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Laura E. Lacy
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| LAST NAME: Lacy
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FIRST NAME: Laura
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MIDDLE NAME: E.
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NICKNAME:
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| MAIDEN NAME: Collins
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AKA 1:
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AKA 2:
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AKA 3:
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| GENDER: F
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TITLE:
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| BORN: 12 Aug 1872
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DIED: 25 Jul 1905
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BURIED: (Chamberlin Cemetery)
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| OCCUPATION:
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| BIRTH PLACE: Oregon
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| DEATH PLACE: Corvallis, Benton Co., Oregon
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NOTES:
OSBH DC (Benton County 1905) #623 - Mrs. Laura E. Lacy, female, married, b. 12 Aug 1872 in Oregon, d. 25 Jul 1905 in Corvallis, Oregon at the age of 32 yrs 11 ms 13 ds, name of father William Collins, maiden name of mother Fuquway, information W.V. Wilkins of Corvallis.
1880 OR CENSUS - Wm. W. Collins, age 37, occupation farmer, b. Missouri, is enumerated with his wife Mary L., age 36, b. Missouri, along with Mary J., age 9, b. Oregon, Laura E., age 7, b. Oregon, Joseph W., age 5, b. Oregon, and son [name not given but must be Eddie], age 1, b. Oregon.
1900 OR CENSUS - Laura Lacy, age 27, b. Aug 1872 in Oregon, is enumerated with her husband of 1 year, Wm. B. Lacy, age 28, occupation dry goods salesman, b. Apr 1873 in Oregon. They are enumerated in the home of her parents, W.W., Collins, age 57, occupation farmer, b. Mar 1843 in Missouri, and Mary L. Collins, [married to W.W. 30 years], age 55. mother of 6 children 3 of whom are living at the time of the census, b. Jul 1844 in Missouri, along with Ralph L., age 17, b. Oct 1882 in Oregon.
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DEATH CERTIFICATE:
OSBH DC (Benton County 1905) #623 - Mrs. Laura E. Lacy, female, married, b. 12 Aug 1872 in Oregon, d. 25 Jul 1905 in Corvallis, Oregon at the age of 32 yrs 11 ms 13 ds, name of father William Collins, maiden name of mother Fuquway, information W.V. Wilkins of Corvallis.
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OBITUARY:
The people of Corvallis were severely shocked Tuesday evening upon the announcement of the suicide of one whose apparently happy condition of life preclude the possibility of such an act. All who knew Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Lacy have been impressed with the devotion manifested each to the other; their situation was financially such as should have been entirely satisfactory; they owned their home; Mr. Lacy had employment. Monday Mr. and Mrs. Lacy returned from a pleasant visit with friends and relatives in Washington state, having also visited the Exposition and Mrs. Lacy’s parents in Polk county. Both are highly esteemed by their acquaintances, and all their known surroundings were such as to justify the belief that the Lacy home was one of the happiest. So, with these facts in the mind of so many, there was extreme surprise and profound sorrow when it became known that Mrs. Lacy lay dead at he home as the result of a gunshot wound inflicted, as seemed probable, by her own hand.
Discovery of the body was made by Mr. Lacy upon returning home at the close of business hours at the J.H. Harris store, in which he has been an employee for many years. Mr. Lacy entered the back door accompanied by Chester Proebstel, who was to have supper with the family. The husband passed into the dining room and from there saw his wife lying on the bed in their sleeping apartments opening from the dining room. He approached his wife, lay his hand upon her, and simultaneously discovered and excusion of froth from the mouth and a narrow streak of blood passing from the right temple across her face. With a cry of anguish Mr. Lacy called to his friend and commanded him to hasten for a physician. Within five or six minutes Dr. Cather arrived. “It is no use – she is dead!” said the heart-broken husband to the doctor as he entered the room. And so it proved, upon a casual examination by the physician.
Mrs. Lacy lay upon her back, her head twisted well to the left and resting upon the pillows. A tiny hole in the right temple and a 22-calibre rifle lying by the bedside gave the first, and in fact only, evidence of how she came to her death. The bullet had entered the right temple and passed almost diagonally across to the opposite side where it was arrested by the heavier bone slightly below the left temple, lacerating the blood vessels of the brain in its course. The nature of the wound caused speedy and extensive discoloration of the face.
Dr. Cathey suggested that Coroner Wilkins be summoned and that in the meantime the corpse and attending conditions be not disturbed. After a survey of the situation Coroner Wilkins removed the remains to his undertaking parlors and at once summoned a jury and ordered an inquest, which began at 8 o’clock. The jury was composed of Wm. Crees, G. Seely, A.E. Wilkins, J.A. Strange, Z. Davis, J.W. Crawford.
W.B. Lacy was the first witness called. He stated, in answer to interogatives by Dep. Dis. Attorney Bryson, that he last saw his wife alive when he left his home just after having dinner at 12 o’clock Tuesday; at that time there was nothing unusual in her manner; she seemed cheerful, was in her usual health; she was in no way despondent; that their relationship had always been very pleasant, as had that of herself and relatives; nothing had occurred on their recent vacation trip to mar her usual peace of mind. The witness knew of no person who was likely to have a motive for causing her death. Upon his departure for his place of business Mr. Lacy had told his wife that she need not prepare a warm supper. He identified a 22-calibre rifle offered in evidence as being one he had kept in a closet opening form the bedroom occupied by himself and wife. It was not kept loaded. Cartridges for the gun were kept in the pantry. Mrs. Lacy had never handled the gun; had never shot a gun, to his knowledge. The empty shell found in the gun corresponded with the shells of cartridges kept by Mr. Lacy.
Chester Proebstel, an instructor at the college, testified that he had known Mr. and Mrs. Lacy a considerable time. He had just arranged to begin boarding with them; had taken dinner with them on the fatal day; about 6 o’clock had gone to the Lacy home for supper, rang the front door bell, but receiving no response, had started downtoen. When he had gone a short distance he met Mr. Lacy and returned, finding the dead body of Mrs. Lacy as previously narrated. Mr. Proebstel had noticed nothing at dinner time to indicate despondency on the part of Mrs. Lacy.
Dr. Cathey gave evidence in accordance with facts already stated, and assisted the jury in the examination of the body.
Charles Hastings, driver of a delivery wagon, had delivered groceries at the Lacy home about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, and on going to the rear of the residences to leave the purchases, had seen, through a window, the form of a woman lying on the bed. Other evidence, however, was to the effect that the groceries delivered by Mr. Harding had been moved from where the deliveryman left them, and had been properly put away.
Testimony of E.B. Horning, from where the groceries were purchased, showed that wrappers of the goods had been removed, placed in the kitchen stove, and partially burned. These facts tended to show that Mrs. Lacy had not fired the fatal shot when Mr. Harding saw the person (evidently Mrs. Lady) upon the bed.
A number of ladies residing in the vicinity of the Lacy home were called as witnesses, and testified that Mrs. Lacy was not of morose or despondent disposition, that they knew of no motive or cause which might prompt the act under investigation. Mrs. H.E. Hodes had gone upon an errand to the Lacy home at 5 o’clock, but was unable to procure a response to a ring of the door bell.
The verdict of the jury was substantially that deceased had some to her death from the effect of a gunshot wound inflicted by her own hand.
The maiden name of Mrs. Lacy was Laura Collins. She was the daughter of Wm. Collins, a pioneer resident of Polk county, the family having been near the line between Benton and Polk. She is a sister of Mrs. E.F. Wiles. During several years the family of Mr. Collins resided in Corvallis and it was while they lived here that Laura became the wife of W.B. Lacy, seven years ago this month, since which time the young people made this city their home. Deceased was aged 32 years. She possessed an unusual happy disposition, combined with many other admirable womanly qualities, made her a large circle of devoted friends, and her demise particularly under such circumstances as attended her death, caused profound sorrow throughout the city wherever she was known. Mr. Lacy has been an employ of the J.H. Harris store during nine years past. He is an estimable citizen and very much sincere sympathy is extended to him. No children were born to them.
The remains of Mrs. Lacy were conveyed yesterday morning to a cemetery near the old family homestead. She was a member of the Presbyterian church of this city, and Rev. M.S. Bush, pastor of the church here, conducted the funeral services.
Corvallis Gazette Times, Friday, July 25, 1905, 1:1-3
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INSCRIPTION:
Lacey
Laura E.
1872 - 1905
At Rest
(shares marker with William)
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SOURCES:
Branigar Survey
Saucy Survey & Photographs
OSBH DC (Benton County 1905) #623
1880 OR CENSUS (Polk Co., Monmouth ED 106, pg 490A)
1900 OR CENSUS (Benton Co., Covallis, ED 2, sheet 13B)
CGT Friday, 25 Jul 1905, 1:1-3
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