The San Francisco call., 1907-02-04
Hopeless Love Causes
Woman to Kill Self
Suicide Impelled
by lntemperance
Of Her Lover

OAKLAND. Feb. 3.-Despair, caused
by the realization that she could never
become the wife of the man to whom
she had given her love, was what led
Margaret V. Shepherd, a pretty stem
ographer, 25 years of age, to take her
own life. Because her sweetheart, Will
liam Neary, searcher of records. had
proven himself unable to curb his ap-
petite for intoxicants. Miss Shepherd
committed suicide last night rather
than bear the unhappiness of living
without him.
Over and over again the girl had
declared that she would never marry
a man addicted TO. the use of liquor,
believing that such a union could lead
only TO unhappines. but at last the
struggle became too hard, and Miss
Shepherd sought peace beyond the
grave. Locking herself in her room
during the absence of c. B. Burton and
his wife, at whose home at 529 Hobart
street she resided, the despondent
woman fastened a gas tube to a stove
jet in the wall, and, placing the end of
the tube in her mouth, lay down to
await death.
On their return from the theater,
where they had spent the evening.
shortly after IL o'clock, Burton and his
wife were attracted to the room of Miss
Shepherd by the odor of gas, and, fore
ing open the door, found her stretched
lifeless on her bed. DR.. Charles II.
Rowe was summoned hurriedly in the
hope that life was not extinct but on
his arrival he found that Miss Shep-
herd was past medical aid, and the
Coroner was notified. A search of the
room failed to reveal any message of
farewell or explanation, and for time
the case was shrouded in mystery
DESPAIR CAUSES SUICIDE
Investigation today showed that Miss
Shepherd had committed suicide be-
cause she had become convinced that
the man she loved would never be able
to overcome his craving for drink, and
as she was determined not to become
the wife of one who was a slave to
liquor she sought death rather than en-
dure the pain of separation. Mrs. Bur
ton declared tonight that she believed
this was the cause of the rash act of
the young woman, and her belief was
supported by the statements of others
Miss Shepherd came TO Oakland about
eight months ago from the home of her
family in Detroit, Mich, where her sis
ter, Mrs. Maud Mccormick, now resides
On her arrival in California she se-
cured position in the Office of the Par
cells Safe Company of San Francisco,
WA0Ie SIe was employed as a StenOgra-
pher at the time of her death Her en-
ployers today spoke in the highest
terms of praise OF the unfortunate girl,
declaring that she was not only an ex-
pert stenographer, but was a highly
educated and refined woman.
Shortly after her arrival in Oakland
she became acquainted with William
Neary, who resides at ATS Twenty-sec-
ond street. Neary is employed as a
searcher of records in the office of
Stocker & Holland. a well known alb
stract company, and their friendship
soon ripened into love. Too late Miss
Shepherd discovered that Neary was at
times a slave to drink, and with this
knowledge came the grief which i'm
PEELED her to destroy herself. Neary
was completely overcome today by the
tragic death of the woman he loved,
and refused to be seen or interviewed.
The death Of Miss Shepherd came as
terrible shock to her friends, who
had never dreamed that the occasional
fits of melancholia to which she was
subject would ever lead to suicide.
When Burton and his wife left their
home last night Miss Shepherd was
seated at the piano. playing and sing
ing, apparently in the best of spirits.
She had refused an invitation to ac-
company the Burtons to the playhouse,
Neary called at the Burton home today
and it was then learned that he had not
visited Miss Shepherd. as he had prom
ised to do.
Going to her own room the unfortun-
ate girl made preparations to end her
life- and then removing her outer gar
ments, turned on the gas and lay down
to die. When the body was discovered
it Law in a natural position on the bed,
h a
erings, to make more certain the work
of the deadly gas which was pouring
from the open jet.
Immediately after the removal of the
remains to the morgue, kilograms were
sent to the sister of the deceased, who
resides at 1130 Penobscot building in
Detroit, and to Mrs. George Eckert, an
intimate friend of Miss Shepherd,
whose home is at 70 Grummond avenue,
in the same city. notifying them of her
death. The Coroner is awaiting orders
concerning the disposition of the body.
Besides her sister the deceased leaves
a brother, Charles Shepherd, who for
merly resided at $50 Sixth street, in
Sacramento, but who is now travelling
in Mexico for his health, having only
a short time ago been discharged from
the hospital after a severe Illness.
TELLS OF THEIR LOVE
Mrs. c. B. Burton, with whom Miss
Shepherd had made her home for the
last six months, declared tonight that
there was but one reason that she could
assign for the rash action of the young
woman. Mrs. Burton said:
Il have known for some time that
Margaret and Mr.. Neary were very
much in love with each other, although
they had made, as far as I know no
plans for an immediate wedding Mar
garet had often told me that she would
never become the wife of a man who
was addicted to liquor, as she believed
that such marriage could result only
in unhappiness. ! am sure that when
she realized that her sweetheart could
not control his appetite for. intoxicants,
she took her own life rather than live
without him."
Miss Elizabeth Deveny, also stenog-