The sun., 1878-06-06
SHOT DEAD IN HER HOUSE.
4 scandal Nv FORr MTLLER FAILS
FOLLOUED by 4 TRIGEDT.
'rhe Bullet Fired through window that
Killed Mrs. Biliings-rhe Husbands Ac-
tious Before and After the Murder.


SARATOGA, June 5.-Thc entire population
Of tho eastern part Of Saratoga county WIS
nrouscd last might by the murder Of Mrs. Eliza
Billings. daughter Of Mrs. Mary G. Harris Of
Fort Miller Falls and wifc of Jesse Billings of
the samo place. Fort Miller Falls is little viii
lagc situated few miles north of Schuylcrvile.
Jesse Billings. the husband of the murdered
woman. is one Of the most influential men Of
the county. He owns large number OF canal
honts. and IL estimated TO be worth about $780,
coo. In bears n bad reputation among his
n"ighbors, and is strongly suspected of being
implicated in the murder. Mrs. Billings IL
about 80 years of age. She lnqvcs a daughter
Of eighteen years. Last night at about half
past eight o'clock. Mrs Billings her daughter.
and hired girl were in the sitting room. on tho
south side Of the Billings mansion. Mrs. Bill
incs sat on the cast side Of window looking to
tho south. about three feet from the glnss. Her
daughter snt opposite, wlthm 'ahir. on which
wns u lnmp. between them Tho hired girl was
closed, but the slntS wcro turned open. While
thoy were quietly sitting there tho re-
E?rrtt Of a pistol was ,hearl. and Mrs
Lnck dying instantly. without uttering word
Tho neighhorhood was Immediately aroused
The ball wis nr"d from pistol ~ there WIS
found small hole in the lower pane Of the
window The murderer stood II thicket 81
It almost touched tic shutters. fred. the aim
being fatally true; The ball entered the l@it
side ~ his victims hend. inst over the ear. and
lodged in the brain. On the shutters and W n
dow frame were u few grains Of burned powder.
Up tp the present time no definite clue has
boon dis'oycr"d other than mans hat picked
up on the highway some d~tHnce north of the
house. The general belief Of the neighhors is
that BILLINGS either fred the fatal shot hinsel
or paid some one tO DO il. H. and his wife have
always hud NOR" or less trouble. and recently
Billings has horn rather too attentive to a huud-
somr Young woman about - years Of age. the
wife of Wclinr Curtis. who O"upies the rooms
over Billings Office. lis wife has made So
we're nnl frequent nii.rks upon the char.
an Indictment .u-uiust Mrs. Billings for
scandal. 81 the time oi tho murder Billings
was not at the house. lie had been nb-
srnt all dly, having departed before Mrs.
Billlngs and her daughter hul arisen in the
morning Vt about noon ou Tupsdnv Billings
VISITED the house ol mis- nother-in- law. Mr.;
Harris. at Fort Miller Falls. and demanded
his dinner il heing the nr-t time he hnd been
there in two years. Even on this visit he cursed
u" Harrl-,s. and abused the family generally.
lie returned home late in tn" afternoon and
left IN Il few moments TO visit his farm back on
the hill. That was the last seen OF him by the
family until "A short time after the murder
when he entered the room and throw him
SELF on th" floor In AN agony of grief. lie wag
nnie distant when the news ~ the murder was
| brought IN. Tho suspicious are very strong
! a-alust him. an bee = perfectly aware NJ it, lie
spends most of his time ~ his OIL -, and seems
! t. tax" the matter worry coolv Unless some
! clue Is found very soon Doe Will probably he ur-
rested. 4 Corun"r's inquest viii Dee hold to-
| morrow. and further facts Will probably be