Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-15
INQUEST HELD OVER
DUFTY'S TWO VICTIMS
BURIAL is TO TAKE PLACE
THIS AFTERNOON
Mother Improving Physically, but Not
Mentally, While Murderer Is
Reported on Road to
Recovery

At the inquest held by Coroner Cal
vim HartwelI at the undertaking estap-
lishment of Pierce Bros. over the bodies
of Mrs. Zaidah La Com and Fred A.
Duffy, who were beheaded by their
father early Thursday morning, the
following verdict was rendered by the
jury:
1--WE, the jury find that zaidah La
tCom and Fred A. Duffy came to their
death from AK wounds in the throat
inflicted by one H. j. Duffy, with In
tent to kill and murder"
Carl La Com testified that he noticed
on several occasions that the elder
Duffy acted in peculiar manner and
appeared to be mentally deranged. La
Com said he had warned both the per-
sons who were killed to be careful and
watch their father, as he was afraid
he would injure them when the oppor-
tunity presented itself.
Arrangements were made for the fun
eral Of the two victims. The services
will be held at / O'Clock this afternoon
at the Pierce Bros chapel, and In
terment will be at Evergreen cemetery
in the lot that had been prepared for
them by their slayer.
Mrs. Duffy, mother of the two vic
Tins, is still a patient in the matron's
department of the receiving hospital,
where she was taken soon after the
tragedy to be treated for injuries re-
ceived in the struggle with her husband
when he tried to kill her, just before
her daughter was murdered. In phys
ical condition she is improving, but her
mind is still deranged and the surgeons
say that she may never recover her
reason. If she does 1t Will be only
after q considerable time. The awful
tragedy dethroned her reason, and
when she was taken to the hospital she
was in a hysterical condition. Since
receiving treatment she has become
| somewhat quieter, and has had lucid
intervals, but most of the time she is
irrational and PAGES the floor, wring1ng
her hands and moaning.
Yesterday morning she was visited
by DIR. Albert w. Moore of 946 Kensing-
ton drive. She talked nationally to the
physician and related the circumstances
| leading up to the murder of her daugh-
ter, but finally was overcome with emo
ton, broke down, wept and went into
mysteries. Later she became calmer,
but could not talk nationally.
At the county hospital Henry J.
Duffy, the murderer, his hands
strapped to his body, lies on cot in
one of the iron cells, at times chatting
upon various subjects and acting as
though he has no recollection of hav-
ing committed an awful crime. At 9TH
er times he is sullen and violent, and
strains at his bonds, trying to free his
hands so that he can tear the stitches
from his throat, which he hacked with
butcher knife after numbering his
two children.
Duffy refuses to talk about his chill
dren or of the crime which he COM
mitted, stating merely that he was inn
PEELED by some powerful influence to
kill his son and daughter. He talks in
hoarse voice, owing to his windpipe
/ INF VUhan ha qffamnfld 10
emf Off his head with the knife he had
sharpened for that purpose.
The physicians at the hospital say
lDufty Is improving and will be all right
In q short time. They declare the mar
is insane and a dangerous person
When his wounds are healed he will be
sent back to the city Jail.