$(document).ready(function(){
  $('#signIn').submit(function(){
    var a = $('#email').val();
    $.post('/api/login', { //this used to post to verifyUser.php
      Username: $('#email').val(),
      Password: $('#password').val()
    }, function(data){
      if(data['credentials'] == true){
          console.log('credentials true');
          console.log(data['uri']);
          window.location.href=data['uri'];
      } else {
        $('#errMsg').html(data['errMsg']);
        $('.alert').show();
      }
    }, 'json');
    return false;
  });

public function authenticate(Request $request) //aka api/login endpoint
{
    //...
            $legacyRes = $this->authenticateLegacy($request);
    //...
}


private function authenticateLegacy(Request $request)
{
    $response = null;
    try {
        $response = $this->client->post('/admin/verifyUser.php', [
            'form_params' => ['Username' => $request->get('Username'),
                'Password' => $request->get('Password')]
        ]);
    }
    catch(Exception $exception){
        Log::error('Errrererererer', [$exception->getMessage()]);
    }
    $body = (string)$response->getBody();
    Log::info('BODY:', [$body]);
    return $body;

}