The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-27
THE PHILADELPHIA MURDER.

Further Particulars Of the Murder of
Mrs. Hill-InterestinS Statements
Speculations ms to the Cause of the
Crime.
The murder of Mrs. NJ. E. Hill in Philadel-
phia, on Sunday evening, creates great excite
ment in that city. The Inquirer, of yesterday,
has the following additional particulars
The murder of Mrs. Hill is one of the most
brutal and startling on record, and but little
else was thought of or talked Of yesterday
throughout the length and breadth Of the city.
Tue wealth and social position of the parties
connected with the tragedy: the fact that it
occurred in one of the most respectable neigh
borhoods OF the city, and on quiet Sunday
evening, the brutal character Of the assault
and concomitant circumstances, invest /! with
peculiar interest, scarcely inferior to any de-
liberate murder that ever took place i'll the
CITY OF Brotherly Love" 1t is wel-settled
belief that money was at the bottom of the
dastardly act, and the grounds of that l.alief
will be found by perusing the following ad-
ditional circumstances connected with the
murder:
THE THEORY OF THE MURDER.
An investigation into tho surroundings of
the sad occurrence leaves little room to doubt
that Mrs. Hill came to her death in the follow
ing manner, and the finger oil suspicion is
pointed at the victims sOn-!n-law, George s.
Twitchell, Jr., as the perpctrator OF the deed.
The deceased was lying on the sofa, on her
left side. evidently asleep, her head resting on
the upper end of the pillow. Her murderer
was sitting on the rocking chair, smoking
cigar, which is evinced by the presence OF
ashes on the window sill. He raised the dead
" weapon "a poker, which vas found in the
room, covered with blood and hairl, and, with
tremendous force, drove the tongue end into
her right temple, causing o wound one and
half by two inches. Into this ori6ce, yester-
day morning, the examining surgeon put two
fingers their entire length. Then it was that
the blood spattered oil around, not only marx
ing the surroundings, but also staining the
clothing of tile murderer. The victim awoke
but for oil instant, and rolling around on her
face, the blows were piled thick and fast on
the back of the head. It was at this time
that the servant rang the bell, and the length
Of time she was waiting OF the door shows
that the murderer was nonpussed as to what
should be done with the body. After cogita-
ting for time, he concluded to throw her
from the window, which would set up theo-
ry that she had fallen to the pavement. This
was accordingly done. He then ran into his
bedroom, threw off his vest and overshirt, and
then answered the bell.
THE SERVANT GIRLS STATEMENT.
The name of the servant girl is Sarah Camp
bell, and her statement is to the effect that she
had been visiting friend, and returned to
Mrs Hill's house about nine o'clock on Sunday
evening, where she rang the bell Tor a long
time before the door was opened MIR. Twitch-
ell performed that Office, and seeing who it
was, said "Sarah, is that you? I wonder
where mother is ?" She responded to this that
she did not know, and thanked him for letting
her in. She then entered the kitchen, and after
putting coal on the fire went through the wash
house into the side-yard, where she was horrl-
CRYING out for MIR. Twitchell, he came out and
said "Let's carry her in" The body was
taken into the kitchen, when he called for Wa
ter with which to wash her. Her head pre-
scnted frighttnl spectacle, being covered with
blood, and after that was partially removed
fearful and ugly. gashes and wounds were re-
veaed He said "She's dead" Sarah ran
into The street and met Policeman Howard on
the pavement, to whom she stated what she
had seen. That officer entered the house,
and was informed that the deceased had
fallen from the window in the back npartmept
OF the dining groom, and directly unaer "niEn iEl
she was lying. Having his suspicious fully
aroused, officer Howard placed Mr. Twltchell
under arrest, and his wife (the murdered
woman's daughter) also. Word OF tie occur
renee was then sent to the Eighth Ward
station house. and detail Of men was immedi-
ately sent to the scene and word telegraphed
to tie Central Station. Detective Warnock,
then being on duty, repaired to the mouse
and, after conversin5 with the alleged muir
derer and wife and examining the place, direct
cd Twitcacll to ue taken to the station, and
confined Mrs. Twtchell to her room, under
guard of the officers. When Sarah first saw
Mr. Twitchel she noticed that he had on his
boots, pantaloons and coat, but no vest or
overshirt. When the policeman took hip into
custody he conducted him to his sleeping
apartment, where hc arrayed himself with shirt
and vest. It WAS then noticed that the front
of his coat and sleeve, and his pantaloons,
boots, and the bosom OF his ovcrshirt, were all
besmeared with blood. After being taken to
the station this clothing was taken OH, and @
change sent for. On talking with the police,
Mr.. Twitchell admitted that there were strong
circumstances against him, but he belleVed he
could clear himself and wife.
STATEMENT OF MRS. Tw1rcHELL.
The wife of the alleged murderer, Mrs. Twit-
chell, was closely questioned a. the central STA
tion whittier she had been brought by the OH
GERS, and she stated that her mother, Mr..
Twitchell and herself had been conversing i'll
the dining room, and at about half-past eight
o'clock she retired to bed, leaving deceased
and Mr.. Twitchell IN that room. That she dis
roned aud retired to bed, where she read for
some time In little while her mother came
As she passed out OF the door MIR. Twltchell
passed in, bidding Mrs. Hill goodnight. He
then rot into bed, and both went to sleep. She
was awakened, not knowing the time, by avlo-
lent ringing at tho bell. She started out OF
bed, but was stopI cd by her husband, who re-
maraed that he would so down. He accordingly
got up, partially dressed himself, and went
dow n. She also states that her mother had
about Eve thousand dollars in cash and five
hundred dollar note. Mrs. Hills agent paid
her considerable sum OF money on Saturday,
but none of it had been found up to last cve-
ming.
SUPPOSED CAUSE OF THE MURDER.
AS alluded to above, the desire of pecuniary
gain is believed to he at the root OF the DIS
tressing tragedy. Mrs. Twitchell sthe daugh,,
ter of Mrs. Hill by former husband named
Price, and is about thlrty-hvo, years OF age.
Her fatEer vas poor man, and on his death,
some years ago, her mother married Mr: HllI,
O wealthy gentleman. Mr.. Hill died, and left
his property in such way that his WIDOW
could reap the entire benefit OF it up to the
time of her death, on which event it would re-
vert to his family. This would leave the
dauchtec without dollar. She married Twit-
cheil, Jr. They then lived with Mrs. Hill,
No 319 South Nlnth-street, until about
three months ago, when they removed
to the house at Tenth and Pine streets.
Mrs. Hill having the means at her disposal,
desired to purchase the property, and directed
her son-in-law to negotiate tor 1t. The trans
action eliminated in the purchase OF the
dwelling, and the deeds drawn up and the
money pail over. few days since the fact
that the deeds were in the name Of Mrs. Twit-
cl,elI ou1 not in Tho name of tlrS Hill came