Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-28
The Mother-in-Law Murder.

Inc jury was ~ ieuktu compieteu su.o
morning for the trial Of George s.
Twitchell, jr., charged with the murder
of Mrs. Hill. The jurors and prisoner
were then told to stand up, and the clerk
read to them the indictment. During
this proceeding the prisoner stood with
his arms folded across his breast, and
looked steadfastly at the jury, firmly and
without emotion.
Richard Ludlow, Esq, opened the case
Of the Commonwealth, saying: ut be-
comes my duty, gentlemen of the jury,
TO open to you the case of the Common
wealth VS.. George s. Twitchell, jr.,
charged with the murder of Mary e. Hill,
and to draw your attention to the facts,
and the law that is to govern you in your
deliberations. The duties you have as
sumed are of solemn, grave character.
To this charge the prisoner has pleaded
not guilty, and his trial upon God and bis
country, and you have taken solemn
oaths and affirmations we'll and truly to
try the issue. The crime of. murder has
grown of late to an enormous size, so
that no man feels safe, either on waking
at morning, at broad midday, or at night;
citizens have begun to fear. We must do
our duty to impress upon the vile muir
derer the certainty Of 50 eedy punish
ment Here vile, unpri ncipled, devil
ish murder has been com mitted. On
quiet Sabbath evening, in the heart OF
this city, Mrs. Mary Z. Hill was sent into
eternity, and her body was left behind
covered with its own blootl The facts
attending this case will remove all doubt
as to its degree. Mrs. Mary E. Hill was
the wife of Samuel Hill, deceased, and
resided at the northwest corner of Tenth
and Pine streets, with Ca miIla E. Twit-
chell, her daughter, Georg 8. Twitcheli,
her daughters husband, and servant
girl uamed Sarah Hamill-. On the Suu-
day evening of the murder, this servant
girl returned from hou se from visit,
and rang the door bell. The ring was
answered by the prisoner, and after
words of recognition she passed on to
the kitchen and yard, an there found
the body of Mrs. Hill. We will show
you that the prisoner, who resided in the
house, was the murderer, and will ask
you 80 to decide the cas- 9 as to strike
terror to the hearts Of those whose hearts
are vile enough for euch q deed.
DR.. E. B. Shapieigh, the Coroner's
physician, sworn made a post mortem
examination of the body of lady at the
northeast corner of Ten tn and Pine
streets, about ten o'clock on the morning
of November %; Mr.. Fletcher, couple
Of officers and detective, and DR.. Zant-
Finger were present; there were marks
of violence upon the head, principally
upon the right side; there was 3 lacer-
ated wound two and a-half inches in
length on the right tie mple, jut.s on the
right edge of it, over the upper edge OF
the right eyebrow there was q confused
straight wound thren-quarters OF an
inch long; on the upper part OF the
forehead there was q confused wound
one inch long; there were five small
wounds upon the forehead, half an inch
each; above the right ear there was an
other confused wound; over the upper
part of the parietal bone there was
another confused straight wound; +; over
the posterior and upper part OF the
parietal bone there was tn
angular wound, the wings of which
we're three-qu srters of an inch
long; on the. upper part of the
left parietsl bone there was another con-
fusion wound two inches long; there
we're thirteen altogether; have plas-
ter cast of the head (the article was
handed to the witness) this is plaster
cast Of the ordinary skull; will proceed
to mark in black ersyop the positions
and description, of the wounds have
spoken Of which he did according to
the testimony first given 1.-THE right halt
Of the frontal bone, the anterior portion
of the parietal bone, the anterior portion
Of the temple bone, and the orbit OF the
eye, were comminuted, broken into
small pieces; in the right temple there
was a hole to the brain; it was large
enough to admit my finger to its full
length; it penetrated downward, inward
and backward; there was another trac-
ture extending entirely across the head,
through the right and left psrietal bones
aud the right temple, extending over the
base of the brain, dividing the whole
skull in two parts; there was another
irregular fracture across the back
of the head, on the left side; the
angle Of a wound made by a sharp in
strument is distinct and acute, and that
of one made by q blunt, not cutting,
instrument is rounded; these were
rounded: on the hands Of the body, /
found bruises on the backs OF each,
which seemed 70 have been made by dis
tinct blows; the second hnger OF the ieit
hand was nearly severed at the second
Joint by & blunt instrument, because a
, sharp instrument would have severed the
tissues; ] made q re-examinstion on last
Friday morning at the hoaunent Gene
terv: DR.. Lewis and DR.. S. P. Brown
were present; conducted this examins-
| ton: nothing else than the fracture
across the base Of the brain vas dis
closed at the FIRST exsminatisn found
bones driven iuto the brain about an inch
and a half below the skull; they were
small fragments, q portion Of the frontal
bone and the parts surrounding iti there
must have been some movement OF the
woman or the person vho struck The
, blows; they we're no; oil struck while
, she body vas lying IN the sane posi-
! ton; thiN largest fracture could net
have been Completely caused By any OF