The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-17
HONEYMOON CUT.
Fred I'll. Magill and His Newly
Welded Wife
Will Return to Old Home to
Answer Murder Charge.
IARRIEDINSIX WEEKS
From Death of First Wife Under
Suspicious Circumstances.
Defense Will Be That She Com
mitted Suicide.

San Diego, Cal, July 17.-Sher1ff
Campbell of Dewitt county, Ill, is ex-
pected to arrive tomorrow noon for the
purpose of taking Fr~ H. MagiH and
his present wife, Fay Graham Magill,
back to Clinton to answer the charge of
murder for the alleged killing of Ma
gilPs former wife. If the Illinois Off
cial can take his return trip without
rest his prisoners will be ready to start
back with him on the same train leav-
| ing at o'clock.
Miss Margaret Magil who has been
| staying at the Hotel Robinson since the
| arrest of her father and stepmother will
return on the same train with them.
| The defense will be that which is con-
| tanned in the very first words that Ma
sill uttered when he was arrested:
My wife committed suicide
The theory of the defense will be sub
stantiated by letters and witnesses who
heard her say repeatedly that she was
going to end her life and some who
heard her say within 48 hours of her act
that she would know the peace of the
rest after death sooner than any of them
knew.
One of the letters was found pinned to
her skirt when her body was found,
another was tied up in her handkerchief
and others were in the drawers where
she had placed them. If they were for
geries or not, the experts will have am
pie material to work on, for there are IA
or 15 pages of them and they are writ
ten in an undisguised hand. All OF them
speak of suicide and most of them give
reasons. The reasons expressed are
two women and constantly recurring
headaches.
The Arrest.
Frederick Magill, a banker his wife,
Mrs Fav Magill and daughter Mar
garet Magili. of Clinton. Ill. were ar
rested at the Robinson hotel in this
city, charged with having murdered
Magill's first wife. The arrest was
made by Chief Moulton of the police
department on telegraphic order from
Attorney Arthur F. Miller of Clinton,
Illinois.
my first wife committed suicide
he said. land the relatives accuse me
of murder. 1t is all a conspiracy, and
1 will go back to Illinois and prove my
innocence"
The arrest created a sensation in the
Hotel Robinson, which is a fashion
able resort. Magill says he is president
Of the Clinton bank and showed letters
from his representatives in Washing
ton and Chicago and Clinton bankers.
He is said to be a member of Governor
Deneen's staff. Magill is an elderly
man and presents great contrast be-
side his young and handsome wife
Miss Margaret Magill is the daughter
cf Magill's first wife. whom the trio
are accused of having murdered.
Magin arrived here June 10 and
took the best rooms at the Robinson
He has associated with the big busi-
ness men of the city and his wife and
daughter were introduced into the
most exclusive social circles.
Margaret Magill is exceedingly
beautiful and only Is years old. Her
stepmother is hardly 25 years old and
is Strikingly handsome.
Chief Moulton took the prisoners to
Jail in a hack and the father and
daughter wept in each others arms.
Don't mind, little girl" Magill said
to his daughter, cit will come out all
right; don't let them frighten you"
Mrs. Magill No. drew herself up
proudly in her cell and said scorn-
fully:
''Such an accusation is simply alb
surd. Interfering and suspicious rela-
tives are responsible for this outrage.
We are not fugitives from justice. We
Just came west from Chicago and have
only been here few days.
1t Caused Comment.
Bloomington, Ill, July 1.-THE ar
rest at San Diego, Cal, of Frederick
Magill of Clinton, on charge of muir
der is a sensational climax to a case
which has greatly aroused the people
of Dewitt county. MagilPs first wife
died May 80 from the apparent effects
of chloroform and was supposed to
have committed suicide. In six weeks
he was married in Denver to Miss Fay
Graham of Clinton, an intimate friend |
of the family during the life of the
first wife. The marriage so soon after
the death of the first wife created |
comment.
II was charged by some that there |
was reason to believe that she had been |
the victim of foul play and an investi- |
CATION was demanded. In response to |
that States Attorney Miller took steps |
to have the body exhumed. Whether |
an Gi took
not known. as great secrecy was en-
joined.
Magill is 3S years old and comes of a
and wealthy family of Cltn-
ton He is member of Governor
staff He inherited $4,000 by
his fathers death. Mrs. Magill No. is
little older than Magill's daughter by
his dead wife. The daughter accom-
panied her father and Miss Graham to
Denver. where the marriage took place.