Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-15
MISS BRUCE'S FIGHT
She Used a Gun and Pistol,
 But Was OverpoWered.
SLIGHT CLUE TO THE MURDERER
It is Believed that He Was a R Riscted
 Suitor of the Young Woman.

Mrs. Hatch and tho Children Were Killed
 to Destroy Evidence Miss Bruce Shot
 Through the Cheek, Her Skull Crushed,
 and Hsr Neck SIaShsd Mounted Men
 Securing the Country The Y"un.
 Woman Highly Spoken of in New York
 The Matches 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 citE yesterday. The chief interest centered in the identity of Miss Adeline H. Bruce, of this city, who was one of the victims.
 Miss Bruce was the youngest daus CT of Hamilton Bruce, who, 15 years ago, was we'll known social and politi cal figure in this city. He was descendant of an old KnlckerDocke family.
 lie 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.
 MT. Bruce held a number of other prominent positions, and died in 1877, aged 64 Of his four children, but two lived. The elder m lrrieI Frank J. Packwood, who purchasal the orange grove at New Smyrna, Fla, where the awful crime was committed. When the wife of Redwood died about tn re years ago Adeline went to his home to take care of his children. Her 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 Mss Bruce descri be her as a charming and accomplished woman.
 II Ela 1S -Tbo H tails of Saturdays tiendish crime near New Smyrna, in Melusia county, are more grewsome and horrible as they come to light, aud it is hard to believe that any human being could do such a deed. It is wonderful how one man could kill so many and then conceal his tracks well, for up to now no clew has been found, although more than hundred men, we'll 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, a friend, who lived a mile or two away. She came with her son to spend the night Irwin Jenkins, a negro, Iiv ing mile south, had been in the habit
 
 his way to New Smyrna to see 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 fAcin 2 the east had been smasheI in. The cat tie were in the yart, the gates were open, and heavy ;.lece of scaltliu 2 lay 1N INa,r h wrong, he hastened to the house of F. J. Hamilt, the nearest neighDor, wh. lived mile away. The alarm was raised and half dozen neighbors gath cred and went to the PAckwocd homa \ where an appalling sight m4t them. It was substantially as stated in yester. days despatch.
 It was evident from the situation of ! the bodiss that while ths murler4r was ! entering the window Mss Bruce h sn \ cured an oll Smith S Wesson D s5)l, which was handy, an fired at him. The ' ball took effect in the window frame. ! Then she went to d closet, ani sacurin : | a double barreiled gun tried to shoot ! the fiend, but the hLmmars snappei on ! shells that had been exploded man days before. She was then overpowereI, ! assaulted and battered to death witt ! the gun stock.
 ! It was at nrSG thought that the crlm' | was the work of tramps, but this de deluSion was subsequently, dspelled by | finding trail leading around the yart to the north and then through the hun ! mock south to the road, 8 path tha ! none could travel unless he was familia
 with the country. That it was the worl of tilted lover after revenge IS nov the suppoSition, and various clues arr | being worked upon.
 Mir. Pack wood says he has suspicion | which will be revealed at the right tim 2
 This confirms the theory of rejected | suitor to a degree. The murd erer mus | have been we'll known in the neighbo | hood as he killed the chillreu and visi tor, evidently fearing they would tell ! The people of New smyrna all say tha \ the man belongs to the neXhborh ooti
 there being many facts which confrn I that suspicion
 The victims were burial yesterday
 hundreds of p 'ople following the bolie
 to the grave. Mrs. Hatch is from Mai ne | but has lived here for many years.
 W,ntS &2 1000 for Libel