Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-31
Representative. Hill. OF st. Louis,
not Dead, but Gone with u Default.
ing Banker.

From the st. Louis Times, May 2}.l
There has been no case within our re-
collection, since the famous Burdell-Cun-
ningham tragedy, that has given birth to
so many frst-class sensations as the case
of Hill us Hill. First, Brtton A. Hill, a
prominent lawyer and wealthy citizen,
files petition for divorce from his wife,
very beautiful, talented and highly
educated lady, of good family and pre-
yious good standing. An inside view is
given of the infelicities of domestic
circle which to the world at large seemed
one Of the happiest and most contented !;
and before the talk which such an expose
gave birth to had half subsided, in walks
the lady herself with cross-suit, alleg-
ing on the part of her distinguished hus-
band, brutality, shocking profanity, un-
chastity, and half score OF other dis
qualifying characteristics, which have
made her married life unbearable, and
which she desires to cut short by sever
ance of its ties. Then followed re-
plications and rejoinders without mum.
her. each and every one disclosing some
new sensational and almost ineredi-
BILE fact, such as the attempted asphyxia-
ton Of Mr.. Hill at the Planters House /;
her desertion of the dying child in
Europe; the threatened assassination OF
her husband BY her French attsche and
reputed lover, and his dramatic preserva-
ton BY his wife, and other equally start
ling and theatrical accessories. The
affair, however, gradually lost its inter-
est. and had become numbered with other
twice and thrice told tales, when, a
couple of weeks ago, the community was
startled by the report that Mrs. Hill had
been drowned at Nice, in France, whittier
she had gone ostensibly for the purpose
OF collecting evidence to disprove the
charges of her husband as to her matri-
monial infdelity. The report bore every
appearance of truthfuln0ss, and was pret'
ty generally believed, especially by the
family Of Mrs. Hill, who, it is said, went
into mourning over her loss. Mr.. Hill,
with a liberality and charitableness of
spirit which did him infinite credit, tele'
graphed Immediately to his attorney to
snare no pains or money to fnd the body
aud give it Christian burial; and itseems
that through this effort the fact was made
public that the drowning was carefully
arranged Tuse de guerre, intended, il
possible, to accomplish two very distinct
objects.
We have before us three letters written
bv the American Consul at Geneva, of the
respective dates of the 9ih, 2lst, and 3Olt
of April. In the first he writes that Mrs
Hill and her former friend and protector
Rossell. have quarrelled, but that 6
friend of his had Just learned of her being
at Nice, the protege Of q rich, elderly
gentleman named Wilson, from New
York. who passed for ber uncle, and who
nroyided her with sumptuous quarters, q
dasbinr carriage, and the finest apparel
The next letter informs Mr.. Hill that h,
Ihe Consul) has just heard of her dsatt
by drowning, and that he supposes there
will be no more depositions to be taken
The last, which puts different construc
ton on the matrimonial imbroglio, IS o.
follows:
81 doubted the drowning
story a little, and wrote to Judge Adds
our Consul at Nice, to give me the facts
He writes me a long reply, from which
results, and can be established By test
mouy, that Mrs. Hill did not &C int
hattie. but changed her. dress and went Of
with man who CAME to her with valise
al think likely her object was doubl
one, 10 get rid Of Wilson, and to deceiv
you.