The San Francisco call., 1897-05-17
DEATH
RODE At
HIS SIDE
William Cole of Santa
Cruz Arrested for
Murder.
HIS VICTIM MISS PEREZ
OF CASTR0VILLE.
They Go for a Drive at Night,
and the Woman Returns
Corpse.
HIS VICTIM MISS PEREZ
OF CASTR0VILLE.
ON HER THROAT PRINTS OF a
STRANGLEK'S CLUTCH.
Horrible Ending Of Drunken
OrgIe In Which Both Were
Principals.

SALINAS, CAL, May 16.-The town of
Castroyille is in turmoil OF excitement
over an atrocious murder committed near
there last night Miss Perez OF Castro
vile was the victim. and her brother-in-
law, William Cole of Santa Cruz, is now
in the Salinas jail awaiting an examina-
ton on the charge of having taken her
life. The crime was the sequel TO a
drunken orgy in which both had figured
as principals earlier IN the evening.
Cole, who lives apart from his wife,
was brought 10 Salinas yesterday by Con-
stable Church, charged with abandoning
his child. He was released on bail, and
about O'Clock in the evening left Salinas
for Castroville in carriage, in compSny
with Nick I'm bertez, whose acquaintance
he had that day formed III town. He dis
covered that Umbertez was an old friend
Of his vile, and he took him along for the
purpose of conciliating her and to urge
her to dismiss the charge lodged against
him.
They arrived at the home of his wife at
o'clock. Miss Perez, a sister of Mrs.
Cole, and the latter's TWO little children
were at the house. Cole asked for his wife
and was told that she was visiting neigh
bors. He offered Miss Perez drink of
whisky from a partly emptied bottle that
he had procured in Salinas. She accepted,
and after several exchanges cf compli-
meHts the liquor was exhausted. Cole
then prevailed upon Umbertez to go and
procure another bottle. Umbertez went,
accompanied by Miss Perez,
During their absence Mrs. Ida Cole the
wife of the accused man, returned Um-
bertez and Miss Perez came back shortly
with the whisky, which the company soon
consumed. Cole suggested TO his wife
that ;hey drive to Salinas, saying that
there was a show IN town. She refused
and upbraided him because of his drunken
condition. He then asked Miss Perez TO
take a short drive, and she consented.
They left the house at about 10 o'clock
When driving through the main street of
CestroYiile, toward Moss Landing, Cole
stopped and procured another flask of
whisky.
What happened from this time on until
2:45 o'clock Cole does not remember
clearly. One fact alone is clear in his
mind, and that is that Miss Perez fell out
OF the buggy and that he assisted her back
with great difficulty, she being limp as a
rag.
Cole arrived at his wifs's house at 3
o'clock and was met at the gate by his
wife and Umbertez. His wife's first ex-
clamalion was:
You have killed my sister!''
Miss Perez was leaning against Cole, her
eyes dilated and ezpressIonless and al
most forced from their sockets. Cole in
sisted that she was not dead. She was
taken from the buggy to the house and
laid on bed, Cole at no time venturing
into the house. The poor woman was
found to be dead. Life had been extinct
for considerable time.
At 1870 o'clock this morning, James
Stirling was returning from WalsonviIle.
He found horse and buggy by the road
side on the Moss Landing road about one
mile west of CastroviIle. His curiosity
was excited, and he returned after pass
ing the rig and found two persons seated