The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-11
". ]. Miller Arrested as the Assassin
OF Daniel Wilson.
Sheriff Savage of SOlanO Believes lie Has Trailed
the MurderOns Grew That Planned and
Accomplished the Crime

BENICIA, Jan. 11.-One Of the most
sensational arrests in the history OF
California was made at 1:15 o'clock this
morning at Port Costa
" William J. Miller was taken into Gus
tody by Sheriff George H. Savage and
Deputy Sheriff ]. A Malone and
charged with the murder of Daniel H.
Wilson, an aged rancher who lived on
the Suisun road.
The murder was one Of the most
cruel and cold-blooded assassinations
in the history of the State. The old
farmer was shot dead at the door of his
home on the night of October 9, 1896,
and for two years the authorities
worked in vain to trail the assassin.
Fact by fact a chain Of circumstantial
evidence was formed and the officers
. discovered one of the most horrifying
plots of murder ever conceived in the
county of Solano. The story of the
crime and its elimination has few
parallels in the history of the State
- The authorities believe that they
have unearthed a criminal crew as
cold booded and mercfless as any that
ever. operated in this section Of the
State. Miller, who is now in the
County Jail at Suisun, is the brother
in-law of the man OF whose murder
he is. accused.
The sister and mother Of Miller are
living on a ranch about half a mile
from the Wilson ranch. The property
is owned by H. w. McEwen. The house
is being watched tonight and in the
morning Mrs. Addie Wilson, the sister
OF Miller, Mrs. E. G.. Dickenson, the
mother of the accused man. and H. w
McEwen, with whom the women
live. will be arrested for completely in
the awful crime of which Miller is
charged.
The authorities of Solano worked in
vain for over two years on this dread
full mystery of the Suisun road. When
Sheriff Savage assumed ONCE recently
Iie determined TO use every energy to
clear away the mystery. He has col
lected evidence that he believes will
send Miller to the gallows and his al
legged accomplices to States Prison. The
Sheriff saw every sign of guilt pointing
toward Miller and his family. He spent
Considerable time in locating Miller, but
finally discovered him working as
switchman between Port Costa and
Benicia. He determined that no time
should be lost in placing Miller behind
the bars. The Sheriff decided to make
the. arrest tonight and take Miller
from his engine.
!. But the accused man had injured his
hand and was not working. He was at
his home in Port Costa, and there
Sheriff Savage and Deputy Sheriff Ma
lone went Miller was called out and
was quietly told that he was under ar
rest for the murder Of Wilson. Hand
cuffs were quickly slipped over his
wrists, and before he could make even
on: board the steamer Solano on his
way 10 the Jail at Suisun.
o." II looks indicate character, Miller is
capable of anything. He took his ar
rest with viciouc sulIenness He pro-
tested his innocence and proclaimed his
ability to prove an alibi. To the utter
surprise of his captors he declared,
with inces ant interruption Of pro-
family, that while he is guiltless of the
'horrifying crime of which he is ac-
cused, he knows who did murder the
old ranoher and can send him to the
gallows If he will but open his mouth.
-. Il know who killed Wilson," he cried,
'"andJ can hang him"
~. Then the accused man rambled on to
teN the story Of the alibi that he hopes
will. save him from the rope. He was
excited to the last degree and walked
to and fro like a Gagged animal. He IS
il-yisa ged. low -browed, scowling with
nervous. furtive eyes that cannot look
one ia the face. He knows something
of the evidence that has been accumu-
lated against him and has rehearsed q
story that he has often told.
The authorities claim that they will
be able to show that Miller, Mrs. VIII
son. Mrs. Dickinson and McEwen
planned and carried into execution the
murder Of Wilson in order that the old
rancher could not deed away his prop
erty to a woman. Mrs. Virgie O'Brien,
whom he had made his favorite and in