The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-07-30
A MURDER MYSTERY.
Seven Years of Misery on Account
OF Hidden Crime

The libel suit of DIR. Hearne, of Lo
Angeles, Cal, against Editor De
| Young, of San Francisco, promises 3
turn out badly for the doctor. Th
defendant is takiug depositions whicl
go to show that he was not very fa
wrong when he published a story O
| the Stillwell murder which implicate,
the plaintiff. The story appearec
some time ago, and was brought ou
to throw light upon Mrs. Hearne,
| divorce from the doctor and her re
marriage to him few hours later.
Mrs. Hearne was the wife of Amo
j. Stillwell, OF Hannibal, Mo. Sh,
was very charming woman and hel
husband was very wealthy. 1t wa,
evident to the people of Hannibal tha
the lady had married old Stillwell fol
his money, but that did not affect he,
social position. Shortly after hel
marriage her nerves gave her great
deal OF trouble, and she engaged DR.
Hearne, who was the fashionabl,
people began to talk, and they are
now repeating that talk under oath
in their dispositions in the libel case.
One night in December, 1888, the
Stiliwelis and DIR. Hearne were pres.
ent at a progressive euchre party
Mrs. Stillwell did not appear ut all
nervous. She won the prize, and left
with her husband after the game, Just
before the dancing commenced Be-
fore leaving, howercver, she held a
whispered conference with Hearnc in
the cloakroom.
That night Stillwell was murdered.
Mrs. Stillwell slept with two small
children in the same room with her
husband, WHO occupied another bed.
Her statement is that she was aroused
from her sleep by the noise mado by
an AK as 1T went crashing through
Stillwell's skull. The muGaerer Ned,
and the woman, clad in her night
gown, rushed over to her neighbor's to
summon help. Her conduct was that
of person who had suddenly gone
mad, DUt u. ucarnc cane in pros snt
and took charge of her. Tue coroner's
jury could not fix the quit upon any
body and u reward Of 10000 was Of
fered for the murderer.
IN less than IL year the idow Still
well married DR.. Hearne. lhe Hauni-
bal people began to talk in a quiet way
and the Hearnes lost cast socially.
They moved away and lived in several
places, and their fortune was gradually
frltted away. Then came the divorce,
the re-marriage, the publication in the
san francisco paper, and the libel
suit.
The dcpositions taken at Hannibal
show that Mrs. Stillwell was in love
with Hcarne before her husbands mur-
der, and that on the night OF the
tragedy Mrs. Stiliwell changed her
gown before going to the neigh boris.
Another gown with blood on the
sleeves was found on the premises
1t is also in evidence that Dr.. Hearne
moro than once spoke about killing
Stillweil CT causing hm 10 bo killed.
The evidence collected ny DcYOung
has stirred up the 9uod people of
Hannlbu. and tG.y say that Hearne
Will be indicted when the grand jury
meets in August. But it does not
follow that he will be con ,ictcu. Mrs.
Hearnc is now the wreck of her former
self, and is very nervous. Her hus-
band is evidently worried, bu. nc detics
his accusers to bring any proof against
him.
Tho case created great sensation
In the West seven years ago, and
pubic interest in it is again at white
heat.