The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-04
WOMAN CLEARS
A MYSTERY Of
NEVADA DESERT
Man Accused Of Two
Murders.
is ARRESTED AT FULLERTON
ALLEGED CRIME COMMITTED BY
JOHN HANCOCK.
Charged With Having Put to Death
DR.. George EngeIke and Peter
Edmiston for Their
Belongings.
is ARRESTED AT FULLERTON
ALLEGED CRIME COMMITTED BY
JOHN HANCOCK.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN BERNARDINO, Nov. 3.-John
Hancock, formerly of Perris, Riverside
County, an ex-convict, is in the Santa
Ana Jail. charged with the murder of
George Engelke and Peter Edmiston
The crime is alleged to have taken place
on the desert in Southern Nevada in
April of last year. Hancock was ar
rested on the strength of a confession
made by Mrs. Winifred Myers. En-
gelke was a veterinary surgeon, well
known in Southern California, and Ed
mission was a Canadian and con-
tractor by occupation.
The confession was made to Justice
of the Peace Edgar Johnson of Fuller
ton Constable A. A. Pendergast sue
ceeded in capturing the murderer ana
landing him in Jail.
Mrs. Meyers was married on Tuesday
to George c. Gross of Fullerton. She
has been in constant dread of Hancock
ever since the murder, lest he take her
life and thus remove the only witness
of his deed. She took the opportunity
of her marriage to dlVulge the parll-
culars of the crime.
Her story is a thrilling narrative.
She left Perris in company with Han
/ n.
year-old son accompanied them. They
had q train of horses, and when one
gave out at Daggett Hancock stole an
other there to take its place. AT Pan
| rump, Nye County, New, they feil IN
with DR.. Engelke and his partner, Ed
| mission, who were going 10 drive 10 Cs-
! den, Utah. The TWO parties traVeleo
! together, and Hancock revealed 10 MIS-
/ Meyers his intention to murder the TWO
! %k,o5,- hal ms
! She attempted TO dlssuade him, put
failed, and that night when they were
ca'mped in wild, mountainous region,
! Hancock shot both men in the heao
while they slept. Fearful that they were
/ not dead he took an ak and choppeu
their heads to pieces. He then gathered
! together all their effects OF value, Dur
led the bodies under piles OF rocks
! burned the bloody clothes and with the
woman and boy went on TO salt Lake
Hancock was employed at the Santa
Fe oil wells, near Fullerton, When ar
rested. Prior TO his departure for the
! Santa Ana Jail Hancock was inter-
viewed, The statement of Mrs. Meyers
was read to him. He listened atten-
lively to the damaging assertions ana
| a slight pallor overspread his counte-
nance. At the conclusion of the read
ing he said:
THE part about my having killed
any one is a lie. 1t is true l have lived
with Mrs. Meyers six years and took
! this trip to Nevada with her, but when
she tells of my stealing a horse, joining
Engelke and Edmiston and later on
! killing them and dlsposing of their
4 bodies and effects it is false. 1t is true
| l was shot in Oregon. 1 have a game
/ leg yet. believe Mrs. Meyers has gone
crazy or made the statement through
4 spite. She is a flirt, and 1 got tired of
| her foolishness and told her to get. /
!
did say when 1 quit her at Fullerton
that If she was man I'd knock her
head off. AS far as her being afraid
to tell because L said 1 would kill her
it is all bosh. Why, there were lots of
times when she's been away from me
when she could have told II there was
anything to tell and / never could have
touched her. L suppose 1 will have to
fight the case. and 1 will do my very
best for l am innocent"