Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-27

her locking herself in her room when
alone in the house with him. But beyond
this there is nothing to show that the fell
low had any ill-feeling or entertained any
vicious sentiment against the lady or her
husband.
Indians, whose wickiup is near the
Wickersham residence, were the first to
bring the news Of the murder to a neigh
Dor. Two of the group came and asked if
Wickersham had been seen, and solicited
some one to go over to the house. They
met the man there who did go, but stood
afar off and refused to enter the place.
How did they know what had occurred in
side, or that there was anything within to
alright them? Why should these Diggers
refuse to 60 to the house at all? They
had long been accustomed to work around
the place, and had often passed over the
Wickersham threshold.
In the light of.what is now known, is it
improbable that more than one person was
concerned in the crime? That theft was
the motive, but that the murderers were
frightened away before their purpose had
been attained-as often has been the case
Is it not possible that the Indians may
have done the deed? Detectives of ability
advance that theory. The Digger is con-
sidered harmless being; but he is brutal
and loves whisky and money, and is cum
ming too in his crime, very secretive and
exceedingly cautious.
In specializing on this strange case, why
shall we not give the tramp theory some
consideration? Perhaps wandering vaga-
bonds called and besought shelter and food,
and being refused, snatched up the house
gun, fired the shots at the man, threw
down the weapon where it was found, pur-
sued the woman, and have beaten in her
face, in order 10 put a witness out of the
DO lldo BGtll OIlcI tlDlp.
Thus far the circumstances point most
certainly to the missing Chinaman as the
brutal criminal, and so strong is the belief
in his guilt in Sonoma county that it has
resulted in public meetings denounoing
the Chinese in general.
That such should I've the result is TO be
regretted, for il will injure the anti-Chinese
movement. Nothing is at once more I'M
certain and more damning than circum-
stantisl evidence. 1t may be the most
conclusive Of ali in fixing guilt, for perjury
cannot relate to; yet ii has hanged many
an innocent man, and led to much cruel
injustice. In cur own county, not long
ago, it led great number Of good people
to express their belief in the parricidal
guilt of Young Kay. Circumstances pointed
to him, but he proved an alibi and re-
moved even the suspicion of crime from
his character.
In the inability to find the murderers of
Mr.. and Mrs. Kay, many have settled
down to the belief that Cinnamon did the
deed, but there is nothing on which to
ground even suspicion that Chinese killed
the old man and his wife except the mo-
tive of robbery, and the contiguity OF a
Chinese quarter to the scene of the crime.
All the stronger probabilities, after re-
view Of the whole case, point to Ah Tie as
the murderer of the Wickershams. and
to lust as his motive, but for all
that we should not permit public dis
like for the Chinese, and the desire to be
rid Of them, lead into hesty public assump-
tons Of their outlines of all mysterious
murders.
Since the foregoing speculations, illus
trative of the probabilities and improba-
bilities that may form the basis for theo-
ries, where circumstantial evidence only
is available, were placed in type and ready
for the press, the news is received that a
Chinaman, claiming to be the uncle of
the Chinese cook Of the Wickershams. has
stated to the officials of Chinese company
in San Francisco that the cook came to
him on Tuesday and confessed that he had
" killed his boss" While the hope may
be entertained that this will solve the
mystery, it is rumor as yet, and it appears
strange, indeed, that an entire week should
elapse before it was made public.