Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1907-07-25
.MAC|LL AND Wife
Nearing clinton
FORMER ILLINOIS BANKER RE-
TURNING TO SCENE OF
ALLEGED CRIME.
ANXIETY OF STATES
ATTORNEY INCREASES
Official Must Make Good or Face
Heavy Damage suits-Bride May
Be Released on Embellishments
of States Case.

clinton, ILL.,, July 1o.-luIeIeSC III
the Magill tragedy now centers
around the return of Fred Magill aad
Faye Graham Magill to the scene of
their alleged crime. Rumors that Mar
guerite Magill, daughter of the bank
er, had already arrived, received wide
circulation but little credence.
AS the hour for the return of the
famous prisoner approached the anX-
iety of States Attorney Miller in
creased. Refusal of the Pinkerton
detective agency to enter the case I'M
til the accused are held for trial has
placed the prosecuting attorney in a
quandary. Public sentiment adds to
the woes of Prosecutor Miller. 1t is
generally asserted that he must make
good on his charges or face not only
indignation, but heavy damage suits.
Under the law he must be sued as an
individual, his official position not
saving him from responsibility for
any error of judgment
Friends of the eX-banker are like
wise vehement in their demands that
the case be fully probed. They de-
mand vindication or conviction. The
reported statement of Sheriff Camp
bell to California newspaper men
that the first act in Clinton would
probably be the release of the bride
from custody has added flame to the
smoldering embers of public opinion.
Chief Points in States Case.
Upon the opening day of the second
week of the scandal, the states case
may be briefly summed up as fol-
lows:
Notwithstanding with the youthful
rival of Mrs. Pet Candy Magill.
Means-Strychnine poisoning, and
later application of chloroform to give
strength to suicide theory.
Suspicious circumstances of hasty
flight and marriage.
Letters of dead wife alleged to be
forgeries advising marriage.
The defense on the other hand as
serts it is in position to disprove all
evidence so far made public by pros
ecution.
80 ~ oioASo oloIClllSuI JOlll L Il,
reputed to be one of the shrewdest
criminal lawyers in central Illinois,
said:
I'VE will show by one of the
wealthiest and most responsible citi-
zens of De Witt county that it was
on his suggestion that Fred Magill
asked for a coroner's jury of picked
men, not to escape impartial inquiry,
but to prevent strangers picked up
on the street invading the house of
death.
I'VE admit right now that strych-
nine will be found in the vital organs
of Mrs. Pet Candy Magill Traces
or chloroform are also there. We
will show this was purchased by Mrs.
Magill and self administered 1t is I'M
necessary to perfect defense for
Faye Graham Magill, as nothing tends
to connect her even remotely with
the case. She will be released i'm.
mediately upon her arrival"
Should handwriting experts de.
clare the remarkable letters to be
genuine, Prosecuting Attorney Miller
will be forced to attempt another line
of attack. The success of the Cook
county authorities in introducing hyp.
notism into the Billek trial and Sc.
curing the death penalty has inspired
Mr. Miller to imitation.
The prosecutor is investigating au.
thorities on hypnotism, and, it is said,
Will endeavor to show that Magill
used his powers of control over weak.
er minds to influence his daughter
and her GIRL nhnn,