Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-02
w. A. Findley and Wife
Take Poison
WIFE SUGGESTS LONG HONEY
MOON INSTEAD OF THEATER
III Health of Husband, Who Was Well
Known Lumber Salesman, Sup-
posed by Friends to Have
Been the Cause
'GNO, dearest, I am not going
to the theater tonight.

GNO, dearest, am not going
Y to the theater tonight.
~ We are going on our
honeymoon and | am dressing for
long Journey" said Mrs. Louisa
Findley of the Hoover apart
ment house, 3O38-40 Hoover
street, to her husband, w. A.
Findley, while her new dress was
being buttoned by Miss Alice
Seymour at 6:10 o'clock Saturday
night.
Half an hour later the couple
lay down on the floor in the par
lor, drank solution of cyanide
of potassium and died in each
others arms. Their lifeless bod
les were not discovered until
noon yesterday. Dependency
because of the husbands i'll
health it is thought prompted the
double suicide.
Findley was employed by the
Anderson Mill company of this
city. He was considered one Of
the best informed 1umbermen on
the Pacific coast and acted in the
capacity of travelling salesman.
Mrs. Findley was employed as a
stenOgrapher in the office of the
same company in the San Fer
nando building.
The couple were married at
Fresno three years ago. Mrs.
Findley, then Louisa Sedersen,
was employed as stenograFher in
the office of lumber company
at that place when she met Find
ley, who was employed as lum-
Der salesman. After a romantic
courtship they were married and
shortly afterward came to Los
| Angelcs to live.
Husband Thought of Suicide
Findley had been in poor health for
the last two years, and during the past
year was operated on twice He always
was cheerful until recently, when he
told DR.. A. J. Berry 424 South Broad
way, he despaired of ever regaining his
| health, and declared on several occa-
sions he would some day end his life.
Five weeks ago Findley went to Ore
gon and Washington to make estimates
on a quantity of lumber his company
proposed purchasing. He wrote to his
wife every day, and his letters were of
a cheerful nature. About a week ago,
while he was at Seattle, he received a
telegram from relatives in Oakland to
the effect that his mother was seriously
i'll and for him to come home at once.
Ffndley hurried to Oakland and ar
rived a short time before his mother
died. This affected him considerably.
and he wrote a respondent letter to his
wife. He then accompanied the body
of his mother to Paso Robles, where
the funeral was held Thursday and
after Strengthening some business af-
fairs in the northern city he came to
Los Angeles, arriving here Saturday
morning.
He did not visit the office of the lum-
ber company, but telephoned his wife
that he was in the city, and stated that
he had some business to transact and
would not be able to see her until he
went home at o'clock that afternoon
Wife Was Despondent
The fact that her husband was in
town and not able to see her immedi-
ately, caused Mrs. Findley to become
despondent. She had been complaining
of feeling downcast for mo- than a
week previous to her husbands return,
and frequently would lay her head on
her typewriter and weep bitterly.
Mrs. Findley left the office about
o'clock Saturday afternoon. She seemed
to be trying to suppress her excitement,
and was quite nervous
She arrived at her apartments at 4
o'clock, and at once began to make ar
rangements for an elaborate toilet. She
was so engaged when Findley arrived
at o'clock. There was an affectionate
meeting, and later Mrs. Findley began
preparations for the evening meal, but
because of her suppressed emotion
made little headway in preparing din
ner.
At s o'clock Miss Alice Seymour, who
has apartments at the same place, and
who has been an intimate friend OF
the Findleys, visited them. After chat
ting a While she was asked to button
Mrs Findley's dress.
Hurry up, dearest, and get dinner
ready so we can go to the theater to-
night" said Findley to his wife.
mo, dearest; l am not going to the
theater tonight" replied Mrs. Findley.
1--WE are going on our honeymoon, and
l am dressing for the trip"
The reply seemed to surprise the hus-
band, and he looked in amazement at
her He said nothing more about going
to the theater and changed the subject.
Farewell Was Final
Miss Seymour remained for about ten
minutes and went to her apartments.
telling Mrs Findley that she was going
to put on a new dress and wanted them
to see it.
That was the last time any one saw
the Findleys alive. Miss Seymour re-
turned at Z o'clock and knocked on
the door, but after waiting several
minutes and getting no response, sup
posed her friends had gone out and re-
turned to her apartments
Yesterday morning Mrs. Cecilia
Hudson, landlady of the place,
fcontiuued on Page rwol