
incurable and loathsome disease.
Coroner Weldon has destroyed letters
from two other girls which indicated
that MaoGregor had slso been seriously
Involved with them The letters were
destroyed by Dr. Weldon to obviate any
further scandal.
Charles D. Willard, brother-in-law
of Maosregor, says that he had wasted
his life. MacGregor told him some time
ago. under a solemn pledge of secrecy,
of his elandestiRe marriage. HE rea-
sons for concealiRg the union was that
he wanted to make some headway in
the world 6rst; that he had good po-
sition and intended to save money and
reform.
THE c0RoNEa's INQUEST.
A short time prior to the holding OF
the coroner's inquest at the parlors OF
Orr & Sutch. Coroner Weldon received
the following letter from Mr.. Ben
Benjamin, a brother of the deceased
girl:
Coroner Weldon:
DEAR SIR: There are SO many things
to do at home that hope you will be
able to excuse me from attending the
inquest. think the verdict should
read: Leah MacGregor came to her
death from morphine poison, admin
istered by Bert MacGregor.
l send the letters, if you think that
they are necessary. You will notice
that she only wrote few lines, Mac
Gregor writing all OF them. The hits
about the head 60 to prove that he
murdered her. / see no reason why he
should be spared. He is a black
scoundrel. She never took poison on
her own volition. BEN BENJAMIN.
The first witness examined at the cor
- Z. c.~k loon