The Verdict Was Thrown Out. Now Wilcox Faces a Second Fight for His Life.

William A. Wilcox, who was once convicted of manslaughter in the killing of Mrs. Charlotte Fetting on September 4, and had the verdict set aside by the supreme court, will again be put on trial for his life in the criminal department of the superior court two weeks from today, Monday, May 20. Both the prosecution and defense are busy in preparation of the case, and subpoenas for witnesses living at a distance have already been issued.

The state claims to possess much new and important testimony to strengthen the prosecution and insure a conviction, and the defense asserts that it will not only be able to show the complete innocence of Wilcox, but will almost lay the finger of the law upon those who killed Charlotte Fetting on the night of September 4, 1893. The defense lays stress upon the fact that James King, of Tacoma, the murdered woman's son-in-law, and Ernest Fetting, her son, were together throughout the day of the murder and until 10 o'clock the next morning, when they went to Mrs. Fetting's cabin and discovered the crime. At the former trial no positive evidence could be had showing the presence of Wilcox in Seattle on that day. This missing link the state claims to be able to present at the coming trial.

The defense claims to be able to show first, that the case against Wilcox has been largely promoted by a man in Tacoma, guilty of arson, some knowledge of which crime was in the possession of Wilcox, and that this man who, all the while pretended friendship for Wilcox, is conspiring to bring about the latter's ruin. Several new witnesses are promised to strengthen the defendant's alibi. An effort will also be made to show that much testimony favorable to him was suppressed and that some of his witnesses have been spirited away, and Wilcox's lawyers are of the opinion that others have been induced to appear against him upon the hope of a share in the large reward that has been offered for the conviction of the real culprit. The defense will also try to prove that a two-ounce bottle of chloroform was sold in Seattle to people living in that locality shortly prior to the commission of the crime, and that the chloroform bottle found in the Fetting cabin was not the one which Wilcox for a time had in his possession.

Wilcox's mother, Mrs. Henry A. Wilcox, and his sister, who have resided for many years at Montague, Mich., will be present at the trial.