Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-17
SLA VS. GIRL;
TELLS FRIEND
OF THE DEED
MAJOR M'LAUGHLIN OF SANTA
CRUZ ENDS LIFE
PROMINENT IN POLITICAL AND
BUSINESS LIFE
Former Member of National Commit
tee Decides on Death for Him.
self and for His Only
Child

BY Associated Press.
SANTA CRUZ. Nov 16.-Maj. Frank
Mclaughlin. a prominent politician and
capitalist. this morning shot his daughter
Agnes in the temple. the bullet coming
out on the opposite side of her head, ami
soon after committed suicide.
DR.. Coungdom examined the girls wound
and found the bullet in her hair. She died
later.
| After the shooting Maj. Mclaughlin
| telephoned to former Lieutenant Governor
| Jeter to come down Immediately to hts
house. stating that he wanted to gee
him.. Mr.. Jeter replied that he was vesy
busy and could not come. Maj. McLaugh-
| lin then said:
Il have killed my daughter Agnes ana
l intend to kill myself! When he was
| talking to Mr.. Jeter he told him to bring
a doctor along with him.
| Mr. Jeter and friend Immediately
| jumped into buggy and drove to Maj.
McLaughlin's house, where they arrived
| in time to see him breathing his last.
| The major took prussic acid.
Leaves Several Letters
! In the rooms near where the body was
found number of letters were discov-
cred, addressed to different parties. one
of which was addressed to Mcpherson &
! Waldron, proprietors of the Santa Cruz
| Sentinel, which read:
Dear Friends-Please treat my memory
as kindly as you can. During my life
did much good and but little evil Best
| wishes and regards.
FRANK McLAUGHLIN.''
Mr.. Jeter also received a letter which IN
| substance was that on Mr.. McLaughlin's
breast would be found a key that wold
4 fit his private desk, in which he wound
i find his jewelry. He asked Jeter to take
charge of his affairs.
In his letter to Jeter he said: "Givesmy
diamond ring to my colored servant girl,
as that is all that have to leave her.
He wrote to DR.. f. E. Morgan here that
he was financially embarrassed and that
he was going to "end II ALL" His wife
died two years ago.
Was Republican Leader
Maj. Mclaughlin was one of the best
known men in California and a leader CT
the Republican party. He was interested
| In many extensive mining operations and
in other enterprises. With Chief Justice
| Beatty of the state supreme court and
4 Rev. Peter C. Yorke he acted as arbitrator
in the settlement last year of the long
pending trouble between the United Raj
roads and its employees.
During his political career Maj. Me-
Iaughlin served as chairman of the Re-
publican state central committee and was
| a member of the Republican national
/
| committee.
He managed the campaign of Daniel
| Burns, who sought to become United
States senator, and took deep interest
In the political affairs of all sections OF
| the state. He was a familiar figure at the
i.ational capital and took part In many
confidential consultations in which Pacific
| coast matters were discussed.
Miss Agnes Mclaughlin fingered until
$3.50 o'clock this evening, when she died,
Killed While Asleep
| Miss Mclaughlin had been in charge OF
| the politicians household.
She arose early this morning and pre-
rared breakfast for her father, but or
| finding that he did not intend to come
down to breakfast she again retired. and
no doubt was asleep when the shot which
erded her life was fired.
Mai. Mclaughlin was a promoter CT
large mining deals and moved constantly
between this city. New York and London.
He had been of late engaged in promoting
deal for large electric plant on Pit
river, and the financial collapse in New
York rendered his work. on this enter
| prise void
| His letters indicate that he considered
himself almost bankrupt though at
various times during his business career
| he has been possessed of large fortunes,
Inu letter to DR.. Morgan. the family
physician, he says: II take my dear ono
with me, so that she can be free from
worry and distress
| The contents of the letters would indi-
| cate that his mind had become unbalancei
| from worry over his financial reverSes