The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-22
A LOVERS TRIPLE CRIME.
Shooting His BenefactOr's Daughter, Her
Mother and Himself.

Mother and Himself
Stockton. Md, Special.
The little island of Chincoteague is agtated
over the murder of Mrs. Timothy Hill and her
daughter Jennie by William T. Freeman, who
afterward killed himself. Ten years ago Mr.
Timothy Hill, proprietor of large fish factory
on Chincoteague island, had his sympathiss
aroused by street gamin whom he met on
Broadway, New York The boy seemed bright
and active and Mr.. Hill decided to bring him to
Chincoteague. He said that his name was
William T. Freeman, and that his father had
been murdered by an italian about two years
before Mr. Hill found him. Bill as he was gen
orally known, was very industrious, and, by
going to school at night, acquired fair educa-
ton. Jennie Hill, the young daughter of Mr.
Hill, was about the same age as the boy. and
during the first few years of his residence on the
island they were almost constantly together
| Their favorite amusement was to take small
canoe and navigate the many inlets and explore
the small islands along the rock clad coast north
and south of Chincoteague, The boy was of a
daring disposition, and gained quite local rep
utation for bravery. The girl naturally looked
upon him as young hero, and the sturdy lad
seemed proud of her admiration.
In 1879 great change was effected in the
lives of both by the girl being sent away to
school in Snow Hill. She came to the island at
| rare intervals only during that year. In 1890
the father being determined, that she should
have full education, with all modern accom-
plishments, sent her to fashionable boarding
| school in Baltimore. Here she grew to be a
| brilliant society woman, graduating with high
| turned to Chincoteague she was tall, fully de-
| veloped young woman of eighteen, we'll versed
| in the usages of society She found young Free
| man roughly clad. handsome boy of the same
age, intelligent and aspiring, but Of course,
lacking in much of that refinement and polish
common to the sphere of life in which She had
moved in recent years.
| 1t did not take many weeks for the young
man to fall in love with the beautiful GIRL in
| whom he found SO little trace of the frolicsome
tom boy who had been his early companion. The
girl had learned enough of the world to appre-
ciate her would be lovers social short comings,
and this, added to his youth, caused her to give
small heed to his wooing Freeman's infatua-
ton grew with time. The girl soon became the
idol of the rough pony herders and fishermen
who make up the greater part of the population
of Chincoteague. The women bowed down to
her. and she soon became known as the queen
of the islands. Young Freeman had frequent
paroxysms OF jealousy and once or twice ven
tured to upbraid the young lady for disdaning
his love- In May last he made a formal declara-
ton to his employer, who pretty nearly turned
IL.
only saved him from the old mans indignation.
The girl was unquestionably attached to her old
comrade but she promptly suppressed all his
declarations of love.
About month ago William Bunting, young
man who had been educated in Baltimore ar
rived at Chincoteague, where his father had re-
Gently begun extensive operations as an oyster
planter Young Bunting had met Miss Hill in
Baltimore on one OCCASION and FASTENED to re-
new the acquaintance. He was of well to do
family and highly educated. Freeman and he
had several quarrels in one of which Bunting,
who is about twenty-five years old, called Free
man country clodhopper and other contemptu-
Gus names On Wednesday Freeman heard at
the family dinner table that Miss Jennie was 60
ing out sailing with Bunting the following day.
He quietly left the house and went to the Allan
tic Hotel. where Bunting was boarding. When
he found that his rival was absent the young
mans rage seemed unbounded and drawing a
pistol, he announced his intention of killing
Bunting on sight.
Yesterday, at 10 A NJ, as Miss Jennie was
feeding some chickens in the front yard Freeman
appeared. Mrs Hill came out few moments
later and heard the boy pleading with the girl to
love him and give him something to live for.
She reproved the boy sharply, and called to her
daughter to accompany her to the house. Free
man turned away in another direction, but soon
returned and confronted the two women.
Il love you, Jennie, he said. ''Once for all.
will you promise to be my wife if l can make
myself worthy of you?"
The girl laughed lightly and said: ooh. now,
Willie, don't talk nonsense / will not marry YOU
nor any one else"
Freeman instantly drew a pistol and fired di-
rectly at the girl, who was not more than four
feet away. She staggered back, and he fired
again, just as Mrs. Hill rushed at him. The
mother threw herself on his chest, and, clasping
her arms around his neck, cried:
"Oh, Bill! Bill! for Gods sake don't shoot"
For an answer Freeman forced her out to
arms length and fired point blank in her face
She turned away with scream, and as she fell
he fired another shot While standing over the
two PROSTATE women, he saw a laborer named
Dean rushing toward him from one direction,
while Daniel Hill, son of his employer came
running from the house. The craZed youth
stepped up to the PROSTATE body of the girl, and
muttering something to the effect that he would
follow her, blew out his own brains The two
men arrived at the scene just as Freeman's
corpse fell across the boiy of the girl
Jennie and her mother were taken into the
house. where the five doctors on the island soon
assembled. Mrs. Hill, It was found, had enc
bullet, the first one fred at her. in the center of
her forehead. The second had penetrated her
skull from near the LETT ear. Her daughter had
she was STOPPING forward and running from her
assaant, the bullet having taken slanting d.
rection toward her brain. They both died this
morning. The corpse of Freeman was carried
into the summer kitchen. where it was prepared
for burial. The islanders are utterly bewldered
at the triple tragedy, and are much depressed
over the death of their young queen. The three
bodies will be buried on Sunday. Mr. Hill saws
that the graves shall be side by side.
--N0.-
Where Is This Park, Please?