The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-01-30
AFRUIT GROWERS MURDER.

sncrnmento,s' Public -AdlnIniitrntor Con
yicted OF the Crime-now aud Why IL was
Committed.
In the trial OF Troy Dye, e1-pubic
administrator of Sacrmento county,
CAL, for the murder OF A. NJ. Tullis, q
wealthy fruit grower of Grand island,
near Sacramento, the jury, after twenty
minutes deliberation, brought in the
verdict, "Guilty of murder in the FIRST
degree"
The crime was committed on the might
OF August 1st, of last year. It's object
was to enable Dye, in his capacity as
public administrator, to yet hold of Tul-
lis estate, the latter's heirs living at q
distance. At the time OF his death ICul-
Lis was the largest fruit grower on the
Sacramento; river, having one lrge
orchard and large interests in two
others. His gains in tie fruit season
were at the rste of thousand dollars q
day, and he had accumulated from $50,
900 to $780, before his body was
found cold and stiff in his orchard on
the morning OF August I'd. When Dye,
as public administrator, applied for let
ters of administration, he rated the
estate at $50, 900, his object being to &C.
cure all over that amount. The killing
of Tullis on any other ground being OBJ
iectless, the theory was formed, soon
after the murder. that either his rela'
tives had committed the crime to secure
the estate as his heirs, or that Dye mad
done the deed to take possession as
public administrator. As Tullis' rela-
tives-a brother and nephew-were
from 300 to 5000 miles from the scene,
suspicion fastened upon Dye, who was
discovered to be in the neighborhood oi
Tull:s' ranch the night Of the murder.
he was arrested on August 10Th. As he
had up to that time borne an irreproach-
able reputation his arrest was shock to
the community. Two days later he made
confession of the crime in the presence
of the district attorney and others. The
murder was not committed by him, but
hy Clark, his partner ina saloon ven.
ture, and by Anderson, former EN-
ployee in Dyes butcher shop, Dye
having other occupations besides that OF
pubic administrator. Anderson, being
arrested, also made confession. Dye
said that he first thought Of killing Tul-
lis in the spring, having heard: OF the
wealth the fruit grower was acquir-
ing. At that time Anderson offer.
ed to kill any one Dye would
name for 300, and he confessed
to the committal OF two murders already.
After Dye made up his mind to muir.
der Tullis, he enlisted CLARK as well as
Anderson, and the first endeavor was to
poison Tullie. Clark visited the fruit
grower on pretense Of business, and left
behind as o parting present. q bottle,
ostensibly containing choice cordial,
but which really contained poison. Fol
some reason this scheme miscarried, and
then it was determined to waylay Tullif
and shoot him. A boat was built at
Dyes house in Sacramento, in which
Anderson and CLARK rowed to Tullis
fruit ranch, which was on all island
while Dye waited for them on the main
bank. This was toward evening or
August first. After they had landed.
Clark concealed himself while Anderson
went to look for Tullis, who presently
came near where CLARK was lying. An
derson asked Tullis for work, but was
told that Cinnamon were preferred. Ht
managed to get behind Tullis, SO that h
could strike him with sandbag. Al
though shaken by the blow, Tullis CLOSED
with Anderson, while the dog tore tt'
assassin's trousers and barked. CLARK
coming to the rescue. fred at T1llli'
with a pistol, but apparently missed
Saying to- Andersos, "Stand back,
Clark fred again, hitting Tulls in tn
back. Putting the pistol to the back Q
Tullis' head, he fred again. Tulli
fell on his face. Anderson had alread.
run to the boat, and Clark then followed
The two rowed back in the boat, whicl
they then broke up and threw into til
river. Anderson also tore, up and de
stroyed his trousers, thinking there wa
blood on them. They then met Dye
who carried them back to Sacramento.