, 1866-01-11

An Aged Sp1DAter. Reported very
wealthy, without Relatives, and
Living Alone, Fonnd lHuroered-Ho
Clue 10 the PerpetrAtor.

wealthy, wI,hout Relatives, and
Living Alone, Found Iuroeret-No
Clue 10 the PerpetrAtor.
From the Pbiadc1phla Press, 7th.1
About o'clock Yesterday morning mnr.
der was pcrpctrated In Germantown. which
will rank among the most daring and brutal
that ever occurred within the borders Of Phil
adelphia: The victim was IN old woman,
named Mary Watts, apparently about sixty
dead In her room, With her throat cut from
one ear to the other, besides several bruises
about her head and body, As far as VIC could
learn yesterday, the murdered woman was
unmarried, and had been living In the house
some siz or eight years. Agreater portion Of
within about ffteen months that the house
WAS shared by any one else. She then pre-
vailed upon woman about her own age,
named Elizabeth Lippincott, to live In tho
house. This Wns on account Of her being
afraid, having been robbed short time pre-
viou8. ,y
Her companion, who is faniliarly known
about the neiGhborhood ns Betsy, did not
sleep in the same room with Miss VISITS; nor
did she remain tn the house during the lnY
She was in the habit Of going out day after
day TO do washfng, housework and other bust
ness Of similar nature. In tue places where
she was employed abe would receive her meals,
nn1 would remain there till morning. Occa-
slonal1y, however, she did not stay oyernIght
at the house. About ball-past six o'clock
yesterday morning she LETT the house, as
usual, and proceeded to store on Nain
street, where she had been engaged to do
some washing. On parting with Miss Watts,
she was told to bring come rice homo with
which to make soup. Afier that she did not
see her alive.
The murder was discovered through lad
named Edward Hughes, son Of IN adjoining
nejghbor, who, as lad been done many times
before, was sent by his mother with aome
victuals to the house for the benefit Of Miss
Watts It was about fifteen minutes past
seven when the boy knocked at the door. No
one answered him. He knocked again and
tried the knob, when some person opened the
door few inches and Immediately shut 1t
again. The boy returned home md told his
mother that &o1no ono had shut the door IN
his face. About half An hour subsequent Mrs.
Hughes proceeded to Miss Watts house her
self. She tried the door but It appeared fas-
looked into tho sitting room and there saw
Miss Watts lying upon the floor She at once
returned home aud informed her husband
that Miss Watts was either sick or dead.
Mr. Hughes, with young man named Bell,
then went to the front Of the house. They
looked through the window and saw the NO.
man lying upon the floor with lot Of blood
that she had been murdered. They then pro-
cecdcd to otle back of the house and entered
u door which was partially open, and which
led TO the sitting room. Upon the floor they
found the woman with her throat cut, and
although her body WIS warm, life was extinct.
Dickerson and Officer Harrington, Of the
Germantown police, who took possession OF
the premises. A notification Of the foul deed
was teleg1aphcd to this city.
The room in which the body wa found did
not seem very much dlsordcrcd., Numerous
domestic articles Of almost every description
were arranged IN different parts. No instru-
u,ent was to be seen with which the wound
could have been inflicted. The blood from
her throat was not scattered about the roou,,
but remained ln one pool beneath her head,
evidently showing TINT she bad not had a
blood upon her hands, which leads to thc-
conviction that the woman had not committed
suicide. It is supposed that she was rendered
inscnsiblc by blow upoh the head, and utter
Ehe had fallen her throat WAS cut. The OIL
Gers, with others, proceeded to the 1ooms
overhead. Thers they found the bureau
drawers ransacked, while papers and other
things lay scattered around. The scoundrel
seems to have mnle a careful search for
money, but whether he succeeded In obtain- |
Ing any Is not known. from the fact that the
murdered Moman was lathss close In refer
acquainted With what she had about the |
house. ,..
The house In which tAe murder took place,
is situated on the south sidc Of Queen street, |
about half way between Germantown avenue |
and Green street. Il is a two-storlcd cottage,
with rough cast front, and Of dingy yellow |
color. II stands back some ten feet from the
pavement, and has paling- fence on the front
and sides, and d close board fence in the rear.
The interior WIS we'll stocked with old and |
somewhat dilapidate furniture md other I
domestic Implements; but, with all these |
there WIS an air Of neatness and cleanliness |
about the place. The house and ground be-
loDgcd to Miss Watts, who, 1t Is understood, !
was Without relatives. She buried sister |
several years ngo, aud since then has never
claimed q living relative. She lived very |
retired life, seldom ever visiting, and although
somewhat misery in regard 10 this worlds |
goods, yet she was generally respected.
The affair created quite an excitement |
among the people Of Germantown.
Mayor McM1chael has offered reward of |
$500 for the apprehension of the murderer, or
for Information that will lead to his detection. |