Amador ledger., 1906-03-30

baggage that told OF fearful crime,
or whether she omitted this essential
detail of the plot, is not known. The
baggage was actually placed on the
train east bound, but was thrown off
again on its being discovered by the
baggage man that it was unchecked.
Probably her nerve gave way, and
instead of staying with the baggage,
and seeing it checked to jackson,
and accompanying it thitherward, she
fed to San francisco, to lose her
identity if possible in the crowded
city.
The Murder Discovered
The trunk and grip were left on the
platform until o'clock that night.
In closing up, the baggage man haul
ed them into the storage room of the
depot. It is said his suspicion was
aroused by peculiar odoI proceed
ing from the trunk. This is improb-
able. Sufficient time had not elapsed
for the process of decay to work out
to such result. More likely the sus-
| picion of the officials was around by
the irregularlty of the baggage being
left unchecked and unclaimed in that
manner. 1t was out of the ordinary
rut, and this idea assumed such pro-
portions that an investigation was
started. The mysterious trunk was
opened. AS soon as the fastenings
we're released, two shoeless feet pro-
jected above the top of the trunk.
The murder was out.
The trunk with its bloody contents
was removed to the morgue for crlti-
cal examination.
The body was packed snugly within.
McVicar was a man SIX feet tall, and
weighed ITO pounds or more. 70 get
a body that size in a four foot trunk
required some ingenuity. 1t was
doubled up in the trunk, the knees
close up under the chin, the thighs
pressed down over the abdomen and
chest, and the legs from the knees
down pressed against the thighs.
When the body was placed in the
trunk in this position, as far as possi-
BILE, with the back in the bottom OF
the trunk, it was perhaps not diff
cult matter to press the lid down
sufficiently by means of the straps
for the clasp to catch, and then lock
it securely. Gould a woman single
banded do this? The experts are of
the opinion that it not only could
be, but actually was done by this
fiendish woman. The man is believed
to have been slowed away in the
trunk before death, and while in an
unconcious state from drink or drugs,
or slugglng with a sand bag. The
cramping of the budy and pressure
used to force it in the box caused
hemorrhage from nose and mouth,
and squeezed the life out of the vic
tim. This was possible while the
body was timber. There was no
evidence of struggle. No disturb
ance uf any kind was heard by in
mates of nearby rooms. No other
person than McVicar and the Ledoux
woman was seen going to or from the
room. While stupefied with drink or
drugs he was probably struck over
the head, and rendered unconscious,
and then slid from the bed head fore
most into the trunk, and the rest
was comparatively easy. No lifting OF
the dead weight OF the man was need
ed. When it came to tying the trunk
with the rope some lifting was nc
!, doubt necessary, but it is said that
the expressmen did this work, which
helps to confirm the theory that the
woman was single handed in the
murderous scheme. The clothing OF
the murdered man was slowed away
with the corpse, to prevent its rolling
in handling. In the hand case left
with the trunk were found portraits
of MoVicar and the woman.
Flight and Capture.
AS soon as the corpse was discover
ed the plot was soon unraveled, as
far as the identity of the victim and
his murdress was concerned. Mrs
Ledoux fed to San Francisco, arriv-
ing there Saturday night, and taking
rooms at the Royal House on Ellis
street. There she met Jos HeaIy,
otherwise known as Jos Miller. He
is II plumber, and was for while in
Jackson, where he probably became
acquainted with the woman, which
acquaintance ripened into an engage
ment of marriage, he giving her an
engagement ring valued at $40. He
afterward broke the engagement when
an anonymous type written letter was
received revealing the character of
his intended. She retained the ring,
and 1t was to recover it he met her by
appointment Saturday night. They
we're together most of Sunday. She
told him that McVicar was dead, and
his body shipped to Colorado. At
her request he accompanied her Sun
day evening to Richmond. where she
returned the ring. She purchased a
| ticket from Richmond to Stockton,
tut got off at Antioch, where sha was
at once ARRESTED, and larded in
Stockton Jail the same evening.
There was nothing in the conduct of