National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-12-08
A GEORGETOWN HORROR.
The Discovery that Excited the City
Yesterday.
A womap's Body Found In tho Canal-Sus-
picions OF Foul Play-Arrest of the AL
legged Murderer--why He is sus-
pccted-The Wound on the
woman's Head-A Threat
Well Executed, &c.
Arrested for Murder.

Georgetown yesterday morning was thrown into
considerable excitement caused by the discovery
Of the body Of coored woman Heating In the canal
at the foot Of Greene street. The attention of some
bystanders was first attracted to the object and the
police officials were ut once notified. The body was
taken to the station and afterwards identified as
that of Henrietta Bruce. The coroner SOON put in
an appearance and postponed an inquest until
to-day at 10 o'clock in order that all particulars
garding the mystery might be developed.
postmortem examination was made. which re-
resulted In the discovery of cut upon the head
lust above the eye The wound was irregular in
appearance, and looked as If 1t might have been
made with stick of wood. Suspicion Of foul play
was OF course aroused and the police officers de.
termined TO get at the bottom OF the tragedy, II
such IL might be proven. Information was obtained
that negro named Edward HILL aged twenty
three years, was the last person seen in company
with the unfortunate female, and this was oh Fri
day night about II O'clock when the couple were
observed walking IN the direction OF a canal boat
lying near Greene street. Nothing more is known
since then. With these facts in the possession of
the authorities, u detachment of mounted police
was at once dispatched up the canal to head on
the canal boat Marmaduke, as II was learned that
the supposed murderer was making bis escape by
this means. sharp lookout WIS also kept by the
officers manipulating the streets OF Georgetown.
The Marmaduke was overtaken several miles
above the aqueduct bridge, and the captain,
upon being hailed and questioned said that the
negro OF whom they were In search had jumped off
near the bridge, and that was all he knew about it..
While tho post norton examination was being
made in the presence Of the coroner and large
number of Interested spectators an individual
outside stepped In and told Sergeant Hess
that negro answering to the description
OF Edward Hill was peeping through INC
board fence, between the station aud engine
houses The sergeant at once went out to see what
1t amounted to, and on recognizing his man made
an unceremonious grab for him and soon placed him
behind the bars. The customary search OF pris-
oners was made aud Derringer pistol found in his
pocket. lie was then subjected TO O thorough
oss-examination, especial inquiry being made rs
to where he Obtained the pistoland why be jumped
of the canal boat To all the interroga-
tories he endeayored TO return satisfactory
reply but got considerably mixed up I'm his story.
He said that he left the boat near tho aqueduct
bridge, and crossed over TO the Virginia shore to
change his clothes and get the pistol. lie denied
that he had anything 10 do with the murder, and
said that he had heard nothing about II. Upon
being asked what he was doing around the police
station, he afterwards confessed that he had heard
something was going on, aud he wanted to see
what II was. These are oil the particulars nscer-
tanned previous TO the inquest. The prob
able motive Of the murderer, If such
he is was revenge. II seems thai some time ego
Henrietta Bruce the Victim, testified against this
| Hill in case in the police court, the result OF
which was that Judge Smell sent him up for Il pc.
Rod OF several months. Hill sworc that he would
kill the woman II he had 10 wait twenty years e
| do it, and early on the Friday night on which
the foul deed is supposed to have taken place, II il
asserted that he struck her several blows This /:
all at present known about the matter.