Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-29
HELD ORGIES
OVER BODY
OF VICTIM
WILKINS SECOND J0HAN HoCH,
SAY POLICE
KIMMoNs ALIVE, ASSERTION OF
FRIEND
Man Thought to Have Been Murdered
Is In Texas, Deel,--=-es Conn.,
rade with Whom He
Worked
BY Asgociatec Press.

BY AH5ociatec Press.
OAKLAND, Nov 2S.-M. A. wilkins
accused of the murder Of his consort,
Verna Wallace, continues to justify
the title of ''man of mystery" conferred
or him by Sheriff Barnet. The authorities
during the last twenty-four hours have
produced no new evidence Of any impor-
tanoe and District Attorney Brown is now
prepared to ask the grand jury for an
Indictment on the evidence.
The grard jury convenes Monday to
take up the Kleinschmidt case, and at
that time a true bill against Wilkins will
bs asked The sheriff is investigating ru-
mors Of night revels in which Wilkins
and various women are said to have par
ticipated in In the dingy barn under
which the dead woman was buried These
revels took place on dates subsequent to
the alleged murder. according to neigh
bors, and it Is on the strength Of testi-
mony furnished by these neighbors and
on other circumstances surrounding the
grewsome case that Barnet justifies his
belief that Wilkins is a second Johan
Hoch.
Another attempt made today to secure
admission Of guilt from the prisoner end
ed in failure. Wilkins said he could not
concentrate his thoughts and refused to
answer questions.
MY neau nurtS, ne Salu. 1 can re-
member anything"
The sheriff thinks the accused is trying
to lay foundation for an insanity plea.
r. C. Thrasher, a hostler in the employ
Of the Southern Pacific railway, shed
light upon one of the mysteries in the
Wilkins murder case this morning.
Gives cIew
Thrasher came to the county Jail today
and informed Deputy Sheriff Moffitt that
he was positive that M. A. Wilkins had
not murdered T. E. Kimmons. the miss
Ing man. whose body has been searched
for in the Wilkins back yard at Elmhurst
for the last three days.
Thrasher said that Kimnons was an
old acquaintance of his. He had met him
In San Francisco and had worked with
him on the United Railroads. The two
men were employed on the same car for
time and became friends At the time
of the strike both quit and Thrasher came
TO Oakland, where he is now living at 215
Wood street, while Kimmons went to
Elmhurst. Thrasher said today that he
was sure that Kimmons was alive and
that at the present time he was living at
Sour Lake. Texas. He says that Kim
mons left Elmhurst in the latter part of
August, going to Houston, Texas. A
month later toward the end of September
Thomas Eckert, friend of Thrasher,
received letter from Kimmons which
was sent from Sour Lake.
Kimmons wished to be remembered to
Thrasher and Eckert spoke of this to
Thrasher when he saw him. The tone of
the letter was cheerful and Kimmons
spoke of being satisfied with things. He
was at work in the oil fields and was
making money.
Kimmons' parents live at Port Arthur,
Texas. In his letter he spoke Of paying
them an early visit. Thrashers clue will
be taken up Immediately and it Is prob
able that Kimmons will be heard from at
an early date.
The police are awaiting the arrival of
II. P. Linderman and N. e. Carman from
the east, 1t is expected that they will
identify the dead woman as their respec-
tive daughter and wife.