The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-26
AN APPALLING TRAGEDY
Another Midday Murder.
The Victim, Mrs. Dorcas Magilton,
Sixty-two Years Old.
Arrest of the Supposed Criminal
GEORGE n. Wlnnemore.
Etc. Etc., Etc, Etc, Etc, Etc.

The trial of Gottleib williams for the murder
of an inoffensive old lady in her own house,
and during the broad light of day, is scarcely
overland the day for the execution of the guilty
man not yet hXeu, when it again becomes our
reluctant duty TO chronicle n high-handed
deed Of blood which in almost every particular
comedies with the brutal crime of which GoJG-
leib Williams has been found guilty.
The Victim
in the present case was Mrs. Dorcas Magllton,a a
peasant and inoflensive lady about siXty.two
years of age, who resided with her husband In
"a small brick house, two stories and a half in
height, at No. 1909 Shippen street, in the Fourth
Ward. The husband, MIR. Adam MagiltOn, is
about seventy-five years OF age, and car
penter by trade. He is well known and uni
Nersally respected in the lower part of the city
Colonel Magilton, the First District Internal
Revenue Office, and during the war popular
officer in the Pennsylvania Reserves, is a son Of
the unfortunate family, who have also mar
ried daughter residing in the city.
The Alleged Murderer,
who is already in custody, is young man by
the name of George IL. Winnemore, n son of
the late Mr.. Philip Winnemore who held the
position of High Constable in this city about
fifteen years ago. He is now about twenty-five
years OF age, of genteel and peaceable appear
ance, with a smooth face and dark brown hair
and about five feet ten inches in height. For
several years past he has been connected with
the regular army, from which lie was dis
charged on the goth of last month, his regiment
at The time being stationed on the Iudial from
tier.
Immediately after his discharge, young Win
nemore came to this city, and took up his
lodgings at the Monitor House, No. 20j South
Front street. which is kept by Mr. Adam
Meanock. Wthnemore's mother, who restless
in NoDater's court, near Tenth and Arch
streets, is now lying very ILL., and as vet knows
nothing of the terrible crime of Which her son
stands accused. Young Wi1nemore is n spirit
ualist, and on account of difficulty arising out
of his peculiar religious opinions, has not been
on visiting terms with his family.
His spiritual professions brought him into
contact with the Magilton family, botn Mr.. and
Mrs. Magilton being attached to the same sect.
TN, nahn fhni iNta
spiritual meeting some time ago, and since then
has been a frequent visitor at the house, and on
frequently sat at table. on sunday last he
passed the whole day at their house, remaining
evening. Yesterday morning, about 8 o'clock,
he again called at the house and found Mrs.
Magilton alone. With her he remained about
an hour, when Mr.. Magilt III arrived, aud then,
according TO
The Prisoners Story,
he left the house and walked out to place about
two miles beyond the Schuylkill. Returning
to Fairmount PARK, he sat there for some time,
engaged in reading and in watching a man
fishing. Leaving the park, he came Into the
city, and when passing the Academy of Natural
Sciences, was told, in answer TO an inquiry,
that it was 3 o'clock. He then proceeded down
Broad Street to Shippen, to the house of the
Magiltons. Knocking at the door, no one re-
to the kitchen. found Mrs. Magilton lying on the
floor III pool of blood He ran at once TO lock
the front door, and then proeSe,eided TO searca en-
heard a knock at the front door, which he at
| once opened to admit Mr.. Magilton. Winnie
| more then informed him that his wife was
| living in the back room murdered. The hus-
band, shocked by this almost incredible infor-
nation, Xclaimed:-"Murdered! it cannot be,
| as it is but a short time since left her."
| Mr., MagIltOn's Account of the Affair."
| Mr. Magilton left the house about o'clock
| in the afternoon, for the purpose OF taking a
| pair of spectacles TO a netgnborng shop for re-
| pairs. He left Mrs. MagilCon seated quietly in
| q rocking chair in the back room, ana eagaged
| in knitting, In about an hour he returned, b,
| CK,tO
| the door fastened. He then raped and was
answered by Winnemore when the colloquy
! ceeded TO the back room, and there the amazed
husband beheld his wife lying upon the floor
| in pool of blood, and quite dead. The rocking
| chair in which she had been seated was over.
! turned, but beyond this there was nothing to
| indicate that there had been the least show OF
resistance on the part of murdered lady.
The Events After the Discovery OF the
Murder.
Mr. Magilton gazed in horror and amaze
ment upon the dead body of his wife for a few
minutes, and then requested Wlnnemore to
run for a policeman. The latter obeyed, and
shortly returned with Officer James McCulen
Sr Mr.. MagiIton then requested Winnemore
to summon his daughter, whose residence was
Dut short distance from the scene OF the ira;
gedy. But before Winnemore had proceeded
very far, he was oVertaken by Officer James
McCullen, Jr., to whom he had been pointed
out, and was at once conveyed to the Second
District Police Station, on suspicion of being
the guilty party in the affair There he re
NAMED in custody until seven o'clock this
morning, when he was brought up to the Cen
tral Station, to await developments.
The news of the murder spread rapidly, and
soon large crowd congregated about the house
Other officers also arrived, among them Lieu
tenant Hampton and Detectives Lamon and
Tryon, who took possession OF the premises
! and proceeded to examine the body. By iti
side, on the floor, lay a small riveting hammer
the property of MI Magllton, which was covered
with blood and matted with hair With this
the murderer had inflicted niue separate
| blows upon the head OF his victim, each one
penetrating to the brain, and SUFFICIENT o.
ilself to cause death. But the guilty mar
had not been content with this, but with
a sharp instrument had inflicted
deep cash upon the left side of tue throat
Search was made for me weapon, which wa
track ed by a bloody path to the water-closet il
the yard, in which Il bloody razor was soor
brought TO light. The facts in relation to tn,
wounds upon the body Of Mrs. Magilton wer,
further corroborated at the ostmortem ex
ANIMATION, which was made late in the after
noon by Dr. Shapleigh, Surgeon to the Coroner
> on Wednesday evening the son-n-law o
: Mrs Magilton had given her ten-dollar bill
, and two others OF Two dollars each. On ex
amining the wallet in her pocket, nothing wa
, found but ten-csnt note aud few pennies
: The Evidences of WInuemOre's Guilt
Y are very positive, and there is scarce doub
a but that he will be convicted of the crime. Oh
Q his person was found diary, containing seVe
/, raj letters addressed TO his friends, and anon
A them the following general note-
PHILADELPHIA A pril %, 1857.
!, To my Friends-Thls sad calamity is caused b
% my enemies-those who were my pretended friends
l. IhAve been accused many things which are utterl
false God knows aI1 M innoGSut R 9 81 & Them Ihs nUt
/ forgive them for what they have done preie
death to dshonor for it ess vs. as Stigma on my nahi
~ bear with ali but Il bears me down with trouble.
3, now bid all earthly friends and enemies farewell
this life Let the past be g6e 9FgSsP Y1gSs RR t5FtR
,, From this IL would almost eonclusiyely ar