Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-22
A HORRIBLE CRIME.
A Man Kills His wifes Sister and secretes
Her Body in Trunk.

Morning Call, October goth
About 10 o'clock last night man giving
the name of G. A. Wheeler called on the
Central Police Station, and in the most
matter. of-fact manner informed Captain
Douglass that he had killed his sister.in-
law, Della j. Tillson, at a lodging house
No. "a Kearny street, and hidden her body
in trunk in room IA. He brought with
him lady's white waist, and some hair
which he said had been torn from the
woman's head. The very straight state
ment made by the man, together with the
strange evidence that he offered in proof
of his having committed the murder,
caused a general disbelief of his statement,
and induced the opinion that he was crazy.
However, he was placed in custody, and
Sergeant Shields and two officers were
dispatched to the scene, and
THE sIcKENING DETAILS
OF the terrible tale of the man were found
to be true. In an ordinary travelling
trunk was the dead body of young
woman, apparently twenty-five years OF
age, cramped up by the confines of its
strange receptacle. The features of the
woman, of alabaster whiteness, were
placid, and no marks of violence were dis
coverable on her body. In searching the
trunk, there was found wrapped up in a
skirt child's doll, which was thought to
have been the body of a child until ex-
posed. The following statement was made
by Wheeler to Call reporter, before the
truth of it had been established by the
finding of the body, in answer to a very
few questions. as the man was very volu-
BILE in giving his story MY name is G.
A. Wheeler. My sister-in-law is Della J.
Tillson, and my wife's name is Mary Z.
Wheeler. From the first have been init
mate with my sister-in.law / was mar
red eleven years ago. My wife has had
one child. An abortion was committed
upon her by doctor since the birth of the
first child. have no children living now
| have been stopping at the lodging house,
with my wife and sister law, for about
four weeks. Sometimes we all occupied
the same bed We have frequently done
so, My wife did not object.
MY SISTER IN-LAw HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY
CoNGENIAL TO ME,
And l loved her as much as / did my wife.
A few days ago my sister-in. law told me
she intended to 90 away with man named
George w. Peckham he has caused all the
trouble. She said that he had treated her
very kindly, had bought her many things,
and would be dear brother to her. Her
first acquaintance with him was at Cisco,
Placer county. There he used to take her
horseback riding and paid her many atten-
tons. Sometimes they would not return
until after 10 o'clock. She told me to-day
that he had never taken any advantage of
her up there. He came down here last
Saturday, and she met him at the Oakland
boat. told her she had better not have
him come to the house, and that she had
better not see him, but she was determined
to do so. He came to the house where we
were stopping. / saw him hugging and
kissing her to-day. She tried to get away
from him when she saw that | was looking
My wife told them that they had better
rot do too much of that, because the land
lady and
TIE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE MIGHT THINK
IT STRANGE,
Because she had come there with me.
They We're out together Tuesday night to
the Baldwin Theater and last night they
went to the Tivoli, and stayed until II
o'clock. Peckham made statement to a
party before he came down here, that he
was coming down to play certain points
before he returned, if it cost him some
money. He was followed two or three
weeks ago by young man who worked as
a partner with him in tunnel, from
Cisco to Truckee. They both worked for
Mr.. Mckay, who resides on Bush street.
Peckham owed him So. He was jealous
about Mrs. Wheeler. My sister-in-law
subsequently told me that Peckham had
accomplished what he came here for. He
had told her that he would furnish her
with everything she needed, and dress her
and
BE BROTHER TO HER.
He is miner, but he follows gambling
principally for living. You can find this
il so at 224 Post street. The people there
will tell you so, and they will tell you
that | am sober, honest man. He always
has money. | would sacrifice my lie
rather than have my Sister dragged down
by such man as he is. He is perfect
bjackleg and villain. She told me sew
eral times that she would rather die than
be in his power. | went to Mr.. More.
houses residence, 1905 Taylor street, with
her. to have her reside there, so she would
be out of his sight. Mr.. Morehouse knows
me to be a good, square man. like them
very much. My sister.in-law wanted to
90 to Sacramento with him, but my wife
said she should follow her if she did. My
wife knows that have been intimate with
her for three years. lived in New York
formerly, on Twenty.fifth street, and af-
terward ON Fourteenth street. | was Su-
perintendent Engineer for Mr.. Van
Schaick. I had good position, and gave
nv wife the best home that poor engineer
could give, but
SHE WAS NOT TRUE TO ME.
She says l have never made home for
her. but have loved her as dearly as her
sister. She was ruined by missionary
minister when ii years of age. Mrs. Au-
pusta I. Offender, of No. 2 West -Four.
teenth street, New York, said she would
cause me great deal of trouble some day.
I have been thinking OF this trouble for the
last five days. Peckham has been in trou-
BILE in Dutch Flat about woman. A man
then said if certain parties were not careful
he would shoot them. PeckLam has been