Middletown transcript., 1892-04-28
4 sasfrnioUs siUisDrfs
Dir. j. II. HILL OF MIIL1NGTONs Md,
BRUTALLY MURDERED. THREE
ARRESTS MADE.

At an early hour Sunday morning
Dr.J. II. Hill prominent young phy-
sician of Millington, Md, was found in
his light wagon in front Of his home,
in an unconscious condition, with
his throat cut and face badly disfgur-
ed. His wife was the unfortunate
one to make the discovery and help
was quickly summoned. He had been
called out at 1926 o'clock the previous
evening to attend patient near
Masseys, and when he did not arrive
home at 10 his wife became appre-
hensive lest something had befallen
him. When she heard his team come
up to the house at o'clock she ran
outside to meet him and was horror
stricken to find his almost lifeless
body in the wagon.
The sad news spread rapidly and
the excitement was intense. The fact
that one of the best-known and most
popular men in the county had been
found almost dead and the strong slls-
picion that he had been murdered in
the night by parties unknown, was
enough to cause excitement. No SER
vices were held In The churches all day
and numerous people visited the place.
The report that DR.. HilI's death was
the result OF an attack Of apoplexy and
that his wounds were caused by falling
in the wagon gained ciedence during
the day, but the circumstances sur
rounding the case point very strongly
toward the theory of murder.
The circumstances attending the
murder of the young physician are
most dramatic and it is doubtful if a
more brutal crime was ever committed
in. this county. The doctor kept a
small drug store on the principal street
Of the village and lived with his young
wife and 2 months old child in a small
frame house nearly opposite his place
Of business.
On Saturday evening he was in high
spirits. He had indirectly prevailed
ina lawsuit In which he was substan-
TALLY interested and his wife, who had
been i'll and her life despaired of, had
recovered. Life looked brightto him.
He had a prosperous practice and an
encouraging future before him. No
,premonition of his awfahend SO near
at hand seemed to cloud his mind.
About 10 O'Clock Saturday evening,
DIR. Hill was called upon at his little
apothecary store by a messenger from
James Shaw, who lives about two miles
on the road toward Massey,s Station,
on lane called Prices, whose child
was i'll. The Doctor went to his barn
and harnessed his horse iuto light
two-wheeled road cart which he always
used in answering sick calls. Bidding
his wife goodbye he jumped into the
cart and started off. This was the last
seen Of him till he was found by his
wife at 4 O'Clock Sunday morning in a
dying condition in his cart in his
stableyard in the rear of his house.
He remained in an unconscious condi-
tion until 1926 O'Clock in the afternoon,
when he died. His eyes remained
closed all this time and he merely
groaned once or twice before lie died.
On Monday afternoon Squire john
son and R. K. Pippin, Of Chestertown,
the Coroner of the county, began the
inquest. The jurors were: G. p.
Loper, foreman +; Henry Cook, Enoch
Moffett, B. P. Morgan, William Com
eggs, W. Fl. Ford. James A. Edwards,
William Russell, w. o. Dugan, G. L.
Gill. James G.. Moore, Amos Kelley,
w. T. Collins, B. f. Vanzant, John
McWhorten, and Fred Usilton. Sew
eral witnesses were examined. It
seems that on the road near where DR..
Hill was supposed to have been attack
ed, at place called Ford's Hill, the
colored people were having an oyster
supper Saturday night. This house
was visited by: a number of colored
men and there was considerable drink
ing going on. Stephen Cooper and his
wife were asked to explain the oyster
party and told stories which were not
satisfactory to the officials.
A man named Brooks was found TO
have one Of DR.. Hills cuff buttons in
his vest pocket. He claimed he found
it in the road !; his story was credited.
The result Of this inquiry which was
adjourned until to-day was the
arrest of Fletcher Williams, Frisbie
Comegys, a boy named Philip Mander.
These are all colored. The boy is held
as witness and the two men on sus-
picion. They are held in Chestertown
Jail in custody of High Sheriff Plum
mer and his brother, Deputy Sheriff
Plummer. They refused to talk. 1t
is believed that the two men were at
the oyster party at Cooper's house.
The wound in DIR. Hips throat was
undoubtedly made with an oyster
knife.
The evidence of the physicians who
made the autopsy was to the
effect that death resulted from concus-
sion of the brain. Drs. A. R. Todd of
Millington, ]. w. Latimer Of Galena,
and J. Fl. Jacobs Of Kennsdyville,
made the post-mortem examination.
THE FUNERAL SERVICES.
The funeral of the murdered physi-
clan took place Monday afternoon. 1t
was attended by large number of
friends and relatives Of the deceased.
Theforal offerings were many and very
appropriate. The services we're con-
Quoted by Revs. E. E. White. r. K.
Stephenson, E. Fl. Nelson and Addi-
son Weller.
Ct15SY x.t.