Sixth Generation

155. Laura E. REGESTER was born in 1884 in Providence, RI. She died on 10 May 1909 at the age of 25 in Providence, RI. She was buried in Locust Grove Cemetery, Elmwood Ave., Providence. Providence Evening Bulletin - May 11, 1909:

WOMAN IS BRUTALLY KILLED NEAR CEMETERY
Mrs. Laura E. Regester, 32 Years Old, Found Dead Off Reservoir Avenue - Body Shockingly Maltreated - Had Just Left Dressmaker's, Where She Tried on Dress to be Worn on Day of Wedding - Divorced from First Husband Four Years Ago - Cries Heard at House Nearby.

Laura E. Regester, 32 years old, when returning from being fitted for a wedding dress in preparation for her marriage on the 12th of next month, was waylaid and murdered last night behind the Jewish Cemetery on Reservoir Avenue, almost within sight of her father's home. The body was found at an early hour this morning, and bore evidences of the perpetrator of the crime having been actuated by horribly brutal vengefulness.

The throat bore the imprint of fingers, indicated that the woman had been strangled, there were marks of vicious blows on eyes, nose, and forehead, and further examination showed that the body had been fiendishly cut and mutilated.

The victim of the crime was the daughter of Charles W. Regester, a Gorham Company employee, and she kept house for her father at 15 Pleasant Street, just over the boundary in the town of Cranston. She also worked in the factory of the D. & W. Fuse Co. She was the divorced wife of Ernest Allen, a jeweler, the decree separating them having been granted four years ago. She was engaged to marry Charles Douglass, a jeweler who lives on Dudley street in this city (Providence).

The police have been unable to ascertain anything concerning the whereabouts of Ernest Allen, the divorced husband.

Charles Douglass is employed by A. A. Greene & Co., manufacturing jewelers at 94 Point Street. He went to work at the usual time this morning, but later left there, saying that Mrs. Regester's folks had sent for him to go out to the house on Pleasant Street. The police say he had not appeared at the house up to early this afternoon.

She left her father's home last evening at 7:40 o'clock to visit a dressmaker on Public Street who had been engaged to make her wedding gown.

The body was found at 7:15 this morning by Joseph Rosen, an employee of Sherwood Ice Company. The sight that met his eyes was too much for him and without stopping to investigate he ran to the nearest telephone and called up his foreman, William Lowrey, who on the ground within a few moments.

POLICE RUSH TO SCENE

He in turn notified the police of the Seventh Precinct, and Capt. Peter B. Cannon, Inspector Armstrong, Sgt. Duffy, Mounted Patrolman Edward Maguire, Patrolmen Shea, Carmody and Gilloughly, all of the Potter Avenue station, who rushed to the scene.
She visited Mary Hondo, who lives with her sister-in-law, Mr. August Hondo of 674 Public street. Her sister-in-law, Mrs. Emma Regester, wife of Horace W. Regester, saw her board a Reservoir Avenue car, which was waiting at the city line at 7:40 o'clock last evening.

She got off the car at the corner of Earl street, near the junction of Reservoir Avenue and Elmwood avenue, where she was to meet a girl, whose name is not known, and which whom she was to have gone to dressmaker.

She reached Miss Hondo's house about 8 o'clock and was there for nearly two hours trying on her wedding dress. Miss Hondo says Mrs. Regester left about 9:45, saying he was going straight home and had just time enough to get the 10:20 Reservoir avenue car.

WAS ALONE, SAYS CARMAN

Conductor William Wells of the car which reaches the Reservoir avenue end of the line at 9:41, says he is sure she rode out to the terminus with him and got off there. He said she was alone.

Harry C. Whitman, motorman on this car, who says he knows Mrs. Regester personally, also says she was a passenger on that car.

Until last Christmas Mrs. Regester was employed as a saleswoman at Kirby's 5 and 10 cent store on Westminister Street, where she was held in high respect by all her companions. Miss Lena Greene, who is at present assistant floor manager in the store, worked at the same counter with Mrs. Regester, and she said this morning that she was a reserved, companionable and lovable woman. Mrs. Regester confided in Miss Greene and told her that she secured a divorce from her husband on account of his treatment of her.

MADE MANY FRIENDS

Miss Greene said Mrs. Regester worked on the counter with her in the store at Christmas time 1907. She was a good sales-girl and made many friends. Miss Greene said Mrs. Register had many acquaintances who came into the store and she always seemed cheerful. At that time she boarded with a woman on Public street, but Miss Greene did not know her name. Mrs. Regester said she divorced her husband but was going with another man. Mrs. Regester came into the store occasionally after that and at one time showed a ring indicating her engagement to the second man, but Miss Greene did not know this man's name. The last time Mrs. Regester cme in was last week. At that time she was well dressed and was in her usual spirits.

From another source it was learned that, although Mrs. Regester secured a divorce from her husband nearly four years ago, he still continued to see her, and the week before last Christmas had visited her at the Westminister street store. She informed him, however, at each of their interviews that she would have nothing to do with him and that she was engaged to be married to another man.

Ernest ALLEN was born (date unknown).