The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1895-04-23
A Murderous Assault.

"A Ia UIUoTOUB &ABS4u1Cs
Mrs. Della 7. s. Parnell, of Borden
town, was the victim of murderous as
sault on Thursday evening, near her
home ''Ironsides," just outside of the
city limits.
Although so years of age, Mrs. Parnell
went about unattended and often visited
Bordentown after the shades of night had
fallen. On Thursday evening about six
O'Clock she went to town and visited sew
eral places, one of which was the store of
Samuel E. Burr. where she settled a
small bill, offering a check for $40, and
receiving cash in exchange.
This was about halfpast seven and it is
thought she must have started for her
home soon after. Her house is ON the
road to Fieldsboros and is quite little
walk, but by going through the railroad
station and down the'itracks the distance
is lessened. This was the usual course
taken by Mrs, Parnell, and was her route
on Thursday evening. n
AS she passed the house occupied by
Daniel Griffin. the switchman on the
Pennsylvania railroad, the man noticed
her. and gave her bis, arm. accompanying
her over the trestle bridge to the foot of
the hill leading up to her residence. He
had often done this. After bidding Mrs.
Parnell good night; Griffin returned to
his post. He soon after heard cry, but
did not attach much significance to it, as
he often heard such noises from the river
and the opposite shore. si aaaW 49,
In few minutes, however, two men
men came along and told Griffin that a
woman was lying on the ground down
the road and that she was moaning as if
hurt. Unable to leave his post al. that
time when train was due, Griffin called
two men who were at work at the round
house, and sent them to the place indi-
Gated.
There they found Mrs. Parnell uncon-
scious, her face covered with dirt and
blood. Oyer her were bending John Casey
and his son. John is; the farmer who
works at Ironsides." The injured woman
was carried to. the home of the Caseys,
and DIR. Shlpps was summoned from Bor-
dentown. He at first thought the aged
woman's skull was fractured, but a close
examination showed this was not so.
There was jagged furrow. on the back of
her head. and her face was cut and
bruised. Her bonnet was mashed and
the beads on the headgear probably saved
the skull. The inside of the bonnet was
covered with blood. At the spot where
the victim lay were found heavy piece
of rail fence, about three feet long, a
board and brick. Blood was spattered
over the ground and lay in half-clotted
pool by the side of the path.
At the time Mrs. Parnell was assaulted
she carried black silk shopping bag, in
which were some letters, small sum Of
money and the key to her house. The
papers and some coins were found scat
tered along the railroad towards Borden
town, while the key has not been seen
since. t f
The authorities were notified of the as
sault and detectives were at once set to
work to run down the assailants. Stories
were told of man with light overcoai
who hung around town while Mrs. Par
nell was making her purchases; of men
who desired to secure papers of political
importance which she was supposed to
i carry, and numerous rumors that always
accompany such occurrences were put
forth. Members of the tramp fraternity
who have been allowed to run free here
tofore, were arrested as fast as they
showed themselves. But the general i'm.
preston is that the person. who commit
ted the assault is no stranger in Borden
town The township and city officials
when questioned on the subject, assume a
wise look and hint at clues that arr
being secretly worked but which. up t.
this time, have not developed anything 0
value. V lDNli4 s. lt@k 1A@8B "
Bordentown has long been infested
withC.a gang who, without any visible
means of subsistence, always seem to b.
supplied with money, and about whom
there are queer stories circulated. 1t il
not very long since man was assaulted
and robbed at the foot of the stairs at tn,
!. Bordentown station. ap.lfai 4t lli
The attack on Mrs. Parnell was bruta
affair. It would not have required mncl
effort to overpower woman of her ag
and natural lack of physical strength
Perhaps the woman turned and recoQ
nized her assailant, who then inAicte,
the murderous blow.
; On Friday Mrs. Parnell was remove,
t from the house of her farmer to her owl
home, where every effert has been mad
, to save her life. She has had one or tw
! iucid intervals of sufficient length to re