The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-02-21
BUTOHERED BY A GUEST
Tho Herriblo Murder Of Mr. and Hrs.
James L. Wilson, Near
Chicago.

o0U9eD Ae VADVu> NO0s
Chicago.
Their l(utilated Remains Found In
Their Desolate Home "A
Strange Mystery.
A double murder Of the most revolving
character was recently perpetrated . Win
netka, ILL.,, Q town OF 600 Inhabitants, situated
on the lake shore, few miles north OF chi
cago. the victims being james /. Wilson. nm
old and wealthy settler, and President q tne
winnetka Village Board, and hts wife,
member Of another family OF early Illinois
settlers named wearc. He was IN nis 80
year. and with his wife, who was nearly ten
years his senior. ana crippled BY paralysis,
lived alone In q large, retired house. The crime
was attended by crcums' anccs Of peculiar
atrocity, and ID surrounded by . veil OF mys
terry that dcfes the efforts OF the detectives
10 penetrate. From the Chicago papcrs We
CLEAN the following particulars Of the terrible
butchery: A mentioned above, the ag0d
couple lived alone, and the crime was not
discovered until several hours after its com.
mission. Mr.. Wilson's body was found iyinx
in . cramped condition behind the stove in
tue s1tttUBsIUUus 1uC Ib8ut AAussu WUS SssssSs'~
and beneath the head. and the left arm raised
~ II 10 ward on blow. He had been shot
twice, it was found. once In the left check
and once In the left side OF the chest. In0ro
had evidently been desperate struggle Ior
life by the old man, - there were numerous
bruises about his head, arms and legs. and the
footfcndcr Of the stove and the back q one
OF the chairs had been broken. The post
mOrtem examination revealed tho fAct fnat
nine OF the old gcntleman's ribs were broken.
a. he
jumping upon his victim as he lay writning
In the agonies Of death before him.
But horrible - was this discovery, another
even more blood curdling awaited the neigh
bors, a. they searched the house further. In
m upper chamber Mrs. Wilson was found
that hog features were almost unrecogntza-
BILE. The flesh from her entire forehead
was stripped from the skull by blow after
blow, and the skull beaten In. Gashoe 70
the bono were visible on her chin and
cheeks. and tho only arm which she had
with which to defend herself was bruised
from the shoulder TO the fingers. The pillows
and bolster. which by their position showed
that the cd lady, though almost . helpless
paralytic, had desperately struggled Tor her
orally pounded to death, and about the bed
and room lay the implements with which tho
0end, In his mur0erous frenzy, had como the
deed. At the foot OF the bed lay broken and
splintercd the white-thorn cane which she
was accustomed to nee In moving about her
room. The murderer had evidently beaten
her with this nrst, and when no had
broken Il mad seized . pair OF iron nre-
tongs, and continued the beating with n1~d-
dcned strength. These. too, were broken Into
lady's head. Pieces were found scattered on
the bed and about tho room. some Of them
covered with blood and having gray hairs
torn from the victims head clinging to them.
Beside the bed lay sword In its scabhard,
Z cherished remembrance t6 the old lady Of
her only son, who was surgeon In the war
and died Of yellow fever before its close. The
dents and blood on the scabbard showed how
the murderer bad completed his infamous
work. The bedroom presented horrible
sight aside from the mangled corpse II con-
taincl. The walls at the side Of the bed and
beside the headboard were thickly spattercd
with blood, and even the high ceiling and
walls opposite, and some twelve or fourteen
feet distant from the bed, were sprinkled
with II also, as II, ~ Was doubtless the case.
the murtierer's weapon, as he swung II
around for another blow, had thrown o0 tho
plentiful blood that had adhered to II from
the previous one.
All that Is known concerning the MUIR
alarmed when Neil kaieuc. who keeps
butcher shop not far from Mr.. Wilson's
hOuec, furnished partial solution OF the mys.
terry. He says that Mr.. Wilson came into
his shop about O'Clock Tuesday night, and
said: .Ssive mo two pounds Of your incest
porter-honse steak: have friend stopping
over night at my house, and want you to
send over another steak In the morning.
It u next TO certain that this .'friend."
whoever he may be, Is the ono who commit-
ted the murder. But no one has bcen found
who saw any one 90 to the Wilson house on
Tuesday evening. Mr.. Wilson took the steak
home, Il Is supposed, and the three tMr. Will
SON. his wife, and the gnestl ate II for their
supper. When the house wss reached tho
next morning no traces OF the steak, or
Of its having been cooked, could be found.
A goodsi1ed veal outlet was found untouched
In the pantry. The table stood In the center
Of the dining.roOm, with the cloth thrown
over the disEcs. Upon lifting it, IL was dis
covered that Il was set for three. Taero
were three plates, three cups and sAucers,
and knives. This showed conclusively that
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson had entertained some
one at supper.
The appearance OF the sitting room as II
was found was suggestive OF the manner 10
which the murder WAS committed. The table
and chairs stood rs II two persons had been
sitting there talking. On the table VAS an
unfolded newspaper and upon 1t wer0 Mr..
Wilson's glasses. On the table, ALSO was .
portfolio containing some OF Mt. Willson.s 9
business papers. The suppoeition is that this
was brought out by Mr.. Wilson during Z
conversation with hts guest upon busineee
matters. During the talk Mr.. Wilson may
have revealed the fact that he had con-
siderable money In the house. and this
may have suggested 10 the man thero
| with him the idea OF robbery, even II he had
not previously entertained the purpose. 4
| ID supposed that, having determined 70 kill
| Mr.. Wilson TO secure his money, the man
| drew his revolver aud shot at him without
i eiving any warning. IL ID thought that the
/ tirst shot took effect in Mr.. Wilson's jaw, and
| that as the two jumped % their feet the $50
| ond shot was nred, putting . ball into htt
| left side. After Telling his victim to the
fioor after brief struggle, the murderer
| probably rushed up stairs and killed Mrs
| Wilson. a has been described. and then
/ returned and finding Mr.. Wilson still alive
| stamped upon him. crushing In his chest. o.
1 tho floor c3 the sitting.room were found twt
| cloth vest-buttons. which had evidently beer
| torn from q broadcloth vest. These. without
doubt, were forced from the vest OF th<
murderer during the struggle and arc -
| Earaed - important evidence which maj
| lead 70 his Identification.
Mr.. Wilson was worth $4,000 to 1lO0. 600
| and always had q considerable sum OF money
| about him. Mrs. Wilson was eccentric. and
always had from $500 to s.. 900 in the hous'
for her own requirements. This money wa
| undouhtedlY the incentive for the crime.