The morning call., 1892-12-30
FIRE AND DEATH.
Woman Burned at Brigh-
ton Station.
THE TRAGEDY A MYSTERY,
1t Is Supposed She. Was Murdered by
Tramps and the Building Burned
to Conceal the Crime.
Special to TEE MoRNlNe CALL.

SACRAMENTO, Dec. 2e.-Abont4 o'clock
this morning the Southern Pacific Railroad
depot at Brighton Junction, FIVE miles
southeast from this city, was discovered to
be on hre, and being: built of infammable
material it was soon totally destroyed.
Tile residents Of the place soon after began
searching the ruins and found the remains
of Miss E. .. Ayres, who resided in the
building and who had been employed for
the past two years as operator and station
agent. Nothing but the badly charred
trunk remained, the head arms and legs
having been burned away. There are many
theories concerning the tragedy Some
people believe that.the woman, who was 35
years Of age, had become despondent and
committed suicide. The railroad detectives.
however, are firmly convinced that Miss
Ayres was murdered by tramps for money
which She was supposed to have about the
station. Three ee.tramps were louuging about
the station yesterday and late in the after
noon she ordered them away. It Is be-
lieved they returned during the night mur-
dered her and then fred the building to con-
ceal their crime. The dead girfs mother
resides at Stanton, Nebr.
There have been ne new developments
up to 10 o clock tonight and are not likely to
be until Railroad Detective Burke over
takes the two men who traded gold ring
az Latrobs for liquor about 9 A. NJ. The
ring was received here tonight bg Superin-
tendeut Wright. and Detective Ben True
says two friends eli Miss Ayres already
seen think it was hers. If il can be fully
Identified RS belonging TO her there will be
no doubt about her murder by these men,
on whose trail the officers now are.
A pay-ear passed Folsom about O'clock
this morning. and men could have walked
there and jumped on the trucks and ridden
TO Lathrop. A freight train also passed.
Brighton, but just before the station was
burned. The woman may have been mur-
dered several hours before the fire occurred,
and the latter may have been caused by the
deceased's dog upsettiBg the lamp after the
murderers were well on their way.
Another thing that bears out the theory
Of murder is that the lock of the door lead
ing from Miss Ayres' room out upon the
platform has been found, and the bolt was
turned back, showing that the door was not
locked.
Coroner Clark. however. holds to the sui
eide theory. based on love affair.
One person. who believed in the suicide
theory, said Miss Ayres yesterday received
telegram which did not please her; it
made her seem despondent during the re-
mainder of the day.. This was taken to be
suf1ie lent motive far ending her life, as it
| probably brought distressing information.
An effort was made to ascertain whether
the woman had a lover who might have
proved false to her.
A young railroad employe. who had known
her for number of years, says Miss Ayres
had sweetheart named Steele, to whom
| she was engaged to be married, and they
were very devoted lovers.
This was about three years ago, how
ever. He was located at Lathrop as a
telegraph-line repairer, and she was the
telegrapher and agent at Tracy. But Steele
died before the wedding day approached,
and she has been Respondent ever since
In fact, she wore mourning for her de-
parted lover up to the day of her own death.
When he died she took charge of his trunk
and other effects. and some OF the things
were found In the ruins of the building this
morning
Steele had been her adviser and protec-
tor, and, 1t was said. at one time was in
trusted with $1,000 Of her money, which he
kept for while and then returned TO her.
not desiring to assume such a responsibility.