Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-11-06
AN AWFUL CHARGE.
w. B. Hill Under a Terrible Aeon.
satiOn.
CRUEL TREATMENT.
Nitric Acid Throwo in His Wife,s
Face While Aslecp-She Awakens
In Great AgOny-sensatrona
Particulars So Far.

A crime, which for iendishness out
ranks anything Rock Island has had in
long time was committed on Mrs. W. B.
Hill at her home on Nineteenth street
between Sixth and Seventh avenues abont
~ o'clock last night. She awoke abou,
that hour in horrible agony and called for
her husband The latter came into the
room with light when Mrs. Hill discov-
cred that an acid of some kind had been
thrown in her face while she was asleep
and the liquid had run down on her neck
and shoulders causing her the most ex-
circulating pain. Her husbsl Immediate
lY went after DR.. KiDyon, but as the lat
ter was cot at home he stopped and re-
ported the occurrence at the police sta.
ton. DR.. Kinyon afterward called at the
house and did what he could to alleviate
the suffering of the woman. Her cheeks
neck. shoulder and back were covered
with nitric acid which had burned deep
into the flesh causing her the most intense
suffering.
On looklrg about the room DR.. Kinyon
found the empty bottle which had con-
tanned the nitric acid, and after hearing
W. B. Hill, her husbands story, it was
concluded that it was the work Of burg.
lar as q shutter had been taken off down
stairs snd HiE claimed he had been rob-
bed of $35.
| The senss ton which the affair naturally
created was intensified this morning
when the police arrested Hill on suspi>
cion of being guilty OF the terrible crime
and he is now detained at the station
awaiting developments. 1t was found
by the police this morning that Hill had
bought nitric acid at the Fourth avenue
drug store on Nov. 2. but he in
sists that it was for corns on the hoof
of one of his horses. A part of the acid
was also found in vial in a vest pocket
at Hills home this morning.
VIII en- first confronted by Chief Miller
about his having bought nitric acid, he
denied 1t fatty, but afterwsId confessed
that he bought it for his horse, and told
the chief where the bottle could he found
at his home. Chief Miller followed
Hills directions and got the bottle, and
took it to he Fourth avenue drug store
where he was informed that Hill had
purchased the acid there on the end.
but that it was put up in q different
bottle with large label plainly marked.
As far as Chief Miller can ascertain
Hill tells number of cor flicting stories.
Last night ne said to Capt. Long the
front door and window were found
open by him, and this morning he told
Officer Kramer that no door was open,
simply q win COW shutter, when he found
that his house had been entered. Chief
Miller after examination of the front dool
lock. declares also that no nippers have
been applied to the lock. Another sus'
picious circu instance Is that In Mr.. HilPl
room was his vest containing $40 ant
his watch, which were undisturbed. ye
near by were his pantsloons. from the
pockets of which he asserts $35 wal
taken.
Mr.. and Mrs Hill are rather gooe
; looking colored people, and no one hal
ever known of any trouble between them
They occupied different rooms sdjoinins
each other, and last night Mrs. Hill re-
tired at 9 and Hill an hour later.