The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-13
TEE prLLEY MURDER.


THE ARGUS on Saturday gave short
account of the murder of! Thomas Dillsy,
and his wife, but at the time of going to
press, authentic particulars were wanting.
The conflicting rumors have been sifted
and as nearly as can be ascertained the
facts aresabout as follows,
1t appears that Mr.. Dillsy was at home
on Friday evening with one child, the rest
of the family .beiug absent at spelling
school somewhere 10 the neighborhoo d, and
that at 10 o'clock the family returned and
shortly after retired for the night. About
midnight, or perhaps later. Minnie. the
eldest daughter, who slept 10 an adjoining
room to her parents, heard a noise in the
room, and raised up 10 bed quietly, and
saw roan lighting lamp at her bureau,
or about to light one, she does not reG1ein-
| Der which. She was 80 terror stricken
that she tainted away and was not
aroused until she heard groans from the
next room. Getting cut Of bed she rushed
to her parents room and there the horrible
spectacle presented to her gaze
was sicksning. Her father lay
| dead with a bullet hole in his temple, and
| her mother barely alive = her head fright
fully beaten and blood oozipg from great
ugly wounds, while the poor woman was
grooming il agony, and in al uncouscious
state.
The daughter quickly reused her
| l. / III to
near by and soon all the neighbors were
aroused aud hurried to the scene OF the
| bloody tragedy. Mrs Diiey was still alivo
when the neighbors reac he'd the house, but
thoughs everything possible :was done to
arouse her, she could not be rallied, and
on Saturday night expired.
Who did the, deed aud for what pur-
pose Is mystery, though suspicion rest
Oh two hired men. (trampsl who had been
cnp!oyed by Mr.. DIley Tne only
article missing two watches
while a lot of .jeweiry and some
money was not touched The j=welsry
could easily have been secured. and the
money was in pocketbook in Mr.. Dilley $
pants, whi;h were not disturbed.
The weapon used to xiii Mrs Diiiey
was An old spade handle, s., this was found
covered with .cIotted blood.
The tramps supposed to have done the
bloody work we're discharged about two
weeks ago and paid off. thsro being no
work for them Oae of them il said to
have rem arked that Dilley had a Soe watch
he would ike TO own. This of itself is
nothing, however, az such expressions ara
OF daily occurrence by thosa who would not
ldream OF com uniting a crime. Then
again 1t was stated that Dilley had sold
his hogs and received $1,000 in money
bat this Is said not to be The case. The
dark deed sesms shrouded in mystery
and whether revenge or pluuder was the
object is hard to determine.
Mrs Diliey is an aunt of Mrs NJ s
lO'NsaI. wife of Mr.. NJ s. O'Nea
of Bufords Plow Works, and of Mrs
David kelso, of Moline
Mr.. Dilsy was one Of the larSss: land
owners 10 his section. aoi was a man OF
liadominxtible energy. Hs was we'll liked
By his neishbors and had many friends in
this city.
LATER We learn sincs the above wa.
in type that Mrs. Dilley il still alive, auc
and hopes are entertained that she may b.
able to talk though recovery is impos
sibe 1t is to be hoped tina. she may re
cover sufi ,iently to tell who were til {
murdereIs.