The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-05
THE LILA HOYLE MYSTERY.
Tho Tragedy Recalled by the Elopement OF
Her Uncle and Sister.

Tho Tragedy Recalled by che Elopement OF
Her Uncle and Sistor.
STAFFORD SPRINGS May 4.-The mystery
Of beautiful Lila Hoyle's murder tn Webster.
Mass. whose body was found tucked Into a
corn crib on q lonely road IN Oxford. a mile or
30 from Webster. has never been solved. The
young girl stepped out OF her boarding house
on the evening OF Sept /. 1887. and her friends
did not see her again until her remains were
accidentally discovered by hunters In the crib.
Tho world knows absolutely nothing more
about the circumstances Of her death. be-
lated wayiarer dimly saw carriage dashing
along the Oxford road that evening and heard
woman's faint scream.
Miss Hoyle was shop girl and had many
admirers and suspicion connected several Of
them with her fate. but not definitely. Her
uncle Andrew Hoyle. rather peculiar per-
son. was thought to know something about her
death. and some people fancied that Lillas
younger sister. Alice who told many varying
stories about her sister. might have thrown
light upon the tragedy II she had wished to do
so. Local officers OF the law and New York
and Boston detectives worked at the case for
months wrought out ingenious theories, and
finally abandoned II. having attained no plau-
sible explanation Of the crime.
Now singular incident recalls public atten-
ton to the tragedy. 1t ls the elopement the
other day of the uncle. Andrew Hoye. and
Lilla's sister Alice. Andrew and Alice have
been fast friends for years, and during the in
vostiRation OF the murder he was the stanch
defender and guardian Of Alice. Soon alter
the murder OF Lila, Alice went to live In An
drew Hoyle's home. and the relations between
uncle and niece became SO openly afectionate
that there were frequent stormy scenes be-
tween Andrew and his wife. Finally All went
to her brothers house In Spencer, and has re-
planned SO that he was frequently with her.
His, neiRhbors say he was, constantly moving
back and forth between Webster and Spencer.
At length he removed to another house IN
Webster. thon qui, his wife and l4-year- old
DAUGHTER and went to Spencer to live Later ter
family TO Pawtuckot h. l., and summoned
Alice there Not many days ago he
packed up his personal property and
informed his wife that he WAS going TO ii Illinois.
he took, Alice along too. ,Thereupon Andrew
shipped all his household belongings TO w or
cester and stored them there. and INDUCED his
wife to sign n deed Of sale OF tho Webster
home. promising to divide the proceeds with
her, but he did not keep that promise, Sud
Hoyle and her daughter were left destitute in
PaWtucket. She returned to Webster and OBJ
tanned employment in the mil there, hut was
stricken with pneumonia. and now the town
authorities arc caring for her II i not known
whittier Andrew and Alice nave He'd, but II ID
believed they have gone West.
These later incidents have deepened tho
mystery OF Lila HOylc's tate Inc actions OF
Andrew and Alice have been entRmatica; and
1t has long been the opinion OF many Webster
people that Alice continually receives money
from q mysterious source and that she has
shared II with her uncle,