The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-24
THE STRANGER AT WORK ON MORTON STREET.

legged stranger was arrested was com
mitted Thursday evening. Shortly after
o'clock he visited the house of Marie
Spencer at 121 Powell street, and after
announcing that he was a cattle king
from Montana. ordered several bottles Of
wine. During the temporary absence of
the laudlady he entered her room and got
away with her purse, containing S2l0.
Unknown to her he secretly left the
house. and going to a saloon in the
neighborhood he spent a large portion of
the money he had stolen from her. a
few minutes after his disappearance Mrs.
Spencer discovered her loss. and at once
summoned Policeman Purvis, whose beat
is in the immediate vicinity He made
search for the thief, but was unable TO
find him. Several hours later Wilson
visited the house of Mrs. Roberts at 303
Suffer street. and was at once recognized
by her as the man who several years ago
attempted 10 strange her. Mrs. Roberts
called a policeman, who placed Wilson
under arrest. Detectives Gibson and
Wren. who subsequently appeared on the
scene at once recognized Wilson as the
individual for whom they have been
looking for some time on suspicion of be-
ing the murderer Of the McDermott and
Paradis women. The prisoner was imme-
diately taken to police headquarters and
closely questioned by Captain Bohen. He
at first refused to answer any questions,
but finally admitted that he was in this
city at the time of the murders After
instructing his men not to say anything
about his arrest, the chief Of detectives
ordered Wilson locked UP in the tanks
pending further investigation.
Yesterday he was positively identified
by Nine. Bush of 3lS Suffer street as the
man who about four years ago attempted
10 strange her. She screamed for help
and one Of the inmates of the house en-
tered her room. Wilson grabbed her
purse containing $40 and ran downstairs
According TO the police the prisoner is
q desperate criminal Some time ago he
entered the room of Mrs. Griffin, who
conducts a house on Powell street near
Ellis, and after representing that he was
a Montana cattle dealer, managed to get
away with her purse containing a small
amount of money. Subsequently he visit
ed the house Of Title Belmont on Stock
ton street, and after spending consider
able money robbed her of $40 while she
was asleep. A cOlored servant discovered
him trying to leave the house and. Sus-
pecting something wrong, she asked him
where ne was going. He promptly
knocked her down, and quickly opening
the door disappeared in the darkness.
The victims of the daring crook re-
ported their losses TO the police and strict
instructions were given to the patrolmen
to arrest him.
While the detectives and policemen
were securing the city for Wilson he Wis
tied the disreputable house of Mrs.
Leonard, at 1913 Ellis street, and pretend
ed TO be smitten with her charms. While
they were IN q room on the upper nOOr
Wilson seized his unsuspectng victim by
the throat and, after almost strangling
her, threw her over the baniSter to the
floor below. He then entered her private
apartments and stole $500. The inmates of
the house, seeing him running downstairs,
attempted to stop him, but were unsuc-
cessful. An excellent description of the
man was furnished the police. and from
II they concluded that he was the indi-
Vdual for whom they had been searching.
Wilson. it is claimed. also won the con-
fidence Of Nine. Buehs. at 314 Stockton,
and succeeded in relieving her of her
purse containing $50.
From the description given of the thief
Captain BOhen was satisfied that he was
the stranger who had murdered several
women in Denver as well as in this city.
He believes that Wilson strangled May
McDermott, who occupied den on Nor
ton street. On the night of February 3,
1896, woman who was friendly with Miss
McDermott knocked at the door OF her
house and, failing to get response, de-
termined to force an entrance. Going to
the rear she opened the window and saw
the unfortunate woman lying in bed, APP
parently lifeless. She summoned a police
officer who broke open the door. On the
bed lay the inmate dead. with towel
tightly tied around her neck. An exam
nation disclosed that she had died from
strangulation.
Several women on the street declared