The herald., 1898-01-27

of her faith suicide is an objectionable
sin and is considered disgrace to other
members of the family.
If the theory of accident is accepted
the mystery is cleared for there was, so
far as could be ascertained by careful
examination of a number of witnesses
by the coroner, not the slightest motive
for suicide. On the other hand the loca-
tion and nature of the wound and the
course taken by the bullet were such as
to cast a reasonable doubt on the acci-
dent theory. If the woman killed herself
it was difficult for her to have inflicted
such wound, although not impossible.
AS to the first supposition that she had
been murdered there was abundant proof
that such was not the case.
The victim of the tragedy was a native
of Los Nietos and was II years of age.
Her maiden name was Modesto Lanaris.
She was only fairly good looking for one
of her years and was remarkably well
developed. She was reared near that
town and about five months ago met
Juan Orasco. She had never before had
a sweetheart. Orasco was a widower,
his first wife having died year ago of
consumption. He is 25 years of age.
There was no objection on the part of
the girls family to her marriage and on
the Sth instant she and Juan went to
Whittier where they We're married in
the Catholic church by priest from this
city. They returned to her parents
home and remained week. Orasco was
out of work, and hearing that there was
a chance for employment on the Allen
ranch he announced his intention of
going there. His wifes brother stated
yesterday that Orasco had suggested
that she remain behind until he learned
just what he could get to do, but she
refused, saying that she intended to go
where her husband went.
The Allen ranch is north of Lamanda
Park, near the base of the mountains.
A score or more of Mexicans are en-
ployed and live in small houses scattered
over the ranch and along the road lead
ing to it. Orasco secured portion of a
house occupied by Pomocino Ramirez
and wife whom he had known at Los
Nietos He was given work on the ranch
similar to that performed by other
Mexicans employed there. He and the
man with whom he was living always
left the house at o'clock in the morning
and returned at noon. Then they worked
from to o'clock.
Soon after their arrival there the wife
of Ramirez became ill and went to the
home of her mother to remain several
weeks. Since her departure Orasco's
wife had been doing the cooking and
other housework for both men. There
was nothing in her demeanor that indi-
Gated melancholy, but on the contrary
she seemed rather more cheerful than
usual She was not a demonstrative
woman and seldom talked to the per-
sons with whom she was thrown in con-
tact on the ranch, but they supposed
this was because she was a stranger
there.
Tuesday morning she arose at the
usual hour and prepared breakfast for
her husband and Ramirez, who after
eating it went to their work. Orasco was
employed about 500 yards from the
house. He was seen at 9:10 o'clock by
Harold Allen, one of the owners of the
ranch, and again about II o'clock. At
noon Ramirez, who was working short
distance away, called Orasco and to-
gether they went home to dinner. The
woman was nowhere to be seen and
there was no response when her husband
called her. He went upstairs to their
bedroom. Almost as soon as he reached
the top of the stairs Ramirez heard him
cry out. Orasco came running down and
exclaimed that his wife was dead and
that he believed she had shot herself"
Ramirez went to the second floor and
saw the body of the woman lying across
the, bed and pistol lying on the floor
between her feet. He at once returnd
to the yard in time to see orasco mount