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YUBA COUNTY OBITS
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LAURENCE SIGNORETTE
Daily Democrat - 12/7/1891, p1 - Very Strange Case: Was It Suicide, Homicide, Manslaughter Or Murder-A Coroner's Inquest - Lawrence [sic] Signorette, a native of France, aged 65 years, was found dead at his residence near Indiana Ranch, in this county, on the morning of Wednesday last, December 2, 1891, under the following peculiar circumstances, which calls for a further and more complete investigation: Justice of the Peace Edward Dermody held and inquest on the remains and the following citizens were jurors: E. C. Irwin, Hugh Murphy, Edward Page, Frank George, John Muncey and Charles Mory. The Democrat has received a correct copy of the evidence, which was written by ex-Assessor Lewis Wilder, also a copy of the verdict of the jury, which is here appended, as it gives the particulars fully of a very strange case. The first witness was the wife of deceased, Margarette Signorette, who testified as follows: About 8 o'clock in the evening of December the 1st 1891, she saw her husband swallow a dose of strychnine and then he lay down upon his bed and soon commenced shaking; he took a drink of water, and was immediately thrown into a spasm. He called to her to get the gun (it was a double barrel shot gun.) She gave him the gun, he said he had not strength enough to hold the gun, told her to take the gun. She took hold of the stock of the gun and asked him where was the best place to shoot, if in his throat, he said no, and he took hold of the muzzle of the gun and placed it against his temple and told her to shoot. She cocked the gun and pulled on one of the triggers; she said the gun would not shoot; he told her to pull on the other trigger which she did and the fatal shot was fired, says she would not have pulled the trigger if he had not swallowed the poison, this occurred about 10 or 11 o'clock at night. - Q.-What did you do after he was shot? -A.-His arm was hanging down the side of the bed, and I laid it across his breast. - Q.-What did you do with the gun? - A.-I set the gun back on the table in the corner of the room. - Q.-What did you do then? - A.-I went to bed. - Question-Did you go to sleep after you went to bed? - Answer-Yes, I slept a little. - Q.-What did you do the next morning? - A.-After daylight I went to Mr. Bourbon's cabin, asked him to come and assist me to carry my husband out to a rock pile to burn him. - Q.-Why did you want to burn him? - A.-My husband begged and prayed to me that after he was dead I should burn him. - Q.-Did your husband pick out any particular spot where he wanted to be burnt? - A.-No. - Q.-Why didn't you burn your husband? - A.-Mr. Bourbon would not help me to carry him out and I could not burn him without I burnt him in the house. - Q.- Did you see your husband take the strychnine? - A.-Yes, I saw him pour it out into a tea cup, and mix it with water and swallow the poison. He wanted me to taste it after he had it mixed, but I would not. - Q.-Why didn't you stop your husband from taking the strychnine? - A.-He had been trying to starve himself to death for the last six weeks, said he was the most miserable person on earth. At one time he went out into the yard to take poison to kill himself, and I persuaded him not to do it. This seemed to make him very angry, and he kicked me on the leg and in the side, beat and abused me until I was black and blue; through fear and not having the strength is the reason I did not try to prevent him from swallowing the poison. He had been drinking a great deal of wine for the last two months, and was under the influence of wine at the time he took the poison. - Peter Bourbon being sworn deposes and says: Mrs. Signorette came to my cabin about 8 o'clock on the morning of the 2d of December; said her husband was dead and she asked me to come with her to burn him. I told her I would go and tell Frank George that Mr. Signorette was dead. I went to Mr. George and told him that Signorette died last night and Mrs. Signorette wanted me to help her burn him. Then I went and informed Batist that Signorette was dead. - Batist Guilloux being sworn deposes and says that Mr. Bourbon came to his cabin and informed him that Signorette was dead; I went immediately to Signorettes' house and found him dead on his bed with a hole shot through his head. - Mrs. Signorette related the same story to him as she gave her testimony. - The Verdict Of The Jury - We, the undersigned jurors, do find a verdict that Lawrence [sic] Signorette came to his death from a gun shot wound in the hands of Margueritte and Lawrence Signorette. - (Signed) E. C. Irwin, John Muncy, Ed Page, Hugh Murphy, Frank George, Chas. Mory.
Daily Appeal - 12/8/1891, p3 - Assisted To Commit Suicide: A Woman Sees Her Husband Swallow Strychnine: Shoots Him At His Request - One of the Strangest of Crimes Recorded in Yuba County, Followed by a Very Queer Verdict From the Deputy Coroner's Jury-The County Officials Will Investigate - District Attorney Forbes and Sheriff Saul will be called upon to investigate the mysterious death of Lourens Signorette, a native of France, who resided near Indiana ranch. From the evidence taken at the Coroner's inquest, presided over by Edward Dermody, a Justice of the Peace, it appears that his wife, Margueritte, saw him swallow a dose of strychnine last Tuesday night after which he lay down on his bed, took a drink of water and had a spasm. After recovering from it he asked her to get his double-barreled shotgun. He then told her he had not strength enough to hold the gun, and asked her to hold it. She took hold of the stock of the gun and asked her husband if she should shoot him in the throat. He said no and took hold of the muzzle of the gun, placing it against his temple, and told her to pull the trigger. She cocked the gun and pulled on one of the triggers; as it would not shoot she pulled on the other. - The fatal shot was then discharged. She went to bed and went next morning to Mr. Bourbon's cabin and asked him to come and assist her to carry her husband out to a rock pile to burn him. Her husband had asked her to burn him when he was dead. - When asked why she had not prevented his taking the strychnine, she answered that he had been trying to starve himself to death for the last six weeks; said he was the most miserable person on earth. At one time he went out into the yard to take poison to kill himself and I persuaded him not to do it. This seemed to make him very angry, and he kicked her on the leg and in the side, beat and abused her until she was black and blue; through fear and not having the strength is the reason she did not try to prevent him from swallowing the poison. He had been drinking a great deal of wine for the last two months, and was under the influence of wine at the time he took the poison. - The jury found the following verdict: We, the undersigned jurors do find a verdict that Lawrence Signorette came to his death from a gunshot wound in the hands of Marguerite and Lawrence Signorette. - The jury evidently meant that the fatal wound was inflicted by either of those parties. - Coroner Bevan has not been notified, and knows nothing about the inquest or verdict. He informed an Appeal representative last evening that the Justice of the Peace would be called upon to explain the delay in reporting the investigations made. - Sheriff Saul was seen late last night and stated that he would have his deputy nearest that place make an investigation and if the facts are as reported, cause the arrest of the woman. - A man who refused to give his name, told an Appeal reporter last night that the Signorettes kept, almost constantly, in a state of drunkenness, and were very quarrelsome. He also said that the neighbors were not particularly shocked at the outcome of their mode of life. - The Appeal published a brief statement of the suicide some days ago and made inquiries of several parties who had been in Foster's Bar township since the crime but they had heard nothing of it. - That the very queer story should be investigated and at once, is the opinion of every one who has heard of the circumstances.
Daily Democrat - 12/9/1891, p1 - The Signorette Case - At a few minutes past noon to-day Coroner Bevan and county physician Stratton departed by team for Indiana Ranch, where the recent tragic death of Lawrence Signorette occurred. Sheriff Saul has a deputy near there who will represent him, and the coroner took with him a young man of this city who will write the evidence given at the new inquest to be held. District Attorney Forbes did not deem it necessary for himself to be there as the coroner has the authority to order an arrest should it be deemed necessary which now appears quite probable. The coroner will order the body of deceased disinterred, when a searching inquest will be held and all points possible brought out, including an examination of the stomach by Dr. Stratton, to determine if poison was taken as sworn to by the wife of the deceased. The mental condition of the wife will also be investigated and everything possible done to explain the very mysterious actions of the woman, and if the coroner finds that sufficient cause exists he will have the deputy sheriff bring her here for a hearing.
Daily Democrat - 12/11/1891, p1 - Death of Signorette: Some Additional Evidence Taken at the Coroner's Inquest - Last evening by stage the following additional evidence was received from ex-County Assessor Wilder, which he said was all the new points up to the time the stage passed there yesterday. Indiana Ranch is about four miles north of the stage road, and the mail for that point is received at Dobbins ranch, the nearest office: Mrs. Signorette's testimony continued. - Q.-Is there any poison in the house at the present time? - Before Mrs. Signorette answered this question she looked on some shelves in the corner of room and went into a pantry, then out into the back yard. On returning to the room where the inquest was held she said: After my husband took the poison he handed the bottle to me and said the balance was for me. I can't remember what I died with the bottle. (The bottle was afterwards found in the deceased coat pocket.) - Q.-Did you remove any brains after he was dead? - A.-I took a shovel and scraped up what he had vomited on the floor and threw it out in the yard; I don't know whether there was any brains in it or not. - Q.-Didn't you have some brains this morning on a plate and did you ask Batist to help you bury them? - A.-No.
Daily Democrat - 12/12/1891, p1 - Second Inquest: On the Remains of Lawrence Signorette Held at Indiana Ranch - Last evening Coroner Bevan and county physician Stratton returned from Indiana Ranch where an autopsy and inquest was held on the remains of Lawrence Signorette, of whose death the Democrat gave full particulars Monday last. Ex-County Assessor Wilder was present and has sent the following account of the inquest and proceedings, which with the evidence published by this paper Monday last will give a very correct history of the strange case, which has already attracted attention all over the country: - Indiana Ranch, December 10, 1891. Coroner R. E. Bevan and Dr. G. W. Stratton arrived early this morning, and proceeded to the residence of the late Lawrence Signorette, to examine the house and interview Mrs. Signorette. The Coroner ordered the dirt removed from the grave down to the box that contained the coffin. On returning to the cemetery the coffin was taken out of the box and Dr. Stratton held a post mortem examination on the body of Lawrence Signorette. The coroner summoned the following jurors: Daniel Gettens, Wm. Scott, Joseph Dutra, King Coats, Antone Romolia, E. C. Irwin, Manual Dutra, Edward Page, Charles Mory and Lewis Wilder. - After the doctor examined the body, they returned to the Indiana Ranch hotel to hold the coroner's inquest. - Peter Fortier was sworn to act as interpreter. Mrs. Signorette, wife of the deceased, was the first witness examined. The evidence she gave in the first examination was read to her, (the same as sent to the Democrat) and she said it was correct. The following is in addition to her testimony: - Q.-Is this the gun you shot him with (showing gun to witness)? - A.-Yes. - Q.-What was your reason for shooting him? - A.-I was afraid he would get up and whip me. - Q.-Did you know that to shoot a person to death is murder? - A.-Yes; but I was afraid he would whip me. - Q.-Do you think he would have died from the effects of the poison? - A.-I don't know; he was suffering terribly. - Q.-Do you think the shot from the gun caused his death? - A.-Yes. - Q.-Is this the vial that contained the poison your husband swallowed? - A.-Yes, I think so. - Q.-Where did he get this poison? - A.-I don't know. - Q.-Did you ever buy poison and keep it in the house? - A.-Yes, I had some to kill gophers. - Q.-Did you have a bottle of poison then to kill gophers? - A.-No.- Q.-Did you and your husband live happy the last six months? - A.-Yes; only when he had crazy spells. - Q.-What caused him to have these crazy spells? - A.-Excessive drinking. - Q.-Did he always drink wine? - A.-Yes; since he has been making wine. - Q.-What is your age? - A.-72 years. - Q.-What was the age of your husband? - A.-66 years. - Q.-How long have you been married? - A.-35 years. - Q.-Has not your husband been out of his mind more or less since the death of his daughter? - A.-Yes; a good deal. - Q.-How long has your daughter been dead? - A.-Six or seven years. - Batist Guilloux being sworn deposes and says, I reside at Indiana Ranch. - Q.-Was you acquainted with the deceased, Lawrence Signorette? - A.-Yes, a long time. - Q.-When did you last see him alive? - A.-About one month ago.- Q.-When and where did you see him last? - A.-On the morning of December 2d, in his own house in bed. - Q.-What condition did you find him? - A.-Found him with a bad hole or wound in his head. - Q.-When you went to the house what did Mrs. Signorette tell you? - A.-She said she shot him. - Q.-What else did she say? - A.-She said that he had taken poison. - Q.-Did she tell you what he took the poison for? - A.-No. - Q.-What then did you do? - A.-I looked at the body and told her not to touch him. - Q.-Did you remain there until the Justice came to hold an inquest? - A.-No, I stayed all day and night but left before the Justice came. - G. W. Stratton being duly sworn and examined, testified as follows: Upon post mortem examination of the body of L. Signorette, said he was satisfied that deceased came to his death from a gun shot wound, supposed to be fired by his wife, Mrs. L. Signorette on the night of December 1, 1891. The contents of the gun taking effect on the right side of the skull in the anterior temporal region of the skull just posterior to the eye. The contents of the gun fracturing the skull and passing out at the left side of the skull at posterior temporal region and base of skull. The effect of the shot produced almost complete dissolution of the brain substance together with much dissolution of the bones of the cranium. I found upon further examination his heart and lungs in a normal condition, the liver being somewhat enlarged. Upon examination of the contents of the stomach with such chemical tests as I had in my possession found evidence of strychnine, and in my opinion and belief deceased had taken poison in the form of strychnine. I found no marks of violence on the person of deceased. - Q.-Did you examine the person of Mrs. Signorette? - A.-I did, and found that her right thigh was considerably bruised, also both arms were bruised, and that her left side had been injured, which she said was done by a kick. - Q.-Who did she say caused these kicks and bruises? - A.-Her husband. - Q.-Did she state to you what time she received those bruises? - A.-About two days before he died; but she had been injured before that time. - At this point the evidence was closed and then the following verdict was rendered by the jury: Verdict of the Jury - We find the name of deceased to be Lawrence Signorette, aged 66 years, and a native of France; that he came to his death in his bed in his own home near Indiana Ranch on the night of December 1, 1891, from a gun shot wound, fired from a double barrel shot gun in the hands of his wife, Marguerette D. Signorette, with intent to cause death. - (Signed) Lewis Wilder, Chas. E. Mory, Antone Romala, Daniel Gettens, King Coats, William H. Scott, Ed Page, Joseph Dutra, E. C. Erwin, Manuel Dutra. - After the verdict had been duly signed Coroner Bevan issued a warrant, which was placed in the hands of Deputy Sheriff Joseph Merriam, who served it on Mrs. Signorette and placed her under arrest. She was brought to this city and is well cared for at the Women's department of the county jail, and will have a hearing as soon as arrangements can be made and evidently will be discharged, because it is quite plain the woman committed the act at a time when she was not responsible for her actions. In other words, she feared the man to the extent that she believed her own life in danger if she did not comply with the sterne command of her crazed husband to pull the trigger of the gun, and she done the act under duress and fear which caused temporary insanity.
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