Volume 14 , Issue 48

1912 - William B. Magill Kills His Wife & Seeks Own Life

This story takes us back to 19 November 1912, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and the story that ran on page three of The Democratic Banner, with the headlines: "William B. Magill Kills His Wife And Then Seeks His Own Life."

It was reported that Magill emptied contents of a shot gun into his wife's head as she lay in bed. Magill then went to another room, reloads gun and discharges it into his own head. A well defined motive for the deed was lacking. There was speculation that Magill was probably deranged over failure to secure the nomination for treasurer.

The newspaper in Mt. Vernon, Ohio reported that the community was shocked early Saturday morning by a murder and an attempted suicide, which resulted in the death of Mrs. Lola M. Magill and in all probabilities will result in the death of her husband, William B Magill, a well known school teacher of Mt. Vernon.

The tragedy occurred, as near as can be determined, at 6:30 o'clock at the Magill residence on North Gay street, not far from Mound View cemetery.

Magill was a candidate for the Republican nomination for county treasurer at the primaries last May and was defeated. Ever since that time he had been a disappointed man and frequently remarked to his friends and neighbors that his financial condition was such that at times it was difficult for him to make both ends meet.

It would therefore appear that his financial condition prettied heavily on his mind, and secondly the man was under considerable mental strain recently on account of sickness in his family. It was understood that his wife had not been in very good health for some weeks past and then his young son, Morgan, aged 16 years, had been quite ill for several weeks past and Mr. Magill was compelled to remain up much during the night and then teach school during the day.

To a physician Friday evening, Magill remarked, "I have not slept much for almost a week and am nearly worn out."

The surroundings about the home would bear out the report in regard to Magill's financial condition. The roof of the house was in a bad condition and one could see the daylight in several places. There was evidence that water came through when it rained and the paper was torn from the wall in several places.

With all these things existing and preying heavily upon the man's mind, the theory was advanced that he worked himself up to such a high state of mind that he considered he would be better out of the world than in it and accordingly determined to end all by first killing his wife and then killing himself.

The neighbors stated, and so did the relatives, that the domestic relations between the man and his wife were the best and that there had been no quarrels of any kind.

When a Banner reporter visited the scene of the tragedy early in the morning the house and premises had the appearance of slaughter house. The bedroom and kitchen were spattered with blood and a crimson path led from the front door to the gate and into the street and then in a circle back to the door. The ceiling in the kitchen was shot-torn where a large amount of a charge of shot had penetrated.

The murder and attempted suicide occurred, as near as it was possible to determine, at 6:30 o'clock in the morning. Mrs. Magill was lying in bed, while her husband moved about the kitchen and adjoining room. There was no indication of violence on the part of the latter, he having appeared to be in a somewhat better frame of mind than usual, until he stepped into the bedroom carrying a double barreled shot gun. Mrs. Magill was lying in the bed, which was located at the northwest corner of the room, and was in such a position as to expose the left side of her head. Indications were that the position was not correct for the accomplishment of his purpose from the position he was in on entering the room so he walked to the foot of the bed and went between it and the wall. From this position he was supposed to have placed the muzzle of the gun close to the left side of her head and fired. The entire charge struck his victim and tore away nearly all of the jaw bone and terribly mutilated the entire left side of her head. She was asleep when he entered the room and did not awaken for the reason that he probably moved cautiously in order not to alarm her. She was not instantly killed, but died shortly before eight o'clock without regaining consciousness.

Attempted Suicide

Immediately after committing the terrible deed, Magill fled from the room and went into the kitchen where he had first secured the gun. He opened the left barrel, the one which had been fired, and, extracting the empty shell, reloaded it. Having done this, he placed the muzzle against his right jaw and pressed the trigger with his foot. The left barrel was again exploded and the charge this time went into his own head. The wound inflicted was not as bad as that of his wife because a large number of the shot did not penetrate deep, but glanced and went into the ceiling over his head.

After shooting himself, Magill dropped the gun and staggered tot he front door and went out into the yard. He reached the gate and then turned back and made his way into the house to the bedroom where his wife lay sweltering in blood. He threw himself across her body and lay perfectly still.

Shots Heard By Neighbors

When the crime was committed Mrs. Frederick Krafft and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Allen Ewalt, were sitting in the dining room in the Krafft home just across the street from Magill's. When the first shot was heard it sounded muffled and the women thought that a neighbor had dropped a wash tub. No attention was paid by them until the second and louder report rang out and then, becoming alarmed, Mrs. Ewalt ran to the front door and looked out into the street. Just at this time Magill staggered out of the front door with blood streaming from his jaw and down over his shirt front to the ground. Mrs. exalt saw him go to the front gate and start toward a small tree in the yard. Seeing that something terrible had happened, she quickly informed Mrs. Krafft who ran to the home of William Hissong a short distance away. Mr. Hissong, as quickly as possible, hastened tot he Magill home and found both Mrs. Magill and her husband lying on the bed in a mess of blood. Mrs. Magill was lying lengthwise on the bed and he had thrown himself crosswise over her body.

Physician Summoned

Without lingering to attempt to investigate the terrible scene that fell under his gaze, Mr. Hissong ran back home and telephoned to Dr. Harry W. Blair who made all hast to the scene of the tragedy. The man and woman were in the same position as when seen by Hissong and both were still living. Chappelear, Kaufman & Coo.'s ambulance was called to the scene and Magill was rushed to the Mt. Vernon hospital where he was lying in a most critical condition.

Mrs. Magill was swiftly bleeding to death when he doctor arrived and everything possible was done to save her life. This was to no avail, and she died about one and one half hours after being shot. Her remains was taken tot he Chapplelear, Kaufman & Co. undertaking establishment to be prepared for burial.

The Coroner's Visit

Before the body of the murdered woman was moved, Deputy Coroner B. C. Deeley was summoned and an examination was made. Nothing could be found or heard to point to the shooting being accidental so his finding was "murder and attempted suicide."

Police On Scene

The police department was notified of the murder and attempted suicide shortly after it had occurred Saturday morning. Chief of Police Clements and Officer George hastened tot he Magill home, but did not arrive at the house until after Magill had been removed tot he Mt. Vernon hospital.

The police have taken no action in the affair at the present time. If Magill should die there will be nothing for the police department to do. On the other hand should Magill recover, which is not likely, a charge of murder would be placed against the man.

Made Purchases For Son

Magill was down town Friday evening and conversed with a number of friends, but exhibited no sign of his mental condition. He talked to W. B. Hancock relative to some business matters and appeared at one of the clothing stores and purchased some underwear for his young son.

Dr. Blair's Statement

Magill was at Dr. Blair's office on Friday evening and was very much worried over the condition of his son, Morgan Magill, 16 years of age, and acted queer. Dr. Blair said his statements were sometimes of a rambling nature and his mind did not appear to be exactly normal. He told the doctor that he had not slept for nearly a week and that he was feeling badly.

Dr. Blair said that the chances of Magill's recovery were small on account of the nature of the wound and the great loss of blood. The left side of his lower jaw was nearly all shot away and the upper part of his neck was terribly torn on the left side. He is very weak from loss of blood and perhaps will not recover.

Magill's Queer Act

One act of the man, after he had fired the shot into his own jaw, was hard to understand. Before going out the door and into the yard he drew a package of letters and postcards from his pocket and smeared blood all over them. They were then dropped to the floor and were later destroyed it was thought by neighbors who attached no importance to them. One thing noticed about them, and that is the interesting part. On the front and back of each was written, "lies," in large letters. What this one word might have meant is not known but it probably had some bearing upon the crime. It was probable that the contents of the letters would have given more light on the affair as far as motive was concerned.

What The Son Said

Magill'son, Morgan Magill, who was sleeping on a cot next to the death chamber, said, on being questioned, that he did not hear the first shot fired and did not awaken until the second explosion came. He could tell nothing about the affair, or said that he could not, except that he was frightened but he knowledge that something terrible had happened and screamed at the top of his voice.

The boy had been ill for some time and had been sleeping close tot he door leading into the bedroom. Had he been awake, he would probably have been in a position to see the deed. Nothing tangible could be extracted from him and he appeared to be backward about telling anything or discussing the affair from any angle. His illness and physical condition probably had a good deal to do with his actions on being asked to answer questions.

Was Second Wife

The murdered woman was Magill's second wife, the first having died over two years ago. Nieghbors were at loss to account for the act when considering family relations because the two seemed to get along together excellently and were never heard quarreling. The neighbors said Saturday morning that whenever Mrs. Magill shoed a tendency to be out of humor at any time, her husband would say, "I wont' love you if you get mad." When she would hear him say this she, it was said, always felt very badly and vowed that she would never get mad at him. She always felt very particular to please him in every way and on Friday evening asked a neighbor woman to mix some pie crust for her because she was afraid that she could not do it well enough to please her husband. Trouble between man and wife could not have been the cause of the double crime.

Hinted His Intention

Ivan Magill, son of William Magill, who was married and lived in the west end of town, paid a visit to his father's home Friday evening for the first time since the second marriage. During his visit the father told him all about his troubles, real and probably fancied, and acted in a rather strange manner although his actions were not noticeably erratic. He repeated the story of his defeat at the primaries and said that he was undecided just what was the best way out of the trouble. One of the last sentences he uttered to his son was this: "You will know the end later." This utterance gave rise tot he belief that the man premeditated murder and suicide and was successful in the former instance and perhaps in the latter. No other interpretation could be made of the expression.

On may 27, 1912, Magill married MRs. Lola M. Taylor, the woman whom he killed, and brought her to Mt. Vernon to live. SHe formerly lived at Esto, Ohio, and had been divorced from her first husband. She had an eight year old daughter at the time when she married Magill, but the girl had been living with her grandparents in Esto. Mrs. Magill's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Miser, were well known residents of Butler township.

Brooded Over Election

Magil was a candidate for the nomination for county treasurer at the primaries the spring of 1912 and believed before the election that he would get the nomination. He failed, and this came as a blow. He acted queerly for a long time after that and told several persons that he was nearly crazy with disappointment and worry. The failure at the polls evidently prayed upon his mind all along for he frequently mentioned it all summer and fall. This along with continuous financial difficulties, probably caused his mind to be wrought up to such a pitch that he committed murder and attempted suicide thinking that it would be the easiest way out of all the trouble.

On Friday morning Magill arose early and persisted in leaving for his school ing before the usual time. His wife tried to persuade him that it was too early, but he insisted that he must go or he would be late reporting for duty. He never acted this way before and Mrs. Magill could not understand his unusual behavior.

Magill had been teaching in the county schools for many years and the fall of 1912 and been teaching at the Clinton school on the Mansfield road just north of the city. An Accident Theory

A very improbable theory was advanced by some of Magill's friends the tragedy had occurred. They said who visited the scene sometime after that the left barrel of the gun was very easily exploded on account of a lighter trigger spring and that they believed Magill went into the bedroom to kid his wife good bye before starting on a rabbit hunt and accidentally shot her. Their theory was, further, that he was nearly wild with grief over the terrible accident and chose to die himself rather than live and know that he had killed his wife. The theory was a very improbable one and was believed by very few. The entire situation points to a premeditated crime.

Magill was 45 years of age on September 21, 1912, and his wife was 29 years of age on May 27, 1912. Magill was the father of two sons and one daughter, Ivan and Morgan and Mrs. Harrison Houbler, and his wife was the mother of one daughter, 8 years of age. The children were all from former marriages.

Letters Are Found

The letters and post cards on which the word "lies" seas written and which could not be located at first were later discovered to be in the possession of the young son who had been sick for several weeks and they were taken possession of by the coroner and the police. All were examined thoroughly but nothing could be found in them that might have any bearing upon the crime.

Calls For His Wife

For several hours after having been taken tot he hospital Magill was unable to speak or comprehend anything, but at about noon he gained strength to some extent and talked to his attendants. He remembered nothing of having shot his wife and himself, but repeatedly asked the nurse to telephone for his wife to come to his bedside.

It was the opinion of the physicians that he was temporarily deranged on account of loss of sleep and committed the terrible act while his mind was in this condition.

Funeral Monday

The remains of Mrs. Magill would be removed to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Miser, at Esto where the funeral would be held Monday.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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