The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-02-23
GOES INSANE
AFTER CRIME
Chicago Woman Who Shot
Man She Loved Raves
INCREASINGLY In HER CELL
Her First Story Is Charge That
Victim Blackmailed Her Out of Large
Sums Is Not Believed by
Her Husband.
INCREASINGLY IN HER CELL

Chicago, Feb. 23.--With her mind all
most completely wrecked, Mrs. Flora
Mcdonald, who Thursday shot and
killed Webster S. Guerin, was removed
last night to the annex of the Harrison
street police station, where her husband,
Michael G. Mcdonald, spent most Of
the night with her. After her removal
her condition became gradually worse,
and she could neither recognize Me-
Donald nor others who had questioned
her earlier in the day. Bromides and
hypoderrnic injections were administered
almost every hour throughout the night,
but she could not be quoted.
At times she imagined the sun was
shining over her and that rs rays had
caused her head to burst. When quoted
By her husband and attending physician
she would declare that she was suffer
ing from aches and pains throughout her
body. At other times her Authorization
was that she was ON voyage across
the ocean in the midst OF storm. At
another time she imagined that the an
mex was crowded with, children. Me.
Donald was deeply affected by his
wife's condition and frequently sobbed.
For a time she imagined that she was
on the summit OF Pixies Peak praying
and in her prayers she appealed to God
to tell her what the trouble was that
she had dragged her husband into. All
4 ~ ssx4 hn,. tt-ttf
ing TO hold back his tears as he stroked
her hands
FROM the time OF the tragedy until
late hour last night Mrs Mcdonald
talked in a rambling and disconnected
manner, and little was obtained from
her concerning the motive of the crime.
From other sources, and also from pieces
OF erudely composed verse that were
found in her hand bag and taken from
her, after a struggle by a policeman, it
was learned that she had been possessed
Of an all-absorhing passion-a love for
some one. The object of her affections
were not discovered in the verses, but
developments after the tragedy led to
the belief that it was Guerin. The
verses were written on sheets Of white
paper III AH UNEVEN NdAus anu VIC wiz
ing is believed to be that OF Mrs. Nc
Donald Treachery, death, and undying
love are among the subjects touched up
on in TIRE verses,
Mrs. McDonald's explanation to the
police as TO the motive for her crime
seemed exploded by the statements Of
her husband. Mrs. Mcdonald declared
that Guerin has been leyying blackmail
on her and that repeatedly he had OBJ
tanned sums from her on threats Of ex-
posure. She declared he had followed
her to California after she had fled to
escape his attentions and renewed bis
demands. The explanation, however,
was contradicted by the words OF
Mcdonald. He said be never had given
his wife large sums of money, the sums
practically having only been sufficient
for the needs of the household or well
defined needs of women.
Statements from Guerin's relatives
seemed TO place a far different light on
the tragedy. They declared since
Guerin had been boy In school Mrs.
Mcdonald had been enamored of him,
and that she had continued her atten-
tions even after he had used every in
fiuence to break his relations with her.
II is now declared that GueTin recent
Nv became engaged 10 West Side young
woman, and this situation is considered
as significant, inasmueh as it may have
meant that he had served notice on Mrs.
Mcdonald that her relations with him
must cease.