Morris tribune., 1884-07-16
GERTIE PHILLIPS FATE
The Horrible Death of O. Young
Ohio, Girl.
The Body Found IN tl,c Woods Al
mos: Eeyoured by insects--Search-
ing for !; Solution CT the
Mystery.

VI 1SSu ollle UeItIe 1 llullS, nNliS near cit-
lineville, went to town with her mother. The
latter returned home in the evenieg, leaving
her daughter with friends. She remained
that night and the following day, which was
Sunday. When last seen she was in company
with George Hunter in a tract of land
near the town, known as Farmers
woods. She suddenly disappeared after Sun
day, and nothing more was heard of her I'M
til last Saturday, when her body was
found in the woods with hole in her
forehead made by a 30-caliber bullet The
victim was Is years Old well known in Sa-
lineville, and lived with her mother She
was dashing girl in appearance, and of fine
physical development, OF u lively, frivolous
disposition. She had numerous admirers,
but Hunter seemed of all others the most for
tunate, and it is he that is charged with her
death.
The body, when found, presented most
revolving appearance, being bloated and dis
figured. She had wealth of beautiful
light brown hair, which had fallen from her
head. Portions of the body had been de-
voured by insects, while other portions had
dropped from the bones She was lying
upon her back, with her limbs extended.
Her clothing was somewhat disarranged,
place where found Her hat lay on the
ground about ten rods from where the body
was found The earth near the fence corner
bore traces of & struggle, while the leaves on
the ground, and portions Of the fence were
bespattered with blood. Mems tracks were
also discovered in an oat field on one side
OF the woods, and in rye field on the other,
leading to the fence corner the
nc ,o,l-,
others, which warrants the theory that
the unfortunate girl was followed by her
murderer to the spot where the struggle oc-
CURED, and, after being shot. the body was
placed where it was finally found. The spot
is almost within sight Of her mothers home,
but in an isolated locality. where her cries
for help could have met with 10 response.
Pistol-shots were heard in the direction of
the woods on the evening she is supposed to
have been killed, but no significance was
then attached to this circumstance. The
surgeon who conducted the post mortem
examination states that it is his
opinion 10 outrage had been committed
before the girl was killed. Viewed in this
light, the cause of the murder seems more in
explicable Robert Farrish William Mahony
and George Hunter, the latter the man in
were arrested, accused of the murder, but at
their examination Mahony and Parrish were
released, and Hunter was bound over and re-
manded to jail. Hunter is % years of age, of
a mild, inoffensive disposition, and has been
looked upon as the lover Of the girl. He dis
played great affection for her, and his pas
sion seemed to be reciprocated by her. He
was not jealous of her, and it is said never
had reason to be.
In an interview with Hunter he protected
his innocence in most strenuous terms, He
admits being in the girls company Saturday
evening when she came to town, and also the
next day. At o'clock Sunday he says he
was with Gertie in the woods. where they
were seen sitting together under a
tree, $50 yards from where the body
was found. They left this place, going
where they remained until dusk, when Gertie
cred two men lying Or sitting in the tall
grass some distance away intently watch
ing them. Noticing this, the girl decided to
take a cifcuitoIs route home to escape the
men. She then left Hunter and started for
home, while he went in the direction of town.
It was shortly after this that the pistol
were ucdIu. lue dCUlOlIo VI
these two men add still more mystery to the
case. and until they are discovered Hunters
situation is precasieas Hunter left town the
day following the girls disappearance, re-
turned Tuesday, and left again Wednesday
in company with Parrish. When both re-
turned at noon on July 4, the girls
mother approached Hunter, and ques-
toned him as to her daughters where
abouts Being unable to tell her, party
was organized to search for the miss
ing one, with the result already mentioned.
The accused joined in the search, and was one
Of the most diligent workers. Some time ago
Hunter borrowed a revolver and loaned
it to Parrish. The latter swore he had
The weapon in his possession from the
lay before the girl disappeared until
July 4, when he returned it to the owner.
It is difficult to believe man holding the !
relations Hunter did to the murdered girl |
could have planned and executed the crime
without any apparent cause.