Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-02-22
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Webster 5. Guerin, a Chicago artist,
was shot and instantly killed yesterday
By Mrs. Flora Mcdonald, the youthful
wife of Michael C. Mcdonald, at one
time Chicsgos king of gamblers, former
proprietor Of the Daily Globe, the
former democratic political boss, and
now multi-millionaire railroad magnate.
GueriD. who was also known rs Louis
Fisher. was shot in his studio following
a quarrel with Mrs. Mcdonald, who
entered the place shortly before noon.
When arrested, Mrs. Mcdonald was
trying to crawl through the broken glass
of the studio door which she had shat
tered by forcing her head through 1t.
The studio door was locked.
Her face was bleeding where it had
been cut by the broken glass, and she
vas wedged in the jagged opening, un-
able to get either way. The police,
who searched her at the Harrison street
station, took revolver from the bosom
of her dress, where she hid it after shoot
ing Guerip.
In a hysterical confession. made in
her &c !. the milliOnsire's wife declared
that she and Guerin had maintained @
clandestine love affair, and that the ar
tist had used bis power over her to black
mail her. According to the police, she
said she tired of Gueriu's repeated de-
mauds for money, and went to his Office
for the purpose OF killing him.
For an hour after she was arrested the
police we're unable to learn Mrs. Nc
Donald's identity. She tainted at the
studio before the arrival OF the police.
When taken to the station she was so
bysterical that she was unable to talk.
She rayeh 10 her cell, and it was nec-
essary for several policemen to hold her
to keep her from doing herself violence:
She tried repeatedly to dash her head
against the iron bars of her cell.
She finally gave the name OF Bepji-
min NJ. Shahner, sn attorney, who was
Immediately sent for. andidentifed the
woman as his niece, Nrs. Michael Q.
Mcdonald, and the former wife OF Sam
uel H. Barclay, at one time baseball
player attached to the old Browns team,
of ST. Louis.
It's said that Guerin attempted TO col
lect money from Mrs. Mcdonald sometime
ago under threats, and Mrs. Mcdonald
went to California to avoid him.
Mcdonald told the policehe had given
mis- wife great deal of money recently,
altogether about 81, 500, and did not
know what she had done with it, but
uow believed she had given it to the ar
tist. Yesterday morning, before he left
the house, he asked Mrs. Mcdonald
what she WAS doing with all the money
She broke down, he says, and cried.
Finally, she cried out, between her sobs:
IL will settle in full today.
"Tbis was the settlement" grimly
said Mcdonald, in his statement to To-
spector Wheeler.
Guerin was friend of McDonald's
sons, and in this way met Mrs. Nc
Donald. He took her TO balls, parties,
theaiers, aud receptions, and they were
seen together in the downtown res
taursnts.
On many occasions Mcdonald him
.elf accompanied the two. 1t is said that
Guerin'a long acquaintance with him
be had known bin since he was baby
dulled any suspicion he might have en-
tertained.
More than thirty years ago Mcdonald
erected one of the finest mansions in q
fashionable West Side district, Chicago.
He filed it with costly furniture and
pictures, and, TO please his first wife, a
devout Catholic, built private chapel,
in which services we're said daily.
He lived In happiness until one day
bis wife eloped with the chaplain. DE
did not recover his spirts until he LETT
his West Side palace and found conso-
latiou with a second wife, girl OF rare
beauty, who had been the helpmeet OF
Sam Barclay, the bsllplayer.
Mrs. McDonsid went hOpelessiy in
zane last night and Jailed to recognize
her husband.