The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-12-15
MISS BRUCG'S FIGHT
She Used a Gun and Pistol,
But Was 0verpow3red.
SLIGHT CLUE TO THE MURDERER
It is Believed that He Was a R i1ot ed
suilor Of the Young Woman.

Mrs. Hatch and the Children We're Killed
to Destroy Evidence Miss Brucs shot
Through the Cheek, Her skull Crushed,
and Her Neck sIashed- Muu utsd Men
securing the Country The Young
Woman Highly spoken of in Now York
The Hatches Were from Maine.
New YoRK, Dec. 15.-The horrible de-
tails of the quadruple murder at New
smyrna Fla, were discussed all
through New York city yesterday The
chief interest ceutered in the identity
Of Miss Adeline II. Bruce of this city,
who WAS one of the victims
Miss Bruce was the youngest daughter
of Hamilton Bruce, VINO, 10 years ago,
was well-known social and politi cal
figure in this city. He was descsnda Mt
of an old Knlckerbocker family.
He took prominent part in the anti
slavery movement, and when Lin coin
became President he was made Deputy
Collector of the Port of New York.
NV. Bruce held a number of other
prominent positions, aud died in 1877,
aged Ga or his four children, but
two lived. The elder married Fran$ J.
Packwood, who purchased the orange
grove at New Smyrna, Fla, where the
awful crime was committed. When
the wife of Pack wood died about three
years ago Adeliue went to his home to
take care of his children. tier ties to
the North had been completely severed
by The death of her mother couple of
years before, and she resolved to devote
her life to her sisters children. All
who had known NJ IS Bruce desert be her
as a charming and accomplished woman.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Dec. 10. The de-
tails of Saturdays fendIsh crime near
New Smyrna in Melusia county, are
more grewsome and horrible as they
come to light and it is hard to believe
that any human being could do such a
deed. 1t is wonderful how one man
could kill so many and then conceal his
tracks so well, for up to now no
clew has been found, although more
than a hundred men, well armed and
thoroughly acquainted with the coun-
try, have been hunting since Saturday
morning
On Friday f. j. Packwood left his
sister-in- law, Miss Bruce, and his little
son in charge of the house and went to
Maitland. Miss Bruce sent for Mrs.
Hatch, Il friend, who lived u mile or two
away. She came with her son to spend
the night. Irwin Jenkins, a negro, liv-
ing a mile south, had been in the habit
of calling at the house on Saturdays on
his way to New Smyrna to sec If the
people wanted errands done or goods
bought. Saturday morning he went to
the house and knocked at the door, but
got no reply.
He soon observed that the front win
dow opening on the piazza and facing
the east had been smashed in. The cat
tie were in the yard, the gates were
open, and heavy piece OF scanuling lay
near by Fearing that something was
wrong, he hasUensd to the house of e.
j. Hamilt, the nearest neighOOr, who
lived a mile away. The alarm was
raised and half a dozen neighbors gath
cred and went to the Pack wood home,
where an appalling sight met them. 1t
WAS substantially as stated in ysster-
days despatch.
1t was evident from the situation OF
the bodies that while the murderer was
entering the window Miss Bruce had So
cured an old Smith & Wesson pistol,
which was handy, AMI fired at him. The
ball took effect in the window frame.
Then she went to a closet, and securing
a double barrelled gun tried to shoot
the fiend, but the hammers snapped on
shells that had been exploded many
days before. She was then overpowered,
assaulted and battered to death with
the gun stock.
1t was at first thought that the crime
was the work of tramps, but this de
delusion was subsequently dispelled by
finding trail leading around the yard
to the north and then through the hum =
mock south to the road, a path that
none could travel unless he was familiar
with the country. That it was the work
of Tilted lover after revenge is now
the supposition, and various clues are
being worked upon.
/ Mr. Pack wood says he has suspicious
which will he revealed at the right time.
This confirms the theory of rejected
suUor to a degree. The murderer must
! have been we'll known in the ueighbor
/ hood, as he killed the children and visi-
| Tor, evidently fearing they would tell.
/ The people of New Smyrna all say that
/ the man belongs to tine neighborhood,
/ there being many facts which con firm
! that suspicion.
The victims were buried yesterday
! hundreds of people following the bodies
to the grave, Mrs Hatch i $ from Mai ne
, but has lived here for many years.