Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-28
Developments Regarding the New
York Tragedy.
THE VICTIM OF THE ROMAN FEVER
Had Been an Inmate in Insane
Asylums.
WHAT MRS. THILL SAYS

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, March 2S.-Mrs
Thill believes that her daughter Amy,
who met a violent death in New York yes
terday at the hands of John Bigelow, was
murdered by maniac. Mrs. Thill talked
freely today about her daughter and her
| relations with Bigelow. She declared that
Bigelow was an old friend of the family
and had known Amy for several years
| He knew her, in fact before she went on
the stage, having met her in Minneapolis.
1t was known to the Thill family that Bige-
low had twice been confined in an insane
asylum, and Mrs. Thill says her daughter
often expressed fear of Bigelow and his
attentions to her. Bigelow was much in
love with the girl, but she steadily rejected
any nearer relation than that OF friend
Her great ambition was to succeed on the
stage and she had no desire or intention
of marrying. She had gone to New York
to realize her ambition and not to marry.
said her mother If she had desired mar
riage she had numerous opportunities in
Minneapolis, as she was a girl of singular
beauty. 1t was partly through Bigelow' s
influence that she had obtained a place in
the Drew company.
MIDDLETOWN, N. Y. March 2S.-Actor
John A. Bigelow, who yesterday in New
York murdered Amy Thill and then COM
mitted suicide, was confined in the state
insane asylum here from December, 1892,
to May, 1893.
NEW YORK. March 2S.-That the MUIR
der of Amy Thill and the suicide of her
slayer. John Bigelow were the work of a
madman is mat de more certain by the state
ments today of John Holden, an intimate
friend of Bigelow's. Holden says that
Bigelow has been in insane retreats at
least five times within the last ten years.
The last time Bgelow was in lunatio
asylum was in the fall of 1892, when he
spent some time in retreat at Hartford.
He has also been several times in Bloom
ingdale.
His insanity, in the belief of Holden. Is
the result of a severe attack of Roman
fever, which he contracted when a two
year-old baby In Rome. This fever is often
followed by weakening of the brain,
" which brings on periodical attacks of in
sanity. In John Bigelow's case these at
tacks were usually hastened by the free
use of tobacco and stimulants.
An autopsy upon the body of Bigelow
was begun today. In note book found on
his person there was pass for the Harlem
Opera House, made out in the name of
Miss Thili. 1t was dated March 20. There
was also an Identification card which read
Going to New York March. 1867; height,
five feet ten inches; weight, 100 pounds;
hat, II: notify A. M. Bigelow, II Pine
street" There was also a note which read:
My darling sweetheart. Jack, au revoir.
(Signed) Amy"
A number of pawntickets were found in
his pockets. Photographer Fake said this
morning that he had received kilograms
from the two sisters of the dead girl. who
that they were starting for this city and
that they would be here this evening.
The autopsy on Bigelow's remains show
ed that he must have been insane when he
committed the deed. A clot of blood was
found betW cen the skull and the scalp on
the opposite side of the head from where
the bullet entered, and it had been there
some time.