Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-10-05
COURT is READY FOR
THE TRIAL OF MCGILL
Murder Case of General
Interest.
MAN CHARGED WITH KILLING WIFE
Married His Pretty StenOgrapher
Within Month After the MySteri-
GUS Death of His Wife,
Prisoner Prominent.
MAN CHARGED WITH KILLING WIFI

DECATUR, ILL, Oct. 4. especially
Everything is ready for an early
trial of the Fred Magill-Fay Graham
murder case; which has been brought
to Macon county on change of venue
from Dewitt county. The case is the
second on the criminal docket, which
will be the first to be taken up when
court meets next Monday. The at
torneys for the defense say the ac-
cused are ready to face the bar OF
Justice and are confident that the re-
suit of the trial will be complete
vindication On the other hand,
Prosecuting Attorney Miller of De-
Witt county, who is in active charge
of the prosecution, believes that he
has a strong case, particularly
against Magill.
Whatever the result may be, the
trial is bound to attract as much at
tention as ever centered in crimi-
nal case in Illinois.
Fred Magill and his wife, formerly
Fay Graham, come from two OF the
most prominent families in the
State. Magill and his first wife had
never been able to get along and it
was common talk that he was paying
attention to other women at Clinton,
especially Miss Fay Graham, who
had acted as his stenographer. On
May 81 of this year Mrs. Magill, who
was Familiarity known as pet Magill,
was found dead at her home in Clin-
ton, and it was at first supposed that
she had committed suicide
The circumstance surrounding the
case were of a strange nature, but
the authorities paid no attention to
it until news came to Clinton that
Fred Magill and Fay Graham had
been married in Denver, and this but
a little over four weeks after his first
wifes death. 1t developed that a few
DAYS after the death of his wife Ma
gill had disposed of his property,
drew his money from his fathers es-
tate and with Miss Graham and his
daughter, Marguerite, aged II, left
Clinton.
Miss Graham, who is the daughter
of w. w. Graham, well-known res
ident of Clinton, led her parents to
believe that she was going to Chica-
go to secure work as a stenographer,
and might also visit relatives in Kan
kakee.
When word was received that the
couple had been married in Denver
on July an active investigation was
started by the Clinton authorities
and the result was that Magill and
his bride were arrested in San Diego,
Cal, on. July 10, and brought back to
Clinton and indicted by the grand
jury The charge was first degree
murder. The Investigation, it is
said, showed that Mrs. Magill had
been poisoned by chloroform.
The Magill family is one of the
wealthiest in Clinton, and prominent
in the social and financial world.
Fred Magill inherited 100000 in 1892,
but soon got away with it. Before he
went West with Miss Graham he
raised about $4,000 on prospective
legacy.
Since their return to Clinton Ma
Gill and his bride, with the seventeen
year old daughter have been staying
at the home of W. W. Graham, and
have appeared on the street but lit
tie The daughter, Marguerite, stout
ly maintains that her father isHnno-
cent and she is expected to be one of
the most important witnesses in the
case. The defense will be conducted
by staff of six prominent attorneys.
The prosecution will also be well
fortified at the trial, having engaged
one of the most prominent attorneys
in Illinois to assist the regular pros
ecuting attorney of Dewitt county.