The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-12-14

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Horrible Manner-No Trace of Frank
Psckwood, the owner of tho Resort
Robbery the Motive for the Crime
Story Of PacIwood's Nephew.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Dec. 14.-The
brutal murders of Miss A. b. Bruce, of
New York, Mrs. L. d. Hatch and her
son, and little Frank Packwood at their
winter home, six miles south of New
Smyrna, have thoroughly aroused the
people OF Volusia county. A posse is
now securing the country, and il the
murlerers@ are captured they may be
lynched, There is as yet no clue to
them, but they are supposed to be tramps
who were seen near the place.
Fuller details of the tragedy show
that the murders were committed at
"The Lodge, " as Frank Packwood, sr,,
called the place. Mr. Packwood is
missing. The murderers entered the
house through n window, the sash and
glass being smashed in.
The first person to visit the premises
found the body of Mrs l.. d. Hatch in a
corner on the floor of the main room.
She had been shot through the left eye
In the same room, lying on the bed,
was the body of her six-year- old son,
shot under the left eye, with his throat
cut from ear TO ear.
On the floor of tine adjoining room lay
the body of Frank PACK wood, four year
old shot through the head aud with his
throat cut The boiy Of Miss A. IL
Bruce lay on bed in the same room.
She had been assaulted, aud her skull
and face had been smashed by some
heavy weapon She had also been shot
through the head, and ner throat had
been cut.
Near the broken window a large re-
volver was found with two empty
chamb bers On the bed beside the body
of Miss Bruce lay doubled barrellsd
shotgun with the stock broken into
splinters Near the body of the Hatch
boy long -bladed butcher-knife was
found.
Frank Packwood, sr., opened 1.-THE
Lodge" every winter and it WAS popu-
lar resort for hunters and fishermen.
Packwood has an extensive acquaint-
ance all over the country Some years
ago he married one of Miss Bruce's SIS
ters in New York. When she died Miss
Bruce volunteered to live at Pack wo cd s
house and bring up his infant child.
A few days ago a party of Western
people started southwark from Jack
sonville among whom were the Pack
woods father aud son, Miss Bruce aud
Mrs. Hatch and son, they having just
returned from trip North.
Robbery was undoubtedly the pur-
pose OF the murderers, but the extent
of their plunder is as yet unknown.
So far in the dispatches from New
Smyrna no mention is made of f. j.
Packwood as having been in the house
at the time of the tragedy or as appear
ing on the scene.
There is a rumor that he was killed
also, and his body concealed so as TO
throw suspicion on him as the muir
derer of the otnerB He has a nephew
in this city Jacksonville) who gives the
| following information:
"All the Packwood family came
originally from New Orleans, There
are several 4 brothers in this State.
| Franks wife was Miss Bruce, of New
York city. and she died when their bov
| frankie was year old.
Immediately after his mothers
! death, his aunt, Miss A H. Bruce, of
/ New York city, came to Florida to take
! charge of him, and has since made her
/ home with the child and his father at
| the orange grove on the HIllsboro River.
| "Who Mrs. l.. ID. Hatch is, l have no
! idea. l never heard the name before.
Probably relatives or friends of Miss
| Bruce and visitors in the Pack wood
| home.
"The brother of Miss Bruce was at
/ one time prominent broker in Wall
| street, New York, ami it is said that
( not long before the marriage of Mr..
Packwood with his other sister he ia He'd,
the property of his sistsr being all lost
in the smash up. Miss a. Bruce, the
murdered woman, was about 80 years
Of age.