Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-27
sPECULATI0Ns CONCERNING AN Avn
Full NYSTERY.

The Wickersham tragedy in Sonoma
county has startled the whole State. The
horrible character of the deed and the
mystery surrounding it invest it with IN
usual interest.
Here is the evidence of crime committed
without clear appearance Of motive. The
was not the actuating cause, for the valu-
ables Of the victims were untouched. The
story that Mrs. Wicllersham was outraged
Is denied by Fred. Wickersham, who
says she was found l,neeling by
her bedside, her hair and lace cap not at
all disananged, and her clothing in neat
order, that she was bound hand and foot.
though there were no evidences of a
struggle. But physician declares she was
the victim of violence
Wickersham was found sitting at his
supper-table in natural position. The
meal was spread. There was nothing to
show that he had resisted assault. His
toot-wrap was pulled up over his head, as
If the murderer had 50 arranged it to
shut the face of his victim from his own
view.
The popular belief is that the Chinese
cook Of the family committed the deeds
OF blood. Then what could have been his
motive? If he is guilty, why did he not
steal the money and iewelry on the per-
sons and in the rooms of the victims? WHY
was some of his own money left behind in
his trunk in his room? True whisky bot
ties were found in his bundle, and he NAV
have been drinking, and have shot Wick
ersham while inhamed with liquor.
But if so, who tied Mrs. Wickersham so
carefully? Certainly not the Chinaman.
To bind anyone hand and foot is difficult
task. II may have been done after she
was killed. But if 50, why the care to
place her kneelng at her bedside, and to
SO arrange her hair and lace cap and
clothing as to impress witnesses Of her dis
covery of the fact that there had been no
struggle? \ drunken Chinaman never
would or could have done that.
But it is testified by the conductor on
the Sonoma Railroad that the Chinaman
came running to the depot as The cars
pulled out the day the murder was prob
ably committed The train was STONED
in response to his frantic appeals. He
took Il seat near the stove and slouched his
hat over his eyes, and was glum and silent
during the whole trip to the Bay. But
Chinese are difficult TO identify. The
conductor may be mistaken as to this
one being Understands cook. But if he
is correct in his statement it is not prooe
of guilt, of necessity. The Chinaman NAV
have witnessed the murder and homicide,
and fled from the place. He is of fear
ful and cautious race. If he saw the crime
committed, and was the only witness to it,
he realized at once the danger of his Do
sition, the awful risk of being found alone
with the bodies, and his inability to ex-
plain the strong circumstantial evidence
against him And SO he might have fed
in terror leaving his clothing and his
money behind.
But if the conductor is mistaken, who
knows that the cook may not he dead also?
No one positively teStifies to having seen
him since the tragedy except the con-
ductor. An officer of one of the Six Com
panies in San Francisco was informed by a
strange Chinaman on Wednesday last, two
days after the murder, that crime had
been committed up country, and he had
overheard the murderer detailing it to a
companion, and arranging to escape on the
China steamer next day. This very
willing witness agreed to be at the steamer
landing and point out the murderer, but he
failed to appear ard is still missing.
On the door beside which the murderer
st,od is powder blast, so close did the
charge pass to the wood. 1t is at hight
corresponding to that of the Chinaman's
shoulder. The cook had been heard to
saw that Mrs. WickeFsham talked too
much. and it is known that he objected to