The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-01-08
BURGLARS DEED.
A Prominent Merchant of Hanni-
bal, Mo-, is Murdered in
His Bed.

Hannibal, Mo-, December 31.-The most
horrible murder In the history of this city,
and one which greatly resembles the IA
NOUS Smell murder of Chicago, was COM
mitted here about o'clock yesterday
morning. II was the murder of Amos J.
Stillwell, of the firm of Stillwell & Co.,
meat dealers. The first intimation of the
murder on the streets came from Mrs Still
well, who aroused he neighbors by crying
that her husband had been killed by q
burglar. The first response to the lady's
sgonizing cries came from Jacob Kornder,
q young German gardner, employed by w.
I. League, q florist, living Immediately op-
posite the Stillwell residence, on South
Fifth street. In a few moments q
number of neighbors had gath
cred, and the search for the murder began.
w. 7. League, who was the first to enter
the bed chamber, found the body of Mr..
Stillwell, lying partially on the side, with
the feet resting on the floor, the head lying
on the right arm, which rested on the bed.
In the center of the bed was q great pool
Of blood, and the pillows were saturated
with blood also. The body was removed
some little distance from the blood, as If it
had been drawn psrtially out of bed. On
the left side of the head was a horrible
wound, over four inches in length, extend
ing from the eyebrow across the ear, sever
ing the frontal bone, both external and
internal carotid arteries, and probably the
jugulsr vein. Death must have been in
Simultaneous.
Mrs.Stillwell is the only person VINO can
throw any light at all on the murder, and
her knowledge is very slight. Mr.. and Mrs.
Stillwell had attended progressive euchre
party at w. A. Munger's residence, return
ing home about 1l:30 p. m. They at Qfce
retired, but continued to converse for Sine
time about the party. Mr.. Siillwell :Secu-
pied q bed with his son Horald. a boy of
about years. Mrs. Stillwell occupied an
other bed with the younger children. The
beds were 10 the same room and only about
2 feet apart. Mrs. Stillwell heard her
husband say; els that you Fannie" He
repeated this question the second time.
there was a small candle or taper burning
in the room, and, as her husband spoke,
she looked up and saw a man crouching at
the foot of her husbands bed She heard
a whirring sound, as if something was
thrown through the air, and she realized
that her husband was injured. With this
thought she became unconscious, but
arouse in few moments, and rising found
her husband weltering in blood. She
quickly removed her little son from the
bed occupied by the dying father 10 her
own bed, and reused . servant, to whom
she stated that Mr.. Stillwell had been
killed by burgaler.
The two women removed the children to
the servants room and, locking them In,
Mrs. Sillwell aroused the neighbors.
When Mr.. League 6rst arrived Mr.. Still
well was not quite dead, as the hand, lying
on the pillow, twiched, but he died before
the doctors arrived.
The pantaloons OF the dead man were
found at the foot of the bed and the pock-
eta were rihed. Partially burned matches
were found throughout the house, and the
doors leading toward the rear were all
open.
A search in the alley at the rear of the
residence discovered $25 in bills and the
wallet. The burglar and murderer had
evidently attempted to get rid of the wal
let, and In removing its contents lost the
money. A further search In, the alley re
suited i sc discovery of large double
bladed Ak. One blade was covered with
blood, which proved it to be the fatal
weapon. 1t was concealed under some
loose boards, and proved to be an az that
was kept in the woodshed for splitting
wood.
There is virtually no clew to the identity
of the murderer, but he gained but little in
return for the taking of human life. Mr..
Stillwell was not in the habit of carrying
much money with him, and had only about
$50 in his wallet, besides small amount
Of change in his pockets.
The most probable theory of the murder
is that tn Burglar entered the house while
Mr.. anu Mrs. Stillwell were absent at the
party. lie is supposed to have previously
gone to the wood shed and procured the
ak, which he used later with such fatal
effect. He waited until all were
asleep, and crept into the family
sleeping room on the second floor
and proceeded to burglsrize the premises
Mr.. Stillwell was awakened in some man
ner, and partially raised up in bed This
cut of the burglars retreat, as the passage
way between the beds to the door was only
two feet wide, and he must pass his victim
TO escape. He struck the fatal blow, and
made hasty retreat.
Coroner Ammon impaneled Jury, who
held an inquest with closed doors.
Mr.. Stillwell was one of sthe wealthiest
men in the city, SUGGESTIVE eat packer,
and sound business man, is we'll
known all over the state
H. Ir4 a.