The morning call., 1894-06-26
MARY MUsHETT'S SAD FATE
Found MangIed Before He
Home at Jackson.
TERRIBLE CRIME IN THE DARK.
Her Head Crushed and a CroWbar
Ruthlessly Driven Into Her
Brain.

JACKSON, June 25.-Mrs. Mary E. Mush-
EFT. widow. 73 years old, was found dead
in her garden, about thirty feet from the
front door, under circumstances which
leave 70 room 10 doubt that she was
brutally murdered. She lived alone, but
leased a suite of rooms in the north end Of
the house TO family named Hicks. Mrs.
Hicks on getting up this morning about
o'clock was horritied on seeing the body
lying across the pathway leading to the
front gate, ber 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 as by a powerful
blow from a hard instrument, fracturing
the cheek bone also. A pointed weapon,
like crow6ar or miners drill, was jabbed
between the eyes, cutting through the
bone and penetrating the brain. A clean
cut scalp wound extended four or five
inches along the top and side of the head
1t is supposed at least three blows were
received about the head. a small lantern
lay by her side. eXtiuguished. Her false
teeth were broken into several pieces and
were near by, and her hat was under her
body.
There was no evidence OF any struggle.
The body was stretched out. the arms ex-
tended full length and the clothing un-
ruffied, as though the murderer had laid
her out after doing his deadly work. In
side the house a lamp was found still
burning ON the kitchen table, having
burned all night. the oil being nearly ex-
hausted. Everything was in order. and
from the fact that ten or eleven dollars in
silver was found in exposed places about
the premises. it is believed the murderer
did not enter the house.
She was quiet, inoffensive woman, and
lived on the income of property she owned
here. 1t appears she made known her in-
tention of starting for the MiGwinter Fair
next Tuesday morning. She had partly
packed her trunk for that purpose. Last
night she left home about o'clock to go
to 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 a small bill from
Ii. After church she returned home and
lit the lamp and read the letter, which was
left on the kitchen table, and finding that
it needed ali immediate answer it is sup
posed she sat down and wrote the answer,
and afterward went to town and mailed it.
She was seen coming from the postoffice
about 10 80 O'Clock. aud 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
about her. The general opinion is that
the murder was committed by some one
who knew the victim and her cireum-
stances, and was recognized by her when
he made the attack. her murder being de-
termlned upon after recognition to secure
immunity from punishment. There is no
clew TO the murderer.
The Coroner held an inquest to-day, the
jury finding that the deceased was muir
dered by parties unknown. The deceased
has son, John A. Mushett, living in East
Oakland, a daughter. Mrs. Cosner, resid-
ing in Colusa, aId a son in Oregon.