Free on His Birthday—and Still Guilty in the Detective's Eyes

Head Clerk McClure arose in Judge Humes' court Friday afternoon and, with a slight tremor in his voice, announced that a jury of twelve American citizens had pronounced William A. Wilcox innocent of the crime of killing Charlotte Feiting. He did not realize that he was giving the prisoner the greatest birthday present he ever received. The fact of the matter was that Wilcox was 25 years old the day he was acquitted. For eighteen long months he had lain in jail under the ban of the law, but never once during that time did he give up the idea that he would eventually be a free man. Saturday afternoon Wilcox visited the municipal court with his friend O. C. Fenlason of Tacoma, who has stood by him through thick and thin, and at the close of court went away with Attorney Winstock.

In talking with a Post-Intelligencer reporter about his plans for the future, Wilcox said: 'I may stay in this city and go into business, or possibly return to Tacoma and work in the box factory.'

Mr. Fenlason, who is the head man in the box factory, added: 'Yes, he can have his old position back any time he wants it. If he does not take it he will probably represent us in this city. I think that a great injustice has been done Mr. Wilcox. I have known him for years and have never had the slightest doubt about his innocence. He started in with me at Montague, Mich., in 1882, and then went with me to Kansas City in 1883 and to Tacoma in 1891.'

While Mr. Fenlason thinks Wilcox a wronged man, others think differently. Detective Cudihee, who has been prominent in the case but who has always objected to being interviewed, said yesterday when asked for his opinion of the verdict: 'The jury said he was innocent, but I think differently.'