The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-22
A PLOT FOR ROBBERY.
SON TESTIFiES AGAINST FATHER
Startling Evidence of Conspiracy Be-
tween Wilcox and KIug-Wilcox's
Movements In seattle.

The prosecution in the case OF William
a. Wilcox, the convicted murderer of old
Charlotte Fetting commenced putting in
testimony at the second day Of the second
trial yesterday. but at variance with the
theory of the state at the nrst trial SHOW
ed from the start that il was the intention
to attempt 10 prove that the Fer1inS muir
der was the result OF a conspiracy between
Wilcox and James King, the son-ln-law or
I the victim, who Was afterwards found
murdered in an out-of-the-way place in
Tacoma. In it's efforts TO prove the con-
spiracy and connect King with the crime
the state uses as its principal witnesses
Charles king, his I-year-old son; Louis
Bohn. his stepson, and Ernest Fetting,
son of the murdered woman, and broth
er-in-law OF Kings. The state attempted
10 show that the elder King came 10 this
city on the day OF the night that the muir
der was committed. and that while Wilcox
was preparing TO kill the old woman King
took Ernest Fettng TO the cemetery, SO
that he would not be near home, where
they visited the grave OF lettings sister,
Mrs. King. The state at the first trial did
not attempt 10 prove conspiracy. but went
on the assumption that WILCOX was solely
responsible for the murder. Though the
day was thus one OF sensations. there was
at no time large crowd III the court
room
The state sprung two witnesses, one a
woman, the other man. who did not APP
pear at the former trial, and who testi-
lied to having seen wilcox in this city on
September 4, 1898, which was Labor day
and the day of the murder. The defense
under cross examination very materially
shattered the testimony Of the woman. 1T
was shown by her own admissions that she
has already had three husbands; that she
lived with two of them before she mar
ried them; that she had secured divorces
from two of them, and is now living sep
arated from the third. She refused to say
whether she was fallen woman. under
fear OF discriminating herself. 1t was fur
Their brought out that she had not been
on speaking terms with Wilcox at one
time. and that afterwards she suddenly
manifested d great fondness for him, visit
ed him at his cell in the jail, Carrying
fruit and flowers TO him. She also attend
ed the first trial. but ney or revealed her
secret.
Wilcox as Cross-Examined.
The testimony OF Frank II. Noble, Of
Tacoma, who says he was in Seattle on
September 4. 1888. saw wilcox and shook
hands and conversed with him, was the
most damaging offered during the day.
Noble was on the witness stand during
the afternoon, and while Mr.. Winstock
was cross-examining him Mr.. Ingersoll
OF the defense, arose, whispered some
thing to the senior counsel. and then the
latter said: IF the court please. while 1
realize that it is rather an unusual pro-
cedure In a case of this kind, want TO
state that the defendant would like TO
ask the witness a question" Judge
Humes said he had no objection. where
upon Wick, who always maintained that
he was not in Seattle on the day of the
murder. arose and walked toward the
jury box. There was a fiutter of excite
ment IN the audience. and the general
situation was highly dramatic. Wilcox.
who were a long Prince Albert coat,
swung his arms about, then folded them
over his breast. locked at the witness
and said
Mr. Noble, do you remember meeting
me about half a block from the square
where the coal palace was down there"
with a wave OF the left hand towards
Pioneer place-"aud that we shook
" The witness said IL was true
the Fourth of July. 1893. that the Monte
rey was IN the harbor and that just a
the noon hour she fired salute with
twenty-one guns2"
Noble who speaks very slowly seemed
70 be In a study for a minute, and then.
returning the gaze of Wilcox. answered:
mo, sir; was not here on Fourth of
July. | was home with my little child.
and We had some fire crackers. and sat
out on the steps and played with him"
Wilcox took his seat and the dramatic
little spectacle was at an end. Mr.. Win
stock continued the cross-eSaminatiou.
The state opened IT'S case In the morning
nv calling Or George NJ. Horton. the
coroner. Andrew Jackson. ex-Chief Of po-
lice. Detective Gil Philhrick. r. J Ia
rnorpaux. clerk I'm Justice Caldwers
court. NJ. @. Stewart, druggist IN Stew
art & Holmes. and &. J. Macarthur, a
clerk in the same store. DIT. Horton and
the officers told Of the finding Of the body
the condition Of the cabin. AMI ~ the dis
rovory - the bottle containing chloro-
form They practically identified bottle
shown them ae the ono found IN The cabin.
also the clothing worn by the aged vic
tim and the haDdkerchiefs used I'm gag
cIng her. Dr. Horton. under croSs-eNara-
tnafion. said that death was due 20 suffo-
cation and not so the blows on the head
\ Gathering at the Hunters Home.
Louis Pohu. 81 Tacoma. sferson -
lanes King. testified - a conversation
whifl, occurred IN the Hunters Horne ss-
loon In which Wilcox. James king and
himself participated. concerning The es-
tabIshrnen- - a shingle u'iH. I'm mat
conversation King Suggested that they
might get some money from Mrs Fftti0r
ana The witness remarked that "the old
woman" referring 90 his grandmotheC. dji
mo, believe that she would Dut any OF 81
ia ehirele mill. The witness had re-
commanded Ernest Fetting - the hank
som, weeks before IRE murder, and saw
hin, draw out ABOUT 81 0o. and later, The
v-tt,,ezs. uAiia % the Fettius home. learn
a ma, Mrs Fettlug had 70 money IN
small sack Ills stepfa, cher. James King.
.Na Witness thought. knew - the money
&, he possession OF the lettings.
On tAa morning ~ the day Of ne rncr-
ssr Sep.cfl1s.er & fS3. me witness us
shout ,he Hunters lioue s1l,0R ior "a
.ir7s ana LATER ieft % a hunting oNce-
dlt3on-
III, stare had farth,~ 1ues'ions - Pc
90 tes witness. h1r SAID tAey would do
50 after other Witnesses had been calico.
Mr. Wsnst-ck vrrsly Gro kan HFd 'tc
witness He teu5vd thst hc hai remarked
gn she rrzaercc % es-@gtl ferz01F- ~ n
going ovtr 80 Seattle Up hang .ea:
hands pon't YOU know thaf it vas oa
.ha. ne Raeye .he Fe,Iacs had m31e-
IN their home.
The ~on Against the Father.
Charles Kiog. or Tacoma. son 80 James
King and nephew Il Airs. Fe,-iu-;. Nas