The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-09-14
A Double Murder in Caroline County.


James Fitzjarrel and his wife Anna A
Fitzjarrel, both invalids, and each about n
years old, living near Hillsboro, Caroline
county, Md, were murdered in their beds last
Friday night, September 9th The old couple
lived alone in an old one and a-half story
building, at Jarreltown, four miles from
Hillsboro. MIR. FitZjarrell had been bed-rid
den from chronic rheumatism for nine years,
and could not move without assistance.
Both were found murdered in bed on Sat-
urday morning about ten o'clock, and pre-
scented horrible spectacle as they lay well
tering in blood. The instrument used was
blacksmith's chisel hammer, belonging to
the house, the handle bearing stains Of blood.
MIR. Fitzjarrel received nine blows with the
chisel-edge of the hammer. Three wounds
on his head one penetrated the throat, two
were ON the left jaw, one on the left side of his
nose one on the same cheek and one on his
right collar bone. The blow on his head and
eye split the skull. His wife received three
blows, one terrible blow over the right eye
that Drained her. another severe blow over
the left eye and slight blow on the right
hand, as if she had held it up for protection.
| The husband was found on his back, having
been unable to move, and the wife in her bed
on her right side. The night of the murder
was very dark, and it was raining hard.
greenbacks and forty-nine silver trade dol
lars, which it was known Mrs Fitziarrel kept
| in n small trunk, was missed The KEYS,
which were in box in q bureau, were also
| missing and the trunk was locked after the
robbery, and had to be broken open. The
I trunk was in low room over the kitchen,
the entrance to which was through Il narrow,
open window communicating with the front
upper room. Mrs. Ftzjarrell frequently re-
ceivcd money from her son in California.
She talked good deal about her money, and
said if she died "she would put in where no
one would find IT,"
A corOner's inquest was held last Saturday,
and one Mrs. Kate Waddell, n witness, who
made contradictory statements, was snhse
quently arrested for the murder Mrs Wad-
dell lived hear the FiiZjarrcs and was in the
habit of waiting on the old couple, and was
more familiar with the premises and pccu.
mary affairs of Mrs. FitZarrel than any one in
the neighborhood. Everything looked as if
the murderer knew every part of the house.
Mrs. Waddell was arrested Sunday afternoon
and is now waiting developments i'm Easton
Jail. She is considered woman of danger
Gus character. She has one child, girl nnie
years old, and lives with her husband a Ia.
borer, sickly, simple-looking man.
She was the first to discover the murder,
anu returneu WIN the astonishing story that
they were killed by rats. Her husband car
ried the news to N. c. Fitzjarrel, son of the
murdered man, who lived with his family
about four hundred yards from his fathers
house. N. c. Fitzjarrel was the late sheriff
of the county.
pair OF pants belonging to the murdered
man were found ont he road about one fourth
of mile off. None of the money was found.
Mrs. Waddell denies any knowledge of the
murder, and says she did not leave home that
night. 1t was raining and her shoes and stock
ings were soaking wet next morning which
could happen, as she says, from the rain which
fell through the roof into her room.
The murder caused great deal CT excite
ment and public opinion is devided in regard
to the connection of Mrs. Waddell with the
crime. No evidence has yet been found to
positively criminatc her.