The record-union., 1894-06-26
An Aged Woman Found Dead in
Her Garden at Jackson.
NO ROOM TO DOUBT THAT SHE WAS
BRUTALLY MURDERED.
Desperate Fight Between Two Fac
tions of Japanese on Ranch Near
Woodland, in Which Knives and
ber on Each Side Horribly Beaten
and One Fatally Stabbed.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
JACKSON, June 25.-Mrs. Mary Mush-
EFT. widow 70 years old, was found dead
in her garden about thirty feet from the
front door, under circumstances which
leave no room for doubt that she was
brutally murdered.
She lived alone, but rented suite of
rooms in the north end OF the house to a
family named Hicks. Mrs. Hicks, on get
ting up this morning about o'clock, was
Mortified on seeing the body lying across
the pathway leading to the front gate. her
face covered with blood. She had been
dead some hours, as the body was rigid.
1t required but little examination to
tell how she came to her death. She lay
full length upon her back, the bridge of
her nose being crushed in by powerful
blow from hard instrument fracturing
the cheek bone; also a pointed weapon
like a crowbar or miners drill was iabbed
between the eyes, cutting through the
bone and penetrating the brain. Il clean
cut scalp wound extended four or five
inches along the top and side Of the head.
1t is supposed that at least three blows
were received about the head.
small lantern lay by her side, ex-
tinguished. Her false teeth, broken into
several pieces, were near by, and her hat
was close by. The body was stretched
out, the arms extended at full length,
and the clothing unrutfled, as though the
murderer had laid her out after doing his
deadly work. Inside the house a lamp
was found still burning on the kitchen
table, having burned all night, the oil be-
ing nearly exhausted. Everything was
in order, and from the fact that ten or
eleven dollars in silver was in exposed
places about the premises. it is believed
that the murderers did not enter the
house.
Mrs. Mushett was quiet inoffensive
lady, and lived on the income of property
she owned here. 1t appears she made
known her intention of starting for
visit to the Midwinter Fair next Tues
day morning. She had partly packed her
trunk for that purpose. Last night she
left home about O'Clock to go to a church
concert. On her way she called at the
postoffice and received letter from her
grandson in San Francisco. She also
took out purse and paid small bill
from it.
After church she returned homo and
lit the lamp and read the letter, and find
ing that it needed an immediate answer.
is is supposed she sat down and wrote
and mailed it. She was seen coming
from the Postoffice about 10:30 O'Clock,
and it was on reaching her premises from
this trip that she was murdered. Her
purse was not found upon her person,
nor any money or valuables.
The general opinion is that the MUIR
der was committed by some one who
knew the victim and her circumstances.
and was recognized by her when he
made the attack; that murder was de-
termined upon after recognition. to Sc
cure immunity from punishment.
NJ. B. Church, the Coroner held an in
quest to-day, the jury finding chat the
deceased was murdered by parties un-
known.
The victim has son, John A. Mushett,
living in East Oakland; daughter, Mrs
Cosner. residing in Colusa; also son in
Oregon.
No clew to the murderer has yet been
obtained.