Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-23
Fugitive Had Been Lettering Around
Foothills and Parks and When
Espied by Detective Mccain
Carried a Pistol

AS a tragic ending of life of crime,
II. c. Beggs, who shot his wife with
murderous intent week ago, when
cornered by detective yesterday morn
ing put bullet through his temple
and died instantly.
The would-be wife murderer was
slouching along Eastlake avenue about
o'clock. Detective McCann was on a
car on his way to the police station. He
caught a glimpse of Beggs and instant
ly recognized the man.
jumping from the car the officer
walked toward Beggs. and near Mani
tou and Eastlake avenues came up
close to the man.
Hold on! Stop" called the officer
Fugitive Shoots Himself
Beggs turned around. gave look at
Mccain, and raising his revolver,
which he had kept concealed behind
his back, put 1t to his head and pulled
the trigger.
Beggs fell backward and his body
rolled close to a sewer excavation.
McCann, who had pulled his own
pistol when he saw BeggS raise his pis-
tol, ran forward. Life was extinct.
The officer at once telephoned to Chief
of Police Auble that the hunt for the
missing criminal was over.
Beggs, with criminal record eX-
tending over quarter of a century,
made a fitting ending of his career by
committing suicide in order to avoid
arrest.
The body was taken to Paul's un-
dertaking parlors on the east side to
await an inquest by Coroner Trout.
Mrs. Beggs Recovering
Mrs. Beggs is slowly recovering at
the county hospital, and unless COM
plications ensue the physicians say she
will get well.
The nurses did not inform her Of
her husbands suicide yesterday, fear
ing that the shock might cause a re-
lapse.
Beggs' criminal career began when
he was a young man, and his life was
a succession Of crime, quarrels ard
violence.
He was released from San Quentin
several weeks ago and came to Los
Angeles to reside with his family at
1011 Diamond street.
Last Wednesday morning Beggs re-
turned to his house in a sullen and
drunken humor and, apparently with
out warning, pulled out his 32-cali-
Der revolver and began shooting at
his wife.
The unfortunate woman fell to the
floor with four bullets in her body.
She was hurried to the receiving hos
pital and later was taken to the coun-
ty hospital, apparently in a dying
condition. To the surprise of the ply
sicians Mrs. Beggs began to show signs
of recovery and now is thought to be
out of danger, although there may be
complications at any time.
Seeks the Foothills
After killing his wife, as he SIP
posed, Beggs ran from his home and
sought refuge in the foothills, the po-
lice believe.
1t is thought that he remained sew
eral days in Elysian park.
Yesterday morning he was on mis-
way to Eastlake park when discovered
by Detective Mccain. The keen eye
sight of the officer resulted in the dis
covery of the criminal, who otherwise
might have escaped altogether.
Peter Mccain was appointed to the
police force in January, 1904. He has
been acting as a detective for only n
few months, but has made a fine record
for ability to search out criminals.
If Beggs had not killed himself Nc
Cam would have made q strong effort
to capture the man. 1t was believed
by all the officers that when cornered
the criminal would show fight before
allowing himself to be captured.
Beggs wore his beard and evidently
disdained to take any measures TO
disguise himself, and it is wondered at
that he was not recognized before.