REGALIA

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 04:13:46 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, November 14, 1918
Page 8

Liquor-Crazed Man Kills Wife and Self

Carrying out a threat made two weeks ago, Frank Regalia, distiller employed by the Mason Distilling Company in Sausalito, killed his wife, took poison, and then slashed his own throat Tuesday evening at the Regalia home at West End. He died an hour later at the Cottage Hospital.

Under Sheriff Sherman and Deputy Sheriff Sinnott declare that the crime was most fiendish. They were on the scene within a few moments after a neighbor, Mrs. Clark, who lives near the Regalia home, telephoned to the Sheriff’s office.

According to Mrs. Clark’s version, she saw Mrs. Regalia and the 3-year-old son go to the house about 5:15. The child remained outside in the rear yard while its mother went into the house. She then heard Mrs. Regalia scream, and almost immediately, still screaming, rush from the back door with Regalia in pursuit. The man, Mrs. Clark said was stabbing viciously at Mrs. Regalia with a long-bladed pocket knife. The woman fell, dead, at the foot of the porch steps. Regalia then tried to entice the little child into the house, but the boy ran. Regalia then entered the house alone.

Sherman and Sinnott found the man, with his throat slashed, in an inner bedroom, the door of which was closed. He was hurried to the hospital. Dr. Hund and Dr. Howitt examined him and found that in addition to inflicting the wound, which insured death, Regalia had take a large dose of lysol.

Regalia was arrested two weeks ago by Constable Henry Crane upon complaint of Mrs. Regalia. She told Justice of the Peace de la Montanya that her husband had driven her from her home the night before, after beating her severely, and that she had gone to the Marin Hotel for protection. When placed under arrest Regalia told Crane that it was his intention to kill his wife and child and then commit suicide. “I have it in here,” he said, pointing to his head.

At that time Regalia was manifestly intoxicated. Later he evidenced such remorse over his conduct that he was released under a suspended sentence.

Regalia was 30 years old and the woman was but 20. They were married four years ago. The girl, an orphan, it is said, was sent here from Italy by Regalia’s parents to become the bride of their son.

Since Regalia’s arrest the woman had been employed by Alex Enos, proprietor of the Marin Hotel, as chambermaid. She had kept the little boy with her. The visit to her home was for the purpose of getting clean clothing for herself and the child. Regalia, apparently, was lying in wait for her. It is believed that the child’s fear of his liquor-crazed father was all that saved it from the mother’s fate.