Evening star., 1897-08-17
MURDERED FOR MONEY
Prominent Philadelphia Bookseller Killed
by Robbers.
Police Believe Negroes In the Vicinity
of His Store Are Guilty
of the Crime.

PHILADELPHIA, August 17.-As the de-
tails of last nights horrible crime, the
murder of the aged librarian and biblio-
phile William c. Wilson. are being brought
to light by the police, the fact seems more
clearly established that the motive for
the crime was robbery, and that the per-
petrators were familiar with the habits
and movements of the old man. The be-
lief is gaining ground that the work was
that of negroes. They live in, large num-
Ders in that immediate neghborhood, and
the worst of them have long been a source
of worriment to the police because of the
numerous assaults upon women.
But little Is known about the murdered
man. While his acquaintances were nu-
merous, none was familiar with his pri-
vate life. AS far as is known he was born
In Spencer. Mass. Later in life he moved
10 Worcester. where he was employed in
library. When about twenty-five years
OF age he went to New York city and in
1871 enlisted in the 10th Regiment, infan-
try After the war he is said to have pur-
baaseo bn s,;e.,d farm near Long Island. where
ne divided his time with nature and his
DOCKS He came to Philadelphia about
nIteen years ago and started the library
bearing his name. which almost at once
generally.
Inc rev employees of Wilson were dunn
founded at the crime. and were unable to
assist ass; the police in fixing upon any clue.
Ihey said he was in the habit of carving
a large roll of money about him and nf
careiessly displaying it. Whether he had
any secreted about the house thew cannot
say The police last night were looking
tor b',. tne coiored porter employed by Wilson,
put could not find him. This morning he
reported for work as usual. and the police
tnink ne Is innocent of any participation in
the crime. Mr.. Wilson was a member Of
.ne Franklin Chess Club and Meade Post,
No. i, G. A. r.
BOOKSELLER WILSON MURDERED.
Prominent Bibliophile OF PhfIadel-
phfn Killed by Supposed Robbers.
William c. Wilson. aged about fifty-five
years, proprietor of Wilson's circulating IL
brary. at 1119 Walnut street, PHILADELPHIA.
was brutally murdered last night in his
place of business. The crime was evidently
committed by thieves, who deliberately lay
In wait for their victim, and, after murder
ing MIN, accomplished their purpose of rob-
berry. The weapon used was a heavy ham
mer. which crashed through Wilson's skull.
Ihe murdererj had also drawn a towel
tightly around the throat of their victim,
strangling him. After looting the place of
all money that may have been there, they
mace their escape without leaving any
clue to their identity.
Mr.. Wilson had for years conducted the
library at various places and always had
the patronage of the wealthy literary
classes. The general impression is that he
had accumulated considerable money In
appearance he was small and spare and
his whole life was devoted to his hooks
He rarely mingled with the outside world,
and lived alone on the third floor of his
library, the two lower floors being filed
with books. None of the rooms was car
peted. and his bed was a SINGLE plain iron
bedstead. The last seen of him alive was
about 6:!O o'clock. when ne left the place
where he usually got his meals to return
to the store. When found he was lying
behind his counter. not fifteen feet from
Walnut street. The discovery was made
by policeman, who found the back gate
of the house open. He entered and went
through the house. The contents of bureau
drawers and closets were scattered every
where, showing that robbery had been
done. The hammer was lying beside the
body. This was about 8 O'Clock. .
The thieves were evidently acquainted
with their victims movements and after
he had closed the place and gone to supper
they forced an entrance. Concealed behind
a pile Of books in the store they awaited his
return. He always entered by way of the
store. heavy blow from the hammer evil
IDENTIFY killed him, but to make sure OF their
work they throttled him with the towel.
Tracks of blood showed that he had been
pulled around a pile of books to a place be-
hind the counter. This finished, the rob-
berry was accomplished at leisure, after
which the perpetrators of the tragedy es-
capped.