The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-15

which to hire a lawyer to defend her
against the charge Of completely in the
murder of Daniel II. Wilson. Last even
ing, just before his departure for his
lonely ranch, McEwen visited the office
Of Attorney George Lamont and placed in
his hands $135 to be handed over to Mrs.
E. @. Dickinson. Mr.. Lamont is in Oak
land to-day, but will return to Suisun to-
morrow or Monday, when he will execute
his trust. Mrs. Dickinson has been trying
to engage Mr.. Lamont as her attorney,
but up TO the present time he has re-
turned no definite answer. This after
noon, however, the woman was informed
by messenger from Mr.. Lamont's office
that an attorney had been engaged for
her and her interests will be well guarded
from this time forward.
The knowledge that McEwen had not
deserted her and that she was to have the
advice of counsel wrought a wonderful
, change in the spirits of the accused
woman. She was very much depressed
during the morning. and her assertion
that she had slept very little during the
night was borne out by her appearance.
She trembled with emotion when convers-
ing with callers and managed to keep
back the tears only with the greatest
difficulty.
This woman. who is accused by the au-
thoriueS OF having been the head and
Life OF the conspiracy that attained its
object in the assassination of Dan Will
son, is revelation to those who have Wis
ted her in the County Jail at Fairfield
since her Incarceration. Her appearance
and actions belle her reputation.
she does not impress one as a woman
Who would commit murder or as one who
had ridden rough-shod over everybody
With whom she came into contact for the
last ten years.
Mrs. Dickinson admits that she is great
~ worried, but while she realizes that her
position IS serious she gives no encour-
agement to those who are hoping she
VII break down and confess. She con-
dnues TO protest her innocence without
bitterness and with every evidence of sin
terity.
The action of McEwen in putting I'D the
money Tor Mrs. Dickinson was a great
surprise to the attaches of the Sheriff's
ONCE and those who have been instru-
mental in gathering the evidence against
he trio. The fright given the rancher by
the District Attorney yesterday and his
frank admission that he was afraid of
his mistress-so much so, in fact, that
he did not dare to talk freely about the
murder-was thought to be the entering
wedge IN securing from him sufficient in
formation TO make the conviction of all
.hree prisoners absolutely certain. 1t ap-
truth when he said he feared Mrs. Dick
lnson more than he did Deputy SherifrS
or prison cells. He is apparently pos
sessed of more determination than he
mas been given credit for. 1t may be that
the payment of the money is, after all
but the first move on his part to sever
relations with the woman, as he ex-
pressed desire to do, since he was oW-
Ing her money-as much, if not more
'than the amount placed in the hands of
Attorney Lamont
- Whatever his motive, he has given new
courage to the accused woman and placed
the means for defending herself in her
hands.
Mrs. Wilson complains of being unable
to sleep, and it is plain that prison life
ana lare do not agree with her. She pre-
sents a sad spectacle, sitting alone in her
cell hour after hour gazing hOpelessly at
me PADDED walls which shut out the light
OF freedom. She has no one to put up
money for her, like her mother, and she
lays claim to the possession of no friends,
as does her brother. She says if the
rourt appoints lawyer to defend her she
VIII be satisfied; If not she will be salts
lied just the same.
IF they hang me, 1t will not he the
urst innocent person that has suffered -
she says.
She sees no one but her taller and an
occasional reporter, and no one inquiries
about her or seems TO take any Interest
In her fate.
For the first time, Mrs. Wilson was to-
gay In talkative mood. Heretofore she
has talked, but not with the freedom of
her mother and brother, answering only
such questions as she chose and CARRYING
pm her side of the conversations in mono
sylabies. To-day, however, she opened
the conversation, and proceeded to give
some reasons which she seemed to think
ought to convince the world of her inno-
cence.
They may keep me here until I de-
she declared with unusual vehemence,
but they will never get a confession
p from me because l have nothing to con-
Tess l admit am in bad box and there
is no use denying that l am worried
cannot sleep nights and l feel as though
i SHOULD go crazy sometimes-but what
can l do? 1t is not my fault that l am
here and have no one who would turn a
hand over to help me
There is one thing I want to say,
though she added, rising to her feet sud-
and that is, If ever i get out of this
place ! will devote the rest of my life to
finding the murderer of Dan wilson,
In describing the happenings at the Nc
Even ranch on the evening of the murder,
Mrs. Wilson made one statement in direct
contradiction Of her daughter, Mrs. Bay
land. The latter said, a day or two ago,
that her mother was outside the house on
the night in question until the shot was
fired, and that as soon as she heard the
report she came inside and got into bed
with her clothes on. At the time she said
It was not an uncommon thing for Mrs
Wilson to retire for the night fully
dressed. To-day Mrs. Wilson positively
declared that she never In her life went
10 bed without removing her clothes. and
that on the evening Of the murder she
nsrobed as usual.
Miller was as loquacious as usual to-
day. He is always glad to receive visit.
DTS especially II lneJ Will listen Wnlle he
repeats the oft-told tale of his where
abouts on the night of October 9, 1896.
Mrs. Dickinson, tired of prison fare, to.
day and this evening mother, son and
daughter were served with dinner from
the Fairfield Hotel, at the expense o. the
former, who is the only one of the trio
IN funds. The presence of d well known
mind reader in town this afternoon sug.
-gested the possibility of obtaining a con
.ession from one of the prisoners through
the application of hypnotism. Superior
Judge Buckles, who was in the crowd at
tracted by the street exhibition of the
expert, remarked that if the mind read.
Ing artist were taken into one of the
cells occupied by the alleged murderer
and his accomplices, he would probably
earn something of value to the prosecu.
lion. The Judge spoke with apparent
seriousness, but every one present was
aware that he would be the last to coun-
Eenance such proceeding, so the hyp-
3otic experiment was not made.
District Attorney Deylin said to-day
that the preliminary examination would
be held some time during the present
week. The witnesses have been nearly al
located and served with notices to ap-
ifs office this afternoon from Mrs Lucy
Owens, who was Wilson's housekeeper al
the time the crime was committed. The
spistle was dated Surf. Santa Barbara
County, and the woman expressed heI
willingness to come whenever wanted tc
testify at the hearing. Mr.. Devlin does
saot have much faith in the value of the
violence gathered by j. F. Stranahan