Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-31
MURDERED IN HIS BED.
A Burglar Enters the House of
 a Wealthy Missourian,
AND BRAINS HIM WITH AN AK.

A Crime Which Recalls the Killing of
 Millionaire snen-The City of Hannibal
 Greatly Excited-The Burglar May Be
 Lynched If Caught
 HANNIBAL, Mo, Dec. S1.-The announce ment yesterday morning that Mir. A. J. Stillwell, one of the oldest and wealthiest residents of this city, had been murdered during the night in his bed sent thrill of horror throughout the city. MT. and Mrs. Stillwen attended social party at the resi- dence of a neighbor Saturday night, leaving their three children in the care of two colored servant girls. They returned from the party about 10:30 o'clock, dismissed the servants for the night and immediately re- tired, MT. Stillwell occupying a bed with his little son, and Mrs Stillwell occupying another bed in the same room with the other two children. Two or three hours later Mrs Stillwell was awakened by some disturbance, and heard her husband say:
 Fannie. is that you? Fannie, is that you"
 Startled by her husbands strange ques- tion, Mrs Stillwell partly arose, and just at that moment saw man standing with his back to her, and at or near the foot Of MT. Stillwelrs bed A moment later she heard a whirring sound as of something thrown violently through the air, followed by the noise of some one running down the stair way. She then ran to MT. Stillwelrs bed and found that he had been murdered.
 Mrs. League, who lives just across the street, says that little after B. m. some one rang her door bell twice, and, upon look ing out of the window, she saw Mrs. Stillwell in her night dress and barefooted. "Oh, she exclaimed, ''tell Will to come over to the house quick. Some one has murdered MT. Stillweu."
 MT. William League, accompanied by a young man in his employ, ran across the street and found MT. Stillweu in a half kneeling position The body was almost i'm mersed in blood. Across the left ear and left side of the head there was a horrible gash, deep enough to penetrate the brain, and which had evidently been inflicted by some sharp instrument
 The police were soon on the ground, and made thorough search of the premises. It was evident that the murderer had made his escape through the back door, and running through the yard found his way into an alley. The first trace of him in the alley was s5 bill, and about twenty feet further on four 8 bills, and little distance beyond that the murdered mans pocketbook, which the murderer had thrown away in his flight. The pocketbook was of peculiar make, and the fellow had evidently opened 1t wrong side up, thus causing the money to drop out. The trousers, from the pockets of which the pocketbook had been taken, were found on the floor at the foot of the bed. When Mir. Stillwell awoke the burglar hit him with an ax, which was found in the alley through which the fugitive ran.
 The police are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to apprshend the murderer. Several arrests have been made, but at the request of the authorities the names are not given.
 Amos J. Stillwell has long been engaged ir pork packing business in this city, and has accumulated fortune estimated at $500, 900 He was well and favorably known through out the entire west and south. He was about 60 years of age. Great excitement prevail: here, and should the murderer be discovered it is feared that the civil authorities will bs unable to save him from the wrath of tht people.