Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-27
SPEEDY REIMARRIAGE
AROUSES SUSPICION
Finding Of Body Of First Wife
and Note Saying She Had
Suicided Leads to Arrest
When Magill Weds
the Second Time

Clinton, ILL.,, July 26.-The approach
Ing arrival in Clinton, of Fred H. Magill
and his bride, Fay Graham Magill, who
was arrested in California and charged
with the murder of Magill's wife, has
aroused the citizens Of the town to
such an extent that within six hours
today four thousand dollars was rails
ed to aid in their prosecution.
The subscribers to the fund are
pledged to secrecy because none of
them cares to incur the enmity of
Magills relatives whose business in
terests in the community are extensive
and who practically control half the
real estate and farm property in the
country.
Fear Attempt at Suicide.
The fear that Magill would commit
suicide rather than face trial for mur.
der has led States Atf orfney Miller to
warn Sheriff Campbell by wire to use
extreme caution in guarding Magill.
Letters Arouse Suspicion.
The letters purporting to have been
left by the dead woman are peculiar
features Of the case. To Mrs. Magill's
night dress was pinned note saying
she had killed herself with strych.
rine. and giving directions as to the
funeral There were three other com.
munications found. One of these was
addressed to Magill another to his
6aughter, II years old, and third 10
Miss Fay Graham, the second Mrs.
Magill. The tenor of these letters
we're the same. They exonerated
Nagill and Miss Graham from all
blame. Miss Graham was mentioned
% the best friend Mrs Magill had
The father, daughter and Miss Graham
were advised to stick to each other,
and the daughter was told to approve
everything her father did. Magill
read these letters to many friends,
but no one outside of the coroner's
jury has seen them. The coroner,s
conducted with secrecy, the coroner
refusing to make any of the details
public 1t is the theory of the states
attorney that Magill aided by Miss
Graham. concocted the letter scheme
his dictation.
his dictaticn.
Raises His Last Cent
After the death of his wife and his
decision to marry Fay Graham. Magill,
who had already squandered a for
tune. made final stand in the direc-
ton of money matters. He sold his
house and lot, it is said, drew his last
dollar from his fathers estate and
got together $4,000. With this money
he and Miss Graham and his daugh-
ter, Miss Marguerite left Clinton sec
reilly on June 80 last. No enc knew
the destination of the trio. Miss Gra-
ham, who is the daughter Of respect
ed residents of Clinton. led them to
believe that she was going to Chicago
to secure work as stenographer
Magill and Miss Graham were married
in Denver on July 5. They then pro
ceeded to make leisurely tour Of the
west. On July 13 the pair were ar
rested in San Diego. Cal. Both des
clared that their trouble was the re-
suit Of conspiracy on the part of
the family of the first Mrs. Magill.
circumstances of Woman's Death.
The first Mrs. Magill was Miss Pet
Candy of Dayton, Ohio. The couple
were married in 1889. Mrs. Magill was
woman of happy disposition and
none of her friends had ever heard
her say anything that would lead 10
the belief that she contemplated tax
ing her own life. On the evening #
May 80 last she and her husband were
out riding, and they apparently were
IN good humor and enjoying the out.
ing. The following morning Mrs.
Magill was found dead in her bed.
The body was found by Magill. With
his wife he had retired at the usual
hour the preceding night He testified
at the inquest that his wife had left
the bed during the night and gone
to an adjoining room. After the body
was found the family physician pro
nounced death due to chloroform. a
bowl of the drug being found, and
cloth, saturated with it, was found
upon her mouth.
Public Suspicion Aroused.
The sudden death of Mrs. Magill.