The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-16
Officer Magnire's Relations With
Miss Bella Lewis
WAS TO HAVE MARRIED
She Was Anxious to Return Quickly
to Los Angeles
Writes Letter Asking for Honey for Ex-
penses-The Dead 1an's Wilde
tails of the Testimony

uHate entanSle m9nI Will SeNerdi "omoh
In this city, and it now seems that his
rash act was fastened by the knowledge
that another woman in whom he was in :
terested would soon be here. The last
person is Miss Belle Lewis, the daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob Lewis, and who is
now in New York.
As soon as Mcguire disappeared and
suicide was limited. the name of Miss
Belle Lewis was at once connected with
the case and this suspicion was substant-
lated yesterday shortly after the coron-
er's inquest, by the arrival of letter
from ner to Mcguire. This letter not only
tells of the relations between the two
parties, but also proves what became of
all the money Mcguire hau with him
Saturday night. This money was with
out doubt seat to Miss Lewis to enable
her to purchase ticket to return to Los
Angeles. Her return to this point would
have added to poor Maguire's entangle-
ment and increased his embarrassment.
and it is not to be wondered that he took
his life, as the coroner's jury decided yes
terday he did.
Mcguire left WILL in which he made
Belle Lewis the beneficiary.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. LOWS and their
other daughter, Blanche, affirm ed most
positively on the witness STAND that Ma
guire had not sent Belle any money or
assisted so far as they were aware to send
her east. Moreover, they said that Ma
friend to Belle. This is proved by her
letter to have been wrong. as there is
no question hut that they intended to get
married or else live together after her
arrival here.
The letter is from New York and bore
the date of October 9th. The woman
does not mince matters. but went ahead
and said what she had in her mind. She
addressed him as Mr.. Mcguire" She
tells him that he has been negligent, as
she has not received letter from him
for week. He is urged to hurry and
send her the money with which to pur-
chase ticket to return to Los Angeles.
and adds that she hopes it Will be first
class like the otDer. AS the ticket had
to he bought at that end of the lure.
she wants him to get the money there as
soon as possible. Her health was good.
she added, and there was no use to wait
any longer. She has been doing some
thinking herself, and as he had SAID in
previous letter that he would leave the
entire matter TO her, she was of the opin
ion that they could get along nicely to-
gether iDkfurnished rooms. She refers to
lily, and says that even If she is, there is
no occasion to worry about small things.
She again urges him to send her the
money for the return ticket and declares
that she can scarcely wait, she is so crazy
TO get back in Los Angeles once more.
1t closes with short quotation of poetry
and bears the signature Belle"
During the examination of the Lewises
it was attempted to learn what Mcguire
had done with his money. and If ne had
given any of it TO them, but all declared
most strenuously that he had not, and
that they knew absolutely nothing about
this part of his business. After the letter
from the girl Belle was read, Coroner
Campbell at once said that Mcguire had
mailed the money to. her during The night,
and had not given it to her parents, as
was at first supposed.
When Maguire's clothes were searched
several sheets of stained paper were
found, which on being dried out and read
proved to be his will. 1t was as follows:
LOS ANGELES. CAL. May 10, 1895.
l, }. +. Mcguire, OF my own free will
and accord. do hereby certify that this IS
my last will and testament | bequeath
everything | possess to Bella Lewis, old
est daughter of Jacob and Hannah Lewis.
living Just now on Macy strset. west of
the old covered bridge, in Mr.. Collins
store. Bella Lewis residence in the near
future will be care OF Joe Uharig, 1891
East Eighty second street, New York,
or may be J. S. Silberstein, 1854 Norfolk
street. New York.
My property consists of insurance pol
icy in Knights and Ladies of Honor.
Bayler county, Texas. All of which S.
Conrad, jeweler. of Los Angeles CITY,
knows Of Also, all my other personal
property to-wit: horse, saddle ami bride
and blankets. All or my clothing and
jewelry, watches, rings and diamonds.
- 10 | hov TO
sPss at my demise. Only | want to be
cre.nated at the expense of the Masonic
fraternity.
j.. mcguire,
Police Officer. Los Angeles city.
BY this IL will be seen that Mcguire
INTENDED the woman should not suffer
from his death so far as lay in his power
to make her comfortable. Her parents
PRETENDED ignorance of this will, and
whether Belle Lewis knew of its exist
ence cannot be stated. One fact is evil
dent-he must have certainly cared for
her.
THE INQUEST.
The inquest was held at kregelo e.
Bressee's undertaking parlors shortly be-
fore noon yesterday, and tns following
verdict was rendered.:
John Il. Mcguire came to his death
on the 18th OF October by gunshot
WYNN Wy NiiHoCii Witb oulCludl
intent during temporary insanity. be-
tween - and am"
The following composed the jury: G.
=. Kregelo, g gorge J. Lindenfeld, ]. +
Mohen, y. W. Funk, e. ID. Gibson and
Willard II. Clark.
Police Surgeon Bryant was first called
and sworn. He SAID that he had examined
the wounds in the head of the deceased
and believed that the point OF entrance
had been from the right side and Death
had been caused by this gunshot wound.
1t was clearly case of suicide.
Sergeant Gus Smith next related the
circumstances connected with the find
ing of the body IN the lake at WestIake
park, and also identified the various
articles that were found on the BODY.
The next and most important witness
called was Mrs. Hannah Lewis. the
mother of Belle. Mrs. Lewis said thai
she had known the i ceased a number
of years, having met him in Seymour
Tex. The last time she had seen him
had been on Saturday about midnight
when he drove up to their store on East
First street and bought some cigars from
her husband. She then told of the con-
versation between Mcguire and her hus-
band over the purchase of the cigars.
She had seen him about 8 O'Clock the
anne evening and he had talked with
her and her daughter Blanche in the
house for probably fifteen minutes. He
old not have any money at that time so
lar as the witness had noticed. but she
thought her husband said something