The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-26
THE HILL MURDER.

Defense Opened-What the Prisoners Coun.
sci Intend to Prove-The Excitement In Re.
lation TO tho Result of the Trial Incsensing
i PHILADELPHIA, Dec "a, $685.
The crowd in the court room to-day was far
greater than II has been on any one day since the
prisoner was arraigned for trial. The female por-
ton OF the audience was especially greater In
numerical strength and fuss than usual, one OF the
worse features about 1t consisting In the fact
that more than one-half Of them were girls of ten
der age several, to all appearances, not having as
yet reached "sweet, blusEing sixteen.n If the in
tense interest they manifested In all the details OF the
horrible murder which elected during the ex-
animation OF the witnesses be any criterion to 90 by
it Ia very doubtful they ever reach any age which
win entitle them to the gentle qualifications afore-
| mentioned.
1t will be seen by reference to the testimony that
the defence are making and intend to make very
fierce fight to clear their client from the crime with
the commission OF which he Is charged. The deter
mined stand taken by them in refusing to give up to
the prosecution the papers found In the safe at Cam
den before the prosecution had proved that the
safe belonged to the prisoner was one OF the
strongest indications manifested during the trial OF
their determination, by every ingenultyor legal
was also their resolution to have the blood
stained clothing examined by some expert chosen
| stantlal evidence against the prisoner Is very
strong, but his friends contend that his counsel will
be able to prove, beyond hope of contradiction,
every statement made in the opening address OF Mr.
Pratt over hundred witnesses have been sub
pGnaed by the defence and it is supposed that the
trial will not be concluded until Tuesday or Wednes-
| day next
gentlemen alluded to yesterday by several wit
nesses In giving their testimony, was called to the
stand. Being duly sworn, he said:-I knew Mrs.
| time OF her death she was the widow OF Samuel
Hill who died ON February i3, 1855; Mr. and Mrs.
they had only been married year or SO then; was
/ Mrs. Hills agent after the death OF her husband,
Appeared TO be sndy until the after s
| part OF July last; about that time gentleman
he m 9f cae d to @ s
interview Mr.. Twitchell was not present. but before
left the house he came into the dining room and in
create disturbance In the family, coupling 1t with,
~ give you ten minutes to get Out;r answered that
my own business and not interfere with other PEG.
| pe's said was there on business with Mrs. Hill
he again commanded me to leave in ten minutes,
| saying he would pnt me out by force or get police
| man to put me out; told him to use his pleasure
but that perhaps the latter would be the better
| way; he went out as II after an officer, and was
followed by Mrs. Twltchell: remained there short
time talking with Mrs: HILL and then took my de-
in two or three weeks ever since the dc It'll OF Mt.
Hnl she visited my house and consulted me about
her business matters; Mrs. Hin was woman OF con-
siderable means Mr. Hill left the estate which Mrs.
Hill possessed; after these conversations with Mrs.
|
Tenth and Pine streets; there Is a deed among them
to Camilla =. Twtchen; got this bundle OF deeds
berts together and was after that that she brought
the deeds to me; 1t was the following afternoon.
aes r 5 na AZ se at a s
made out In her daughters name 1t was objected
BY the defence and the objection was sustained.
Mr.. Hdgert-Mr. Henderson, do you know the
Witness-i do; l have seen him write: this is his
cept for 1867 on the house at tenth and Pine streets
signed by the prisoner for Mrs. Hill, was shown to
Question by MIR. Hagert-lad Mrs. Hin made an
appointment with you TO go and employ counsel on
the view Of instutng legal proceedings for the re-
coyery OF the property
Mr.. Hagert said he would be unable to show that
this was communicated to the prisoner, but he
would argue from the circumstances Of his being In
| the same house with Mrs. Hill being In constant
intercourse with her, that he must have known it.
Mr. Mann argued that II was not competent. more
especially In capital case, to prove one circum-
stance OF purely crcumstantial case by other very
| weak and unreliable circumstances, which when
strongest did not receive too much confidence in this
| age
Mr.. Mann believed in circumstantial evidence when
Armstrong, Probs5 Williams and winuemore were
The Court sustained the objection and ruled out
In answer to the District Attorney the witness pro-
| cceded-I had no conversation In reference to the
recon, eyance OF this property, with Mrs. Ill., In
| his presence; when made collections for Mrs. Hill
made TO her was OF $276 o5. on the Friday proceed
| Ing the murder, November 20.
| Cro5s-exanined-I estimated the personal estate
| all In money that she got by her husbands death
at s36,o00 under Mr. IIil's will she had life estate
the ose me Te SY
Twitchel; the income was about 81, 600; after her
death the property was to go TO Mr. Hill' heirs not
to the prisoner or his wife; do not know that she
carried money In her clothes; do not know that she
deposited money In saving fund; do not know
Mr.. Aann-iIaye you not said she carried large
sums OF money about her person.
that 1t was not cross-examination, and IL 1t was
asked for the purpose OF contradiction the Of
| the person TO whom he said IL should be gwen
Mr. Mann said he candidIy believed the woman
was murdered for her money, which she carried
| about her
The counsel for the defence here made motion
| that the articles of clothing stained with blood,
which had been identified as belonging to the
prisoner, should be submitted 10 an expert chosen
by the accused, the expert to examine them In the
presence OF four officers OF the court,
Inc mU"D Was ae'u ,e oy ane SSur when inc
sworn was Samuel T. Davidson.
samuel T. Davidson, swora--i am an o!flcer Of the
First National Bank OF Camden; the bank has had
no transaction with Mr. Twitchcll since the 10th OF
November last when the books showed q balance
Cross.examincd~ did not always have bal.
ance in his favor in the bank; at one time he had
his account in March and that i was settled in June
he had then balance Of $3.50 In his favor.
| A. II. Worden, sworn-I am Jeweller; know the
defendant; he applied to me November II last for
loan OF nfty dollars; aid not lend It to him.
| Catharlne McNally, sw0rn-0n the I'D OF NOveIl-
| Der last resided at Mr.. Montgomerys at IL South
| Tenth street. next door to Mrs. II's; I recollecl
that on the night OF the murder had tea about
seven o'c ock; i was In the Kitchen after tea time
house; | was there all the evening". while !
was sitting In the Kitchen I heard female
voices Ia the other kitchen; just before that heard
the door bell ringing; | was down In the cellar
| getting coal at the time; the bell was rung about
nve or six times; then came up IN the kitchen and
II was then that heard tho voices In Mrs. Hills
Kitchen; before going down 70 the cellar had not
heard anything unr-.ai going on In Mrs. Hill's;
did not hear dogs bark,a. ....., - ..i,
| IN .ur kitchen was aone reading paper.
Cross-examined-I sleep IN the Earret OF the hous
where 1--we; Is difficult to hear the bell ring whci
one Is up In the garnet; Eved In the house wv,
weeks before the r..r.er.