The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-02-26
WOMAN WHO KILLED ARTIST is
DECLARED TO BE REALLY
INSANE.
WAS ONCE IN ASYLUM
In Los Angeles Under An Assumed
Name Declares Her Attorney
--Refrained From Suicide
She Turns Poetess.

thrown on the past life of Mrs Mich
ael c, Mcdonald, wife of the former
gambling king and slayer Of Webster
S. Guerin today when word came
| from Los Angeles that woman ol
| the name of Flora Mcdonald Sheare
became insane in Sar Francisco sew
eral years ago. The similarity o
names as well as the fact that MS
"Shearer, like the woman who sho'
| Guerin, frequently wrote poetry leads
those interested in the murder case
to believe that two are one and the
same woman.
! This. at least IL the theory OF At
torney Albert S. Trude, coun el FOL
Mrs. Mcdonald, while relatives of the
dead man say they know little Oi
Mrs. McDonslds actions while she
was in California, "MiMke" McDol
aid. husband of the woman who shot
the artist, when inf med of the facts
revealed in Los Angeles expressed ig
norance as 10 her mental condition al
The time she visited California, MIR
Mcdonald says, however, that his
wife went to San Francisco on two
occ asions aud that he accompanied
her on the second visit
insane Woman Writes Poetry.
According to the information re-
ceiyed from Los Angeles Mrs. Flora
Mcdonald Shearer became insane IN
San Francisco in April or May 1893
after an attempt TO end her own life
and kill some one else She wrote a
poem entitled Vale, Vale" while in
an asylum or a sanilarium In Oak
land. The verses found in poss ession
of Mrs. Mcdonald when she was ar
rested after the shooting correspond
in part with the poem Vale, Vale,
which, it Is said, was published In 8
monthly magazi1e In California the
same year. There also appeared ali
article in the magazine in which re-
gret was expressed for the woman's s
affliction.
That these revelations may have an
important bearing on The murder case
against the gamblers wife when she
Is brought to trial for killing the man
whom she loved is realized by Attor.
ney Trude. who has maintained since
the day of the shooting that his client
Is mentally unbalanced The lawyer
yesterday expressed absolute conf
"Shearcr" and Mrs Mcdonald are the
same person.
There is no doubt whatever in my
mind that Mrs. Mcdonald has been
insane for some time said Mr. Trude
We already know she welt TO San
Francisco aud Los Angeles on two
occasions and one Of these trips was
taken by her in an attempt to escape
the wiles Of Webster Guerin.
Thinks Name Assumed.
1T is quite possible con inued Mr.
Trude That on one of these visits
Mis-. Mcdonald was confined in a
sanitarium without the knowledge OF
her husband Granting that she was
mentally unbalanced. which firmly
believe she now is, it Is also possible
that at that time she assumed the
name "Shearcr" On the whole be
lieye there is some foundation for the
story"
MIR. Trudc added that several
months ago Mrs. Mcdonald exhibited
signs of violent insanity. She told
her friends that while she was in
Jackson park a man followed her per
sis emily ard finally sought to attack
her.
Concerning the reports from Los
Angelic. Mr. Mcdonald said: 1T Is
true Mrs Mcdonald visited California
on two occasions and that the first
trip was taken about the year 1893.
J companied my wife on the second
Trip. however. as at that time her sen
was III. She never was in a sani-
tarium at Oakland. los Angeles or
San Francisco so far as I know. and
as TO the poem Vale. Vale" I have
nothing to say"
Is it likely Mrs Mcdonald wrote
the poetry" was asked.
'rShe has written some verses he
rcpbed. "but about that particular
poem. ? can not say for DO not re-
call e."
Know Little Of Wonsn's Life.
Archie Guerin speaking for The
family Of the murdered man. says the
life of Mrs Mcdonald except 50 far
as it concerned her i-fstuaiiOn Tor
his brother. is unknown To- him
She may have gone under the
name Of 'Shesrer' while in San Fran
cisco. he said but never head
ms brother mention this"
It j. known that Webster Guerin
went TO California about fhe year
1899 and his family assert he left
Chicago TO escape from the gamblers
wife. who. they declare. followed him
to the Pacific coast