The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-11
THE MURDERER'S TRAIL LOST
ON THE ROAD.

Mrs. Owens and her niece shrieked in
terror. They hastened out on to the
dreary road for assistance and within
an hour a few men gathered at the
Wilson ranch. Nothing could be done
until morning. The old rancher had
never spoken after the shot entered his
body. When daylight came the search
ers saw in the soft ground of the or
chard the footprints of the assassin.
Step by step they were followed to a
little bridge on the edge of the ranch.
The murderer had known his ground
we'll, for in the maze of trees and in the
darkness of the night he had made his
way in a direct line to the bridge.
There he had tied a horse. From the
bridge the horse, which was a peculiar
ly hollow-footed animal, had carried
him away from the scene of his crime
The officers had very little with which
to trail the murderer. They knew the
size of the footprints in the orchard
and the impression of the hoofs beyond
the bridge. The size and character of
the shot that entered Wilson's heart
were known, but offered little hope as
links in a chain of evidence. All of the
relatives. friends and associates of Will
son were summoned before the Coro-
ner, but they gave no evidence that
was material. Mrs. Owens and her
brother, John blanchard. were arrested
on suspicion, but there was no proof
of guilt to support the accusation, and
they were released. Miller, McEwen,
Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Dickinson were
suspected, but the officers did not feel
y1roY- MT cd or hot in i,1c+
their suspicion with a formal charge.
For many weeks the towns of Suisun
and Vallejo were profoundly interested.
Rumors were flying thick and fast on
the roads, but little came Of them Mrs
Owens had been released and Mrs. Will
son, if guilty, could not be caught. She
testified with all solemnity before the
Coroner that she bore her former hus-
band no grudge and would not have
sought his life for gain. Her brother,
J. w. Miller, even sacrificed his en-
ployment at Vallejo and spent months
in what he claimed was an effort to
clear away the mystery of a crime that
is now laid at his door. AS the energies
of the officers seemed to lag, Governor
Budd offered a reward of $500 and the
Sheriff of Solano 5000 for the apprehen-
SlOn OIL the IHuTueTeF
This inspired new effort and many
men entered the field on their own re-
sponsibility with a hope of winning the
reward. Among these men was J. F.
Stranahan, who went from place to
place, where suspicion directed him.
He worked in the guise of book agent,
ingratiating himself into the good
graces of McEwen and Mrs. Dickinson.
He could do nothing with Mrs. Wilson,
but he listened at doors, concealed
himself in wagons and journeyed miles
with the suspected men and women.
He was eavesdropper, tale bearer, any
thing to learn fact that might be per-
tinent in solving the mystery of Daniel
Wilson'S death. Stranahan learned
much that was valuable, but the off,
GERS had no confidence in his judgment
and no respect for his opinions Yet
it is upon the discoveries of this man
that the officers of Solano now base
their charge against ]. w. Miller.
Gradually the excitement over the
tragic death of Wilson died away. The
officers gave up their chase, Stranahan
moved to Pendleton, Or, where he now
resides, and Miller disappeared. Many
an ugly rumor was a1oat, but rumors
do not lead men to the gallows. The
Wilson tragedy seemed likely to re-
yooip O TOvSterV of crime