The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-30
MURDER CHARGED.
Martin O'Neil Accused of
the Crime.
A THEORY OF THE POLICE.
Two of the Victims Female Friends
Doing Their Best to Avoid I'm
necessary Publicity.
A THEORY OF THE POLICE.

- VI was Gut6T6u on Tile
books at the City Prison yesterday morn
OF Mrs. Kate Critics.
lie positively refuses TO talk, ALWAYS
giving the same answer that he is acting
under the advice of his attorney. He
looks sullen and detected and appears to
fully realize the gravity of the position in
which he is placed.
The police are diligently hunting up his
record and every little detail in connection
with his meeting with Mrs. Critics and
what took place subsequently.
ONeiPs wife has. been tho mother of
sixteen children to him, only three of
whom are now alive. and Yet he treated
her harshly and cruelty. 1t is known that
he had many intrigues with other women,
and old as he was he considered himself
something of rake.
Every effort has been made by the police
to ind the instrument with which the fatal
blow was dealt, but without success. There
Is craving Impression that the terrible
wound was caused by the stem end of the
bouquet which Mrs. Critics carried in her
hand when she entered the Grizzly Bear
saloon with O'Neil.
Detective Bohen in speaking of this
theory yesterday said: 81 believe he in
fiicted the fatal blow with the bouquet.
which contained many large stems, and
may have been made around a small stick
for handle. The shock, | think, killed
her instantly, ana when he saw the blood
on his hand and that she was apparently
dead he fled from the room. There had
been no struggle. think, for the woman's
clothing was not torn. Her body must
have been exposed when the fatal blow
was struck, for her clothing was not pene-
trated, and this is further supported by
the condition of her clothing as she lay Oh
the floor after falling from the chair.
ut is, of course. difficult TO say exactly
what was used TO infiict the wound, but it
looks to me as If nothing but the stems of
the bouquet did it. The blow that made
the wound drove 6ower-stems and leaves
int 1t, and they were found there when
the autopsy was made. 1t would have
been almost impossible 10 have stabbed
her first and then thrust the flowers into
the wound, for the external cut was too
small for that. If O'Neill had any weapon
it was held in his hand with the bouquet
when the blow was struck
AS partly bearing out this theory, when
the wonan's clothing was carefully ex-
amned at the Morgue yesterday. no sign
OF a tear or cut could be found, but there
was broken twig nearly as large as an
ordinary lead pencil and about five inches
long sticking in the clotted blood on the
clothing that covered the wound.
There is one thing that puzzles the police.
When it was first told O'Neill after he had
been arrested that the woman was muir
dered. he said. We'll, somebody will be
glad of it," From that remark the police
infer that O'Neill must have met her before
Tuesday night, and they are making
diligent inquiries to find out what O'Neill
really meant by his remark.
Mrs. Critics has quite number OF init
mate friends in this city who became
acquainted with her about eighteen months
ago, when she lived at S03 Golden Gate
avenue.
Mr.. and Mrs. B. F. Bates and MI aud
Mrs. l.. IL. Q4aura) Bricker were in this
house at the time. and the three women
became very close friends and were
together great deal. After leaving the
Golden Gate avenue house Mr.. and Mrs
Critics moved to Alameda, aud Mr. and
Mrs. Bricker soon followed them. The
three women kept up their friendly con-
nections until few months ago, when
Mrs. Bricker ana Mrs. Critics had falling
out and have not been on speaking terms
since. Mrs. Brieker was in the city early
Yesterday morning and called on Mr.
Bates at his office, but she returned to
Alameda and was not To be found again.
She informed Mr.. Bates that she never
heard Of O'Neil before, and did not think
Mrs. Critics knew him.
A CALL reporter called at Mrs. Bates
residence, 299 Hyde street. yesterday aft
ernoon and was told by both the landlady
and Mr.. Bates that Mrs. Bates had gone
to Alameda to GET some clothing for Mrs.
Critics.
There must have been a misunderstard-
ing on the part OF the laDdady and Mr.
Bates. for when the reporter called in the
evening on Mrs. DR.. Burns at 1923 Market
street it was learned that Mrs. Bates had
been there all day. Mrs. Burns is Mrs.
Bates mother. aGd was greatly distressed
to think that her daughters name has
! hnnn 6rov inf hn off ir
could not be seen, but her mother who
knew the murdered woman well, stated
that Mrs. Bates never heard of O'Neil
until the name appeared in the news
papers.
| 1t is probable that O'Neil and Mrs.
| Cities met some time before their last and
| horrible spree.
! While there is no direct evidence to that
effect, it is believed that O'Nel went to
Oakland Tuesday evening for the purpose
! OF meeting some woman. One of the
divers on the Fifth-street line, with
whom ONeil rode tn the city from the
! Union Iron Works that evening. told
man at the works yesterday that O'Neil
SAID he was going to Oakland to meet his
'Hash." l. may have been Mrs. Critics
! or IL may have been some other woman.
If, however, O'Nel and Mrs. Critics re-
turied to the Grizzly Bear Saloon at the
hout mentioned by the bartender it is
almost certain that he did not go all the
way t. Alameda to meet Mrs. Critics.
Mrs. Beggs denies the published state
menb that her daughter told the police
she saw O'Neil, as she thought, with tall
| blonde woman entering the waiting-room
| at thefoot Of Market street 10 go o Oak
| land IN the IL: 15 P. NJ. boat on Tuesday
| She SAYS that neither she or her daughter
| ever knew O'Neil.
| The inquest will be held tomorrow at
! 1880 o'dock