The San Francisco call., 1905-01-18

For nearly a week two aged women
lay dead from gas asphyxiation in a
little cottage at 80 Lynch street. One
was Mrs. Mary Conway, mother OF
Frederick B. Conway, formerly clerk
in Judge Mogan's court, but now a
fugitive from justice. The other was
Mrs. j. D. McMurray, mother OF
Policeman H. McMurray. The bodies
were discovered yesterday.
From all indications death was ac-
cidental. Mrs. McMurray visited Mrs.
Conway, who owns the house, intend
ing to stay during the absence of the
latter, who was to leave soon on trip
to Arizona.
The two old ladies were seen by
some neighbors as they entered the
house on Wednesday night. Mrs. Con-
way retired to her own room in front,
and her companion occupied room In
the rear Of the cottage; In extingu1sn-
ing the gas the visitor evidently did
not turn the cock far enough. me
gas fixtures were new and worked
rather stiffiy.
Mrs. McMurray fell asleep, and the
room filled with gas. The poisonous
fumes rapidly permeated the entire
house. Mrs Conway was awakened
and evidently thought that the leak
was from the gas fixture in her own
room. She attempted to close the
stop cock but instead turned it on.
Then she staggered through the otn-
er rooms, fumbling in the dark with
the gas jets in each. She realized tnat
one of the stop cocks was open ana
was filling the place with gas. But pc
wildered and unable to see sne couiu
not discover which one.
OVERCOME BY THE FUMES.
AS she reached about in the dark
the poisonous fumes gradually dead
ened her senses. She made one effort
to retrace her steps to her own room
where she must have heard the omln-
Gus hiss of escaping gas. Just as sne
reached the door of her room she fell
and after a futile effort to rise lay still.
Every door and window in the house
was locked The gas filled every nook
and corner of the rooms. The gasps Oh
the two old women grew FAINTER ano
fainter, and soon the stiffness or death
reigned In the little cottage.
Neighbors soon began to miss the ia
miliar figure of Mrs. Conway, but II
was whispered around that she mao
left for Arizona to visit her sick daugh-
ter. Mrs. McMurray was taking care
of the hotke, 1t was reported. But peo-
pie began 10 notice that mail left al
the doorway of 80 Lynch street was not
being taken in People in the neigh
borhood thought that there was some
thing wrong in the little cottage.
Mrs. ]. johnson, who lives in the
house adjoining, notified Mrs. DWehe
a sister of Mrs. Conway, of the pecu-
liar circumstances. George Dweiie, q
nephew of the old lady, Immediately
went to the house. He knocked at the
door. but received no response.
He climbed to a window, and, peer
ing into his aunt's room, saw her lying
in the doorway Dwelle notified the
North End Police Station, and Police
man O'Sullivan hurried to the place
He broke open rear door, but was
driven back by the rush of gas. Five
Jets were turned on.
MAKE CHASTITY DISCOVERY.
IT was some time before the pair
could enter. They found Mrs. McMur-
raw living on a bed in the rear room
and Mrs. Conway stretched across the
threshold of her room. Both had beer
dead for nearly a week. The bodies
were removed to the Morgue.
Policeman McMurray was sent foi
and Identified one of the bodies as that
Of his mother. Mrs. J. d. McMurray
! was 67 years old. She had been living
at 227 Flood avenue.
Mrs. Conway was 68 years old. He1
son. Frederick H. Conway jumped q
$500 bail bond several years ago. an6
has not been heard from since. He was
implicated with Daniel Sullivan in tht
forging of bail receipts. Sullivan il
now doing time at San Quentin.
j. Conway deserted his bondsmen jus