Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-18
ANOTHER STRANGLING CASE.
Nettie Sims Choked to Death by Flank
L. Hutchings.
[san Francisco Bulletin, July 17th.l

[San Francisco Bulletin, July 17th
About O'Clock last night officer Videau
was Oh Fourth street, between Perry and
Harrison, when he vas approached by a
citizen who advised him to watch man
near by, as he had been heard 10 declare
that he had murdered woman The Off
Ger advanced toward the man who had
been pointed out to him, and at the same
time the la Ter came toward BIN. When
they met the man took the officer by the
arm, saying, as he DID so, I" I'm not in the
same condition that was in when l saw
you this morning. I've murdered
woman" The officer, who at first was in
clined 20 believe that the man was out o:
his mind, asked him number of questions,
to each of which he gave rational but very
profane answers. The man said that his
name is Frank Ernest Hutchings, that he
came here from Benicia to meet the woman,
and as she refused 20 return to him and
preferred the company Of other men. he
had killed her by strangling her with
pocket handkerchief.
HUTCHINGs VISITS HIS WOMAN
and was this woman your wife" asked
the officer.
NO, not my wife" answered Hutch
ings, " She was my women" and he added
with an oath, % hoIe she is dead
The officer took Hutchings to the South
ern Police Station on Folsom st eet for de-
tention pending flu her investigation.
Together with Sergeant Cullen, the Off
Ger proceeded to the Brown House on
Howard street, near Third, to which place
Hutchings had directed them, and there
met the proprietor of whom they asked if,
during the afternoon, man wearing a
black silk hat had called to see woman
In No 10 H1fc hn
tor replied that between 5 and O'Clock a
man had called at her room, remained
about an hour, and as he passed out by the
office he remarked: Yes, that was the
woman / wanted to see; have seen her"
SCENE OF THE MURDER.
The officers were shown to the room to
which the inquirer for Mrs. Hdtchings had
been directed. The room was scandly
furnished. Against the east wall was a
bureau, table, rocker and trun'-
while in the no.thwest corner was a be-,
stead of the Style known as " three-quar-
ter" On the floor, the officers on enterin9
discovered Mis-. Hu.chings laying ON her
hack with her feet toward The east, and her
head, which was resting on pillow,
toward the west. The woman who was
dead, was dressed in a neat black suit,
which had been carefully arranged. Her
hands were crC ssed over her breast, and
wet towel crossed her forehead and hid
from view raven black hair, which was cut
short in front. Around the woman's neck
was tied in a hard knot cheap, dry silk
handkerchief, by means of which suffoca-
tion and death had been produced.
DEPRAvED WRETCH.
After Deputy Coroner Groom had taken
the body 10 tie Morgue, he went to the
Southern Station ana vls;.ed Hutchings,
who asked if the woman ives dead, End
upon being assured that she was, a smile
played around his Inns and his eyes z s.
tened as he said: THANK Christ for that.
She made earth a hell for me for tn e
years. She has gone there now, and hope
I'll 90 there, too. II they give me fire
mans billet there ! II make it hot for her"
He then said that he had been working for
II. p Gregory IL Co., and earning good
wages, and could provide good home and
living for Nettie and her children, but
that she preferred other men to him.
He had seen her a number Of
times in the company of hood
lums, ard had warned her TO discontinue
such associations, but this she refused to
do, which caused separation about three
weeks ago. He came here three days ago
from Benicia, for the purpose of finding
her and trying to effect reconciliation
he found her after searching some time,
but he could not effect his purpose, and
therefore choked her to death. After he
was satisfied that she was dead, he put her
head upon pillow, smoothed her clothes,
and put wei towel ON her forehead to
make her feel nice. Il am glad" said he,
prefacing what follows with an oah,
. that she is dead I'm not so ny and Pm
not crazy, and as I've murdered her / want
to hang for it,