The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-04
MURDERED BY 4 STRANGER.
4 WOMAN or THE TOWN FOUND
DEAD IN HER HOUSE.
Committed at SkaGway, the yic-
tim Being . Mulatto Woman, at
Oae Time 4 Resident of Seattle.

SkAGwAY. May -, via Port Town
send, June 5.-Tbere rane 10 light IL this
city yesterday murder which 81 all It's
revolving details and the mystery thar
surrounds IL rivals the most airoeious
work OF Jack the Stranger" At
o'etock In the afternoon. IN her house on
Gre Of the busiest thoroaghfares Of the
town. the body of Ella ID. Wilson, q mt
iatto woman Of tire town. was found bound
land and foot and neck. dead upon her
bed. without particle Of evidence as 10
when and by whom the deed had been
committed The discovery was first made
through the fundamentally Of Gus Beck
er. laboring man who did the chores for
the woman about the house. Deputy
Marshal Taylor took charge OF the prem
ises. A review Of the place showed how
and why the devilish deed had been per
petrated. but gave 70 clue as 10 the tden-
iity OF the perpetrator The ri7ed GEN.
tents OF her trunk and wardrobe were
scattered promiscuousiy about me room,
while in the adjoining room upon the bed
lay the body Of the murdered woman.
The wornan's hat and Goa. hung behind
the door, apparently in their accustomed
place. Her shoes were upon the floor by
the stove. and otherwise she was clad ii
a gown that may have been worn for
the street or the house. The bed was not
turned down, and the body lay diagonaly
across IL upon the eounferpane- Around
the neck q pillow case had been drawn
tightly ard tied with the ends thrust into
the mouth for gag. Around this, and
covering the eyes and nose. lace curtain
torn from the window had been wrapped.
Another pillow slip had bound the wrists
together behind her back, but one hand
had been released in the death struggle.
The legs above the ankles were bound Sc
cureiy with sheet knotted hard and fast,
against which no amount OF struggling
a ntrEg. h. h.anA and
feather pillow was pressed hard down.
and death had evidently come by strangu-
iation and smothering.
Nothing Of the scanty furnishings OF the
front room where the tragedy occurred
was disturbed. The trunk, Ii which the
girl evidently kept her money. which stood
against the partition wall in the back
room. Immediately back OF her bed
seemed to be the only thing moiested.
This was a large Saratoga with double
lock- The latter had been pried off with
an ak that stood In the corner near by,
as was evidenced by the condition OF the
blade The contents, including clothing.
Cd letters and papers. were strewn about
the floor and upon an adjacent bed. \
pair of gold bracelets and a small gold
watch were left. but her money. II there
had been any, was taken. A loaded re-
volver was found sticking from a rubber
boot leg alongside of the trunk. But lit
lie else OF NaiuE was 10 be luuilu. EIoH1
letters receipts and bills from trades peo-
pie II was learned that during the past
few years Miss wilson had lived at va
rious times IN Victoria, b. c.. Seattle,
Portland San Francisco and Port Town
send. She came 10 Skagway some time
last October from Victoria. and has since
resided in the cabin where she was killed.
She was small OF stature and perhaps 80
years of age She bore the reputation OF
being quiet sort OF her kind and not
given TO drink
An autopsy was determined upon, and
by the condition Of the lungs 1t was de-
termfned definitely that death resulted
from strangu.ation The body was turned
over TO an undertaken and the inquest
adjourned til Tuesday morning ar
O'Clock. when such evidence as is obtain
able will be heard In an effort to fix the
crime.
There Is some ground for believing that
a man named Black may have been I'M
plicated In the murder. Ii was a first
reported that he had sailed for Seattle on
the city OF Seattle, but this proves 20 have
been an error. Il IL now supposed tnat
hs Is at WTangei