New-York daily tribune., 1857-10-06
SHOCKING MURDER or 4 WIFE.
CONFESSION OF THE HUSBAND.
From 7hs Phladelphia Esc1ing Bulletis, Oct )

From The Philadelphia Esening Buiietis, Oct ).
One Of the most shocking tragedies that We have
heard of for long time occurred yesterday morning
IN Upper Merton Township, Montgomery County.
about one mile west Of Nonistown. The scene OF It
teIapthouse belonging TO Capt A. Sharelne, and oc-
cuped by man named Thomas Kllby, his wife Mary
Kilby and their three young children.
At an early hour in the morning Kiby went TO ths
he use of some Degbbors and aroused them, telling
them that his wife bad been murdered by three ne
groes. He slso went himself in search OF constable
10 arrest the alleged murderers. The neighbors hur-
ried TO the house and there a shocking sight pre-.
septed itself The body of Mrs. Klby was found
lying on the bed with the head nearly severed from
the body, from blow with an AZ. There were two
beds upon the bedstesd, both OF which were CON.
pletely saturated with the blood Of the murdered
wtman. .
Kilby declared that three negroes had come 70 tho
house, forced their way in, and had committed the
dreadful deed; but the suspicious OF the nsghDofs
were srouse d. and, upon questioning him further, ne
preyarcated ard contradicted himself, ano hnaiy he
admitted that he himself had slain his wife, in order to
prevent the negroes from doing There can DO no
doubt that The story about the negroes s al hcuon
and that Kilby alone committed the crime. Ccro-
pers INQUEST was held and after full examination,
Kby was arrested and lodged In the prison at Norris
town.
II appears that Kilby who Is quiet and inofensivs
man wbtD sober, mas been incorporate In his hsoi@,
and when in state Of intoxicati0n, has been very
violent towards bis wife. Lately he has threatened
her repeatedly and she has been frequently IN tea o'
her lite Ii rs presumed ne was drunk "bon no com
mitted the MURDER though he showed bat little sign OF
II after the crime discovered. The axe with which
the murder was committed found on the premises,
showing the marks Of the blood which had been
partially wiped or by the murderer.
The body of Mrs. Kilby was buried yesterday an.
ernoon its condition rendering this speedy ntsrment
pecessary. She was an interesting young woman, OF
An Englb family, and we believe had no bloed rels-
tves in this country except the three young childrea
who are more than orphaned by this horrible tragedy
The trial OF Kilby will take place In the Court o.
Quarter Sessions Of Montgomery County which mee@
al Nonistown on the third Monday Of November.
The foregoing facts obtained from gentleman
Of NorrstoWn. Since they were written and put N
I'VE We have received from aeorrespOLdeDt at Norrs
town an account OF the tragedy which does not vary
II aterisIly from that we have given. He says, how
ever. that the murderer middle name only h klby,
his last name being Bates, or something like it. He
states, too that he laborng under mania potu
when be committed the deed. The murdered woman
had an infant child sleeping in her arms when sne was
slain. When the body was discovered the infant was
st clingDg its mothers breast its hair and cSto
ing clotted with blood. The hair had TO be cur on
release IT, The other two children were crying Iof
their mother Beside the fatal wound deecriped aoose
there were two others, one Of which eIknoeo a.
remple down the side of the face. The Docy " ui'
murdered woman was inferred in the EPiscops' ouiy
ipp-pround at NOrTistown.