The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-12-14
WAS IT HILL?
VI, STRANGER THAT ACCOsTED THE
~ GEORGIA DELEGATION.
sonsotional Meeting--The Slayer of Sim
.,ons Makes His Identity known and
1rmps on Georgia--The Story from
Atlanta

ms Makes His Identity known and
Tn,nns on Georgia--The Story from
Atlanta.
ATLANTA. Ca, Nov. 30-Ten years
o GEORGIA was shocked from one end
of the state to the other by the murder
+ . well known druggist by the name OF
simmons. by another well-known man
named Samuel Hill.
Hill had a beautiful wife and he as
sorted that Simmons was intimate with
her and killed Simmons. The murder
was cold blooded one and occurredlin
the old National bar. The murderer bare
lvescaped mob justice.
There was an exciting trial that created
more interest than any trial before or
since. Hills beautiful wife testlfying
in her husbands behalf. The jury
found Hill guilty with recommendation
for mercy. and he was sent to the pen
tertiary for life. Hills counsel subse-
ouently succeeded in having him sent to
the lunatic asylum.
Apparently Hill, when he reached the
asylum at Milledgeville, was a physical
wreck. There always existed doubt
as to the mental part of it, and subse-
quent events entirely proved that Hill
was anything but crazy man. He was
closely confined to guard against escape
and the authorities managed to keep
him little over year.
Several Intellectual efforts were made
to escape and Hill finally became quiet
and gave the officers little trouble.
Suddenly he showed decided talents
towards painting and his cell was Gov
verted into regular art studio. The
walls were painted and other landscape
scenery was executed by Artist Hill.
His last work of art will stand for a
long time. 1t was the means of his es-
cape. The story is a novel one. Hill
decided to paint the court scenes during
lis sensational trial.
The entire side wall of his cell was
used to paint the picture on. The
picture was really an artistic piece of
work.
1t was an exact representation OF the
court room, the judge on the bench, the
jury in the box and the lawyers and the
audience.
Over the Judges stand was painted
scale in the balance of one side being
his wife and the other the devil. The
side on which was seated his wife was
the heaviest and the scales were in her
favor.
1t was a complete picture except the
prisoner was left out. In answer to the
queries as to why lac left himself out he
would say that lie intended to paint his
own picture later.
1t has been viewed by thousands of
visitors to the asylum, and it is doubtful
if any one ever visited the institution
without being shown the room occupied
by Hill.
The escape was effected in this way:
On the back of the door to his cell Hill
hung the canvass upon which he tried
his cOlOlS,
The lock was thus covered up and
gave Hill a chance to cut it out, which
he did undiscovered. With access to
the hall he easily secured du mmy key,
which was the only thing shutting him
of from freedom.
One night he left the cell and scaled
the walls of the institution and has since
been a free man.
In a short time after he escaped he
Went to Texas. He has not since been
heard Of until last Friday in Chicago,
when under an assumed name he met
several members of the Georgia legisla-
tive committee visiting the Worlds Fair
building
The meeting was sensational and an
account Of it has leaked out. Hill was
vel dressed and apparently in good
circumstances. After an introduction
TO Colonel Bill Moore, editor of the Au-
gusta News, one of the legislative COM
m,tee, Hill rallied against Chicago for
entertaining party of men from a state
Where men were sent to the pententiary
loI lie for protecting his own home.
With a tone Of resentment Moore re-
piled; ny, l don't know of such case
ever having occurred in Georgia"
well, do" said the stranger.
why, what was it?'' questioned his
hearers with increased surprise.
DO You remember Sam Hill? But that
Wasnt kind Of case l was thinking
about"
why Sam Hill was a good for nothing
fellow who ought to have been hanged
on general principles,
But 1 know better, gentlemen, per
SISTED the stranger, with great display
OF earnestuess.
How do you know" asked one of