The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1864-04-13
Shocking Tragedy in PhiIadel.
phia He Murder-LOve
and 5ealOusy-A woman Kill.
ed in IL Iheater-The Murder
er Arrested,

PHILADELPHIA, April 6.
Last evening a melancholy tragedy occur.
red at the Continental Theater on Walnut
street, above Eighth. The audience, a large
one, were deeply Interested in the moral
drama OF The Philadelphia Firemea, and
while the second act was in progress, a young
man named William Mitchell, who claims
both this city and New York as his residence
made his way to the preseeneum box, on
the west side OF the house. He appeared to
be we'll known, % the habitu OF this es,ab.
lishment, and one Of the officers attached to
the house, who is as we'll known, a very
careful and attentive parsonage, accostsd
Mitchell very familiary, remarking to him,
bill, there is something wrong; you have
got some thing about you that you ought not
to have in this place." The officer while
speaking ran his hand over Mitchell's pock>
cts, but failed to detect the presence of any
weapon. Mitchell asked the odicer during
the interview to join him in a drink, stating
that he was going to New York to night
The officer declined. Mitchell then said
that he was going in to see Maggie for a few
minutes, moving toward the box whers that
female was seated. A few minutes afterward
three reports Of a pistol, 10 rapid succession,
were heard. This caused quite a sensation
in the audience, and for a moment consider
able alarm also prevailed.
After the firing, Mr.. Pilgrim, the stage
manager, appeared be fore the curtain, and
addressed the audience as follows:
LADIES N GENTLEMEN: | regret the I'm
pleasant affair that has occurred; there is no
blame with me or the management. |, as
stage manager, throw myself upon your in,
diligence under the circumstances. Shall I
20 on with the performance?
A general cry from the audience was
Eyes"
Mr.. Pilgrim, not for a moment supposing
that the firing of the pistol had been attend
ed with the slightest wound to any person
present, retired behind the curtain and rung
in the music. On discovering, much to his
aqtonishment and grief, that a murder had
been committed, he again appeared before
the curtain, in a state Of alarm and excites
ment, and addressed the audience, with the
true feelings OF a man, as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Iregret, from
the bottom OF my heart, TO apper before you
with unpleasant news. A fearful tragedy has
been e~nacted-the lady who was fred at is
dead. ! had no suspicion at the time OF the
firing that any body was hurt, much less
that murder had b.en committed. |
have to ask therefore, that you will leave
the house quietly, as you have rema ined
here previous to this unfortunate occurrence.
There was a general sympathy expressed
for Mr.. Pilgrim and the management, and
the audience retired as orderly as from a
church; there was no lingering behind, or
morbid curiosity evinced, and in q few min.
utes the theater was deserted by all accept
those attached to it, and the liteles remains
OF the poor victim. The officers OF the house
having promptly secured the murderer, they
next turned their attention the I'm fertuuate
victim who proved to be a young wo.
man named Margaret Baer or Baird; she was
found sitting up on one of the chairs in the
box wounded in the temple in two places,
and her LETT lung. At the time Of the occur
renee there were seventeen persons in the
box, and they were so paralyized at the sud
denness OF his appearance and the shooting,
that they were unable to make or offer any
resistance.
This Mitchell, or Mcguire, IL APPEARS, had
made threats to the deceased during the day
il she did not accompany him to Columbus,
Ohio, and il she should visit any OF the thea.
ters in the evening. he would shoot her.
At the time Of the firing he was heard to
say, II love you, but you have gone back on
me-" AS soon as Mitchell or Mcguire was
arrested, he said to the officers, take me to
prison, | am satistisd.
He was promptly conveyed to the Censrrl
Station, and locked up to await the result OF
the Corners inquest. Mitchell, or Mcguire
was deeply attached to the woman, and had
made her presents at various times, ofiewel
.ry, some OF which she had on her person at
the time Of the homicide. He was well
known in sporting circles. The woman had
grown tired Of him, and did not receive his
addresses fayorabiy. She made a remark
early in the evening, to one OF her female
friends, that she hated him and did not want
to have any thing moro to do with him.