The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-23
THE HAND OF BLOOD.
Low Life Above Stairs.
1t eliminates in the Brutal Mur-
der of an Old Lady.
Unhallowed Love and Avarice
in Fearful Mixture.

northeast corner OF Tenth and Pine streets. An
old LADY named Mrs. M. L. Hill was shockingly
and brutaly murdered, aud then thrown iron
q second.story window into the yard, where her
body was found lying by servant who had
gone outside for The purpose of closing the
windows. To aid US in our account OF this
crime we will first give q general description
OF the building, which is three stories in
height, fronting on Tenth street. On the south
side, and adjoining Pine street, is a SIDE
yard about twenty feet in width, running
against the brst one on Pine street. belo Y
Tenth. The front building is divided into two
rooms on each floor, and the back one Is simi-
larry divided. The floors OF this part OF the
dwelling are considerably lower than those OF
the front. You enter the front door on Tenth
street, and entering the hall, wall bacG some
distance before you reach the fight of stairs
which ascend to the second story. Passing
around the stairs, you descend few steps aud
enter the kitchen, the rear door OF which opens
into wash house, the side OF which is con-
posed OF bird work. immediately outside the
door of this apartment is where the body was
picked up.
Returning to the main hall, you ascend to a
landing which directly faces the door of the
dinipg.room, which is double impairment,
the partition being folding doors. The main
apartment is about rs fee. long by l6 feet IN
width. Between two windows which face Pine
street is an oldfashioned and very much woru
soa. At its head, and alongside the western
most window, is a rocking chair, on which, un-
doubtedly, the murderer sat when he struck
the nTSt D0W. Inc smaller apartment mas
window facing on Pine street, and within q few
feet of the Pine rect house. The back room
in the front building is occupied by Mr.. and
Mrs. George S. TSi.chell, Jr, the latter being
the daughter of Mrs. Hill by gentleman named
Price. The deceased occupied as sleeping
room one of the apartments on the third floor.
AS to the particulars we have been able to
CLEAN, the following show a train of circum-
stances which will undoubtedly place the son
inaw and his wife on trial for their lives.
At 0 O'Clock in the evening Sarah Campbell,
the servant, left a friends house at Seventeenth
and Lombard streets aud walked TO the house
Of Mrs. Hill, whore she rang the bell for long
time before the door was opened. Mr. THtchell
performed that office, and seeing who it was,
sai0, Sarah, is that you? | wonder where
mother is?" She responded to this that she
did not know, aud thanked him for letting her
in. She then entered the kitchen, and after
putting coal on the fire., went through
she was horrihed by seeing the dead
body of Mrs. Hill ling. Crying out for
Mr.. Twitchell, he came out aud said Let's
carry her in." The body was taken into the
kitchen, when he called for water with which
to wash her. Her head presented a frightful
spectacle, being covered with blood, aud after
that was partially removed fearful aud ugly
eashes aud wounds were revealed. He said,
she's dead" Sarah ran into the street and
met Policeman Howard, of the Fifth district, on
the pavement, to whom sne stated what she had
seen. That official entered the house, and was
informed that the deceased had fallen from the
window IN the back apartment OF the dining
room, and directly under which she was lying.
Knowing very well that such frighttul
wounds could not have been received by fail,
he immediately placed Mr.. and Mrs. I Ritchell
under arrest, and then called III some of the
neighbors, some Of whom he drec ed to go to
the station at Fifteenth aud Locust streets. A
detail OF men was Immediately sent to the
scene, and word telegraphed to the Central
Station. Detective Warnock then being on duty,
repaired TO the house, and after conversng with
the alleged murderer and vile, and examining
the place. directed TWitchell to be taken 10 the
station, ano confined Mrs. Twitchell to her
room under guard of the officers.
he then examined the dlniDg-room, the walls,
the windows, and side yard, which were IN the
following condltion:-On the western end of
the sofa was green pillow, which is completely
saturated with blood; on the oil-cloLh which
covers the floor lay large pool of CONCEALED
blood. The wall above the so.a is all bespat-
tered clear TO the ceiling, the window sill next
that end has spots while marks are even on the
opposite wall. The oilcloth is there filled with
huge spots, which commence at the sofa and
continue along the floor through the folding
doors 10 the Window in the little back room.
The shade has evidently been raised 10 hurry,
as 1t was all awry, and the sill is all covered
with the red stains.s
The theory OF the murder is this:-That thede-
ceased was lying on the sofa on her LETT side,
evidently asleep, her head resting on the upper
end of the pillow. Her murderer was sitting on
the rocking chair, which is eVnced by the pre-
sence OF ashes on the window sill. He raised
the deadly weapon "a poker which was found in
the room, covered with blood and hair) aud with
tremendous force drove the tongue end into her
right temple, causinga wourd one inch and
half by Two inches. Into this oridce this
morning the examining surgeon put two fingers
their entire length Then 1t was that The blood
spattered all around, not only marking the
surroundings but also staining the clothing of
the murderer. Toe victim aWoke but for an
instant, and, rolling aronn1 on her face, the
blows were piled thick and fast on the back OF
the head. IL was at this time that The servant
rang the bell, and the length of time which she
Was waiting at the door shows that tbe mend
was nonplus ed as to what should be done with
the body. After cogitating for a time he con-
cluded 10 throw her from the window, which
would set up theory that she had fallen to the
pavement. This was accordingly done. He then
ran into his bedroom, threw off bis vest and
overshirt, and then ans we're the bell
When Sarah first saw Mr.. TWitchPll she
noticed that ne had on his boots, pan,aloons,
and coat; but no vest br oVershrt When the
policeman took him into custody he conducted
HIM TO his sleeping apartment, where he
arrayed himself with shirt and vest. 1t was
then noticed that the front of his coat and
sleeve, aud his panaoons, boots, and toe bosom
of his over hirt, were all besmeared with blood.
After being ta6en TO the station this clothing
was taken of, and change sent for. On talking
with the ponce, admitte that there we're rong
ciTcums' ances against him, but he believed he
could clear him ell and wife.
Mrs. TWitChel was questioned, and she stated
that her mother, Mr. TwilcOell, AMI herself had
been conversing in the dlung room, and at
about halt-past o'clock she retired To bed,
leaving deceased and Mr. Uitchell in that room.
That she dlsrobed and retired to bed, where she
read for some me. In little while her mother
came in and talked to- short time, when her
mother lett. As she passed out of the door Mr..
Twichell passed in, bidding Mrs. Hill good night
He then got into bed, and Doth went asleep.
She was awakened, not knowing the time by
violent ringing OF the bell She started out of
bed, but was stopped by her husband, who
remaI ked that he would 20 down. He accord
tnaI nnf N riia oil Inns and