Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-25
Discovery Of a Systematic Attempt Il
SVindle th9 Railroad.
YUBA'S IMMENSE ORANGE GROVE
A Workman at Benicia Smothered
with Spent Tan-bark-Visalia
a Progressive City.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REcoRD-uNoS.,
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
Redlands is Treated to First-Class
Sensation,

i
| edy occurred here early this morning The
| facts thus far learned are that D. c. Gresham
connected with the CtrogrGph, a weekly paper,
was shot and killed by 2. G. McConkey, proprie-
tor of the Windsor Hotel, in a room of the latter
| and that McConkey then committed suicide
Only two reports of the gun were heard and
| two men, as both were dead when the room
was entered by those in the vicinity.
FURTHER PARTICULARS
SAN BERNARDISo, March 2ith.-The McCon
| key-Gresham tragedy at Red,ands has assumed
| very sensational Developments AS usual. a
woman was at the bottom of the affair, causing
| the murder of prominent citizen and the
suicide of respondent husband.
McConkey, the murderer, was badly de-
pressed over money matters. His lease of the
| Windsor Hstel had almost expired, and there
| was no hope of renewing the same. Added to
this, his discovery of his mife's infidelity rem
dered him almost frantic.
| Last night he did not Sleep and coming down
stairs early this morning he loaded Winches-
| ter rifle anc waited for Gresham.
The latter arrived about O'Clock for reak.
| fas, and started towards Mrs. McConkey's
| study.
McConkey then stepped from behind the desk
| and raising the gun fired two shots Que of them
taking effect, passing through the fieshy part of
| Greshams left arm and through both lungs
Gresham staggered INTO the studio and pulled a
pistol, which he cooked, but he fell before fir
| ing and lived only few minutes
McConkey placed the rifle to his left breast.
| and leaning over pulled the trigger, the bullet
passing through his heart and entering the cell
| ing above.
! Great confusion was created in the hotel
| which was soon filled with eager spectators
| The Coroner was notified and an inquest held
me following letter was taken from McConk 4 key' S
| body, explaining partly the cause of the
| tragedy:
| REDLANDs Monday March oath.
Darling WIFE, Babies, Clara and Mary. Mother
| ana Father: My heart is all torn and crushed.
| can't go through life now. am so sorry did
| not look more to your happiness. God will care
for you now. Look well to the raising of the
safe will be found some papers that will be of
benefit to you and Clara. Oh am so very,
very unhappy. Yours in DEATH and my last
prayer is Tor you. FRED
In Gresham's pockets were found the follow
| ing letters, which is the keynote of the affair.
and presumably written by Mrs. McConkey
1T is with cheeks of flame and a great load
| upon my heart that l begin this letter /
| scarcely know how to commence, but I feel
| that II must be done. Oh, Mr.. Gresham, the
| knowledge has come to me that you are not
| moral. and the blow nearly Ii me You whom
thought so pure, 50 truly noble, it seems as If
could not stand 1t. 1t is dreadful to have ones
idol shattered without moments warning Is
II possible that there is no such thing as yirtu.
| Gus man? | begin to think so Ny face burns
| with shame and Indignation when think of
| you being in the society of those wretched be-
| ings who cal themselves women and then
| come to me with fond smiles for the kisses that
you know come from a pure and loving he art
| Whatever your past has been does not m ,tter to
\ O.,
| that you ought to have had enough respect for
| me (While meeting me as you did to have kept
| you from these evils. How could you? l can't
understand: Perhaps look upon these things
Inherently from a great many, bit feel tha, 1t
would be no worse for me to seek the society of
| one of those poor deluded women than one of
| the men who help to make them SO. Forgive
me If speak plainly, but it seems necessary
ITO do so, under the circumstances | could
not tell you those things face to face; my
Womanly feeling would not permit. 1t seems
| dlherent 10 tell you on paper Oh it does
seem to me that if men could realize how much
| suffering they cause innocent women, they
would certainly do different. The world IS too
| onesided.
| Men expect the love of pure women. and vet
pollute themselves to the greatest depth of evil
| SINGER -ly hope and pray that Whist have
| heard Is not true Tell me that it is not. Yet
the information comes direct from Yourself
| Being married woman l necessarily ar
more than l care TO. Ican't write more am
So SO iui Put yourself in my place; suppose was
me II this is untrue and l have given YOU
boundless pain, and believe me, shall always
| be your true friend
AND STILL ANOTHER.
HOTEL WINDSOR, REDLASDs-My Darling: Oh /
forgive me, forgive me- for the sake of the old
| love. feel that you almost hate me- and it is
| more than can endure. / would have given
worlds last night TO have recalled that letter
and did not realize its contents until after il
mad LEFT my possession. / can never forget how
you looked last night as you stood at the door
and wanted to so to you so much. l prayed
| all night for forgiveness for that cruel letter
and can -ot hope for it until you have forgiven
me.
| Yesterday as soon as heard what told YOU
IN the letter, rushed up stairs impulsiyely and
| wrote without thinking, and wrote without
| stopping 10 think, and now it seems as if
| should go mad if you do not tell me that am
| forgiven.
viii never, never again pain you that way.
| no matter what l hear you do. l cannot live
without love; cannot endure the thought of
your d1sliking me; please come to me; must
see you; thought heard you, but did not |
cannot live without your love.
heard you when you left the house this
| morning at clock, and l wanted to follow
| you. The night was ages long. 1 feel that 1
| have lived in vain. My life is a complete fail
ure, and now without your love do not care to
| live.
dare not think what I might do. Oh tell
me that you forgive and love me the same as
| ever, always your sweetheart" but now 20
wretched
| tomorrow night? Mel will no: go. l have
| asked him and even insisted upon IT, but he
| says no, and under these circumstances it will
certainly be right for you to accompany me as
escort, for as such the others will consider you,
aud no more. What matters it that
we know better? The TEST of the party
Will be so absorbed in their own pleasures that
we Will not be commented upon. Mrs. -
went out with Mr. - last summer and no
one thought of making any remarks about it,
| am certain l did not. Her husband would
not go with her, SO it was necessary for
| some one else, If by going you are in.
convenienced in any way just say So
l shall not insist upon your doing what
| you would rather not, l cannot think of a
| greater pleasure (in our situation) than moon
| light ride with you. l could think of a greater
were 1t otherwise, since l have given you my
word not to seek or meet you as we have teen
| doing in the past, must therefore necessarily
write, and you will forgive tn S I am certain
If you conclude to go, please let me now in
the same way at once. l can let my horse to
rome one else more fortunate. My precious one,
forgive ME If make the burden harder for you
| to bear; do not wish to do so. God knows, but
| l am only woman, with a woman's heart
which will always beat with love for you. al
though must sometimes seem wicked to you,
situated as am, remember, / am always your
SWEETHEART.
Re diands is quiet little town, the country
devoted to citrus cnlture and the terrible affair
has Grated great sensation.
Gresham was Noble Grand of the I. o. o F.
there, and stood high, as did McConkey who
was looked upon as a Christian gentleman.
Mrs. McConkey was leader in all religious
movements, and was thought to be a pure and
a virtuous woman She was prostrated all day
to-day and a physician was in constant attend
snce, her condition being very low.
Business for the day was almost suspended
and the citizens were standing in groups shout
the streets discussing the affair