[Brutal Murder of a Woman, Territorial Enterprise clip reprinted in the Alta California, January 26, 1867]

 

            BRUTAL MURDER OF A WOMAN. — The most cruel, outrageous and revolting murder ever committed in this city, says the Enterprise, was that of Julia Bulette, on Sunday morning She lived in a little house by herself, near the corner of D and Union streets, in a thickly settled neighborhood, and within a stone's throw of the Station House. The murder was probably committed about five o'clock in the morning, but it was not discovered until nearly noon, when the body was nearly cold and stiff in death. At eleven o'clock, a Chinaman, who was employed to make fire, sweep, bring in wood, etc., came in to the house, as usual, kindled a fire and left, thinking she was asleep, as he could see her covered up in bed. About half an hour afterward, a woman who lives next door came to call her to breakfast, and discovered her to be murdered. She at once ran out and gave the alarm. Quite a large crowd soon collected, and considerable excitement was manifested. She was found lying on her left side, with a pillow over her head and face, the bed clothes beneath her head being saturated with blood. Her throat was lacerated with the marks of finger nails, and the blood-suffused and distorted countenance, together with the writhing position of the body, showed conclusive evidence of strangulation. The pillow was pressed also on her head and face, evidently to silence any outcries on her part. There were two small wounds on her forehead, apparently made by the cock of a pistol or something of that character, and the back of her left hand was somewhat lacerated in her struggles to free herself from the grasp of the fiend who had her in his power. What was his object, whether revenge or robbery, is, from various circumstances, a subject of conjecture. One thing is certain, the murderer took a set of furs worth $400, two gold watches and chains, and several pieces of valuable jewelry, even taking her ear rings from her ears. He passed out through the back door and made good his escape. It certainly is to be hoped the murdering villain may be captured and eventually adorn the end of a rope. His victim was known as Julia Bulette, and was a native of London, England, whence she emigrated, when quite young, to New Orleans, and thence to California, in 1852 or 1853, where she lived in various cities and towns until April, 1863, whence she came to Virginia. She is said to have married a man by the name of Smith — from whom she afterwards separated — and has an uncle and brother living still in the State of Louisiana. She was thirty-five years of age, belonging to that class denominated " fair but frail," yet, being of a very kind-hearted, liberal, benevolent and charitable disposition, few of her class had more true friends. The officers have not been able to find out the murderer.