Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-12-15
DEED OF A FIEND.
A Horrible Quadruple Murder
in Florida.
THE PBRPETRAToR NOT YET KNOWN

Two Women and Two Little Boys the
Victims of the DeviIisi, CT ane, One O.
the Women Being Also ~ Victim o.
the Murderer's Lust = She Makes a
Brave Fight for Life and Honor, but
Vain One-The Scene of Blood.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Dec l5-Details OF
qnadruple murder, which was discdv
cred on Saturday near New Smyrna, show
the crime to have been most revolving
one, and indicate that the perpetrator
must have been a fiend in human form.
Rape and not robbery was the object of
the crime, not a cent or an article OF
value was taken. The scene of the crime
was the residence of r. J. Packwood. half
way between Smyrna and lakewood &C.
eupied by Packwood. his little son and his
sister-in-law, Miss Bruce Friday Pack.
wood went away on business to be absent
during the night, and Miss Bruce invited
her friend Mrs. Hatch and her little son
to spend the night with her.
Disc very of the Crime
Saturday morning about O'Clock Ira
jenkins, a negro who markets for the
fami v, called to see if anything was
wanted, aud finding window broken
open, and being unable TO make any one
hear, alarmed the neighbors, who at once
made an investigation. When they had
entered the house a most appalling spec.
tacle presented self to their gaze. Mrs.
Hatch Icy ly the window in a pool of
blood, vi h Il pistol wound on the inside
corner o. her LETT eye. Her face was hla K
ened with pow Ter. The other bodies Law
near her. Her little son lay on red
lounge. He was shot over the left eye and
his throat was cut IN three places tt
he ad WAS almost severed from the BODY.
Terrible Fate of Miss Bruce
There was evidence that Miss Bruce
had made brave resistance without
avail, the brute having accomplished his
devilish purpose Miss Bruce was found
lying on her back in the bed, with her
form bare down to just above the knees.
After this the murderer probably shot his
victim through The right cheek, but fail
ing to kill her he picked up a shotgun
and brought down the butt end of it wit n
all his force on the head of his defense less
victim The blow struck her between he
forehead and the nose and caved in the
skull like an egCshell. Then he stabb, Il
her in the neck, cutting out square
SECTION OF He>h, anu HnlsDlng ms neiiiSh
work with two terrible gashes on the
throat.
The Fiend Spared No One.
frankie Packwood, a little golden.
haired tot of five years, was found on the
floor with his throat cut from ear to ear
His features which in life had been beau
tiful, were badly marred by the cruel
knife OF the murderer. The floors OF the
room were completely covered with blood
rs was the bedding on which Miss Bruce
lay, and also that on which the boy Hatch
was found. The curtains and walls were
also bespattered with blood.
Rejectel suitor Suspected.
After the horrifying discovery the county
authorities were notified, and an inyesti-
CATION WIS begun. The she 'iff. with "a
posse OF nearly 2O0 citizens of the vicinity,
secured the county for yuany miles, but
without result. There are many theories
as to the probable murderer One is to
the effect that the horrible crime was The
revenge of q rejected suiror for Miss
Bruce's hand, and finds many believers.
Summary justice will be dealt out to him
if captured
= Former Slaughter at the Same Spot.
The spot where this tragedy has been
enacted was the scene of a BRUTAL quad
ripple murder many years ago. During
the Seminole war "a family named Shives
lived there and were murdered by the In.
dams. Their bodies were horribly mutt
lated