WILLIAM L.
CLEMENTS
LIBRARY
University of Michigan
WALDRON




AMOS J. STILLWELL


THE
STILLWELL MURDER
O
A S00IETY CRIME
MINNIE. T. DAWSON
CopyRIGHTED, MAY, 1907
PRESS OF
McMEIN PRINTING Co.,
QUINCY, ILL.


Preface
critics that I should devote my humble efforts to
portraying such a hideous crime. It is not my
desire to degrade the tastes of the public or give them
a distorted view of Society. I believe in this there is
a sermon—a warning. These characters are not por-
| PRESENTING this work it may displease some
trayed in a manner to make their course a tempting
one. We cannot cure evil by concealing it. The best
remedy for crime is punishment. It is impossible to
cure it by ignoring its existence. I earnestly hope
and believe that there will come a time when both
men and women will be honest and moral, not through
fear of public sentiment, but with a love for what is
pure. Morality so weak that it trembles at the very
sight of sin is not true morality.
An account of this gruesome murder appeared in
various newspapers, to which the writer is indebted
for important information. In writing this history,
the writer has not been influenced by prejudices.
There are many versions, and for the purpose of
supplying those who desire it with a true history of
the tragedy, in a convenient form, this volume has
been prepared.
Dedicated to the Memory of
AMOS J. STILL WELL


CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER I
THE MURDER - - - - - - - 9
CHAPTER II
THE Coron ER’s JURY - - - - - . 15
CHAPTER III
THE SEARCH. For THE CRIMINAL - - - - 25
CHAPTER IV
SESSIONs of THE GRAND JURY . - - - . 31
CHAPTER V
THE TRIP To BATTLE CREFR, MICHIGAN - - - 34
CHAPTER VI
THE LIFE of AMos J. STILLwRLL - - - . 40
CHAPTER VII
HEARNE-DEYoUNG LIBEI, SUIT - - - - 43
CHAPTER VIII
MRs. SUSIE Hayward’s DEPoSITION - - - . 112
CHAPTER IX
DR, AND MRs. HEARNE INDICTED - - - - 116
CHAPTER X
THE TRIAL of TRE HEARNEs - - - - . 121
CHAPTER XI
THE HEARNEs Acquirred By THE JURY - - - 152

THE STILLWELL MURDER
CHAPTER I
THE MURDER
and most esteemed citizens of Hannibal,
was murdered in his bed early in the morn-
ing of December 30th, 1888. The victim
of this horrible crime was asleep in a room
occupied by his wife and two children, the oldest child,
a daughter, being away from home at that time. This
dark deed was at first supposed to have been committed
by a burglar, and various persons have been arrested
on suspicion of being implicated in this hideous crime.
This murder caused great excitement, as no case like
this was ever known in this quiet little town.
On Saturday night, December 29th, 1888, Mr.
Amos J. Stillwell and his wife, Fannie Stillwell, attended
a card party given by Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Munger,
of North Fifth street. (Mr. Munger was at one time
mayor of Hannibal.) There were quite a number of
invited guests, and among them was Dr. Joseph C.
Hearne, the Stillwell's family physician and a frequent
visitor at their house. About 12 o'clock the guests
left the Munger house. Mr. Stillwell usually regretted
going out at night, but seemed to enjoy himself that
evening and spoke of his pleasure. He praised Mrs.
Stillwell's dress and said some nice things, which
pleased her very much. They played euchre that even-
ing at the party and Mrs. Stillwell won the first prize.
There had been, some days before, a serious disagree-
ment at the breakfast table, in which a coffee cup had
been broken; so Mrs. Stillwell was very much impressed
by her husband's kind speeches, as they completed the
re-establishment of their former relations. Mr. and
§%$3.
º
Asºº










10 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Mrs. Stillwell occupied a large room in the center of the
house, on the second floor. There were two beds in
this room—one occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Stillwell and
the other by the younger children, Harold and Earl.
The children had been put to bed by the servants and
were sound asleep when Mrs. Stillwell went into the
room. Mollie, the oldest child, was in Quincy visiting
relatives. Mr. Stillwell was the last to enter the
chamber. He remained behind to lock the front door.
When they were disrobed, Mr. Stillwell asked his wife
to lock their room door opening on the hall. She
started toward it, but the children were disturbed by
their talking and cried out, so she went to the little
ones' bed and, being tired, went to sleep there. She
does not know how long she slept, but she was awak-
ened by her husband saying, “Fannie, is that you?”
Opening her eyes, she saw a man crouching at the foot
of her husband’s bed. As she looked she saw the man
raise and swing an ax. She says that she heard a whir-
ring noise and the thud of the blade as it struck her
husband's head. Fearing that it would be her turn
next, she covered her head with the bed clothes and
fainted. Recovering from the swoon, she got out of
the children's bed, turned up the gas and discovered
a most horrible sight. She found her aged husband
dead with a horrible gash across his face. Mrs. Stillwell
says that she did not make any outcry, nor any examin-
ation of her husband. She took the youngest child and
carried it into the servants' room, and told one of the
servants to bring the other child. “Mr. Stillwell has been
murdered by a burglar,” she said, “and I do not want
the children to see him.” This unnecessary precaution
has never been fully explained, as she did not take time
to examine her husband nor even make an outcry.
Having placed the children in the servant's room
and locking the door upon them, she ran down the
front stairs, found the front door open, ran across Fifth
street to Mr. League's wearing nothing but her night-
dress, her feet being bare. She rang Mr. League's
door-bell violently, but they were slow to respond and
she then ran to Dr. Allen's. The doctor responded

THE STILL WELL MURDER 11
immediately. She said: “Oh doctor, Mr. Stillwell has
been murdered by a burglar, and is lying in a pool of
his own blood.” Dr. Allen told Mrs. Stillwell that
he would go over immediately, and as soon as the doc-
tor and his wife put their garments on they ran over to
the Stillwell house. Mrs. Allen took Mrs. Stillwell in
charge and was putting some clothes on her when she
fell into a cataleptic state. Dr. Allen and an employe
of Mr. League entered the room where Mr. Stillwell lay.
Dr. Gleason, who lived across the way, soon went over
and the two physicians made a careful examination of
the body.
Mr. Stillwell had been killed by a blow from an ax.
The examination of the body revealed some strange
facts. The wound was four and one-half inches in
length on the left side of the head. It began at the
cheek bone, severing the lobe of the ear, opening the
carotid artery and bruising the spinal cord. The doc-
tors said the blow produced instant death. Mr. Still-
well's feet protruded from the bed and blood had flowed
through the mattress to the floor. There was not
much blood under the body, and that part of the night-
shirt which was under the body of the dead man was not
blood stained, making it plain that the body had been
moved after death. The physicians think that the mur-
derer struck his victim while he was lying on his right
side. It was a mystery how his feet had gotten out of
bed, as the blow must have stunned the victim and
there could be no convulsion at death. When the
neighbors entered the house they found three or four
chairs set against the children's bed, with pillows piled
upon them, between the two beds. The door of the
nurse's room was locked, with the key on the outside.
Mrs. Stillwell says that she placed the pillows on the
chairs to prevent the children from seeing the body of
their dead father and the blood, but as she had removed
the little ones to the servant's room that precaution
does not seem necessary.
Some of the assembled neighbors marveled at
things they saw. Her intimate friends remembered
that Mr. Stillwell insisted that his wife wear canton

12 THE STILL WELL MURDER
flannel night-dresses. The one Mrs. Stillwell wore was
of fine linen, trimmed with lace.
Messengers were sent for the police, John E. Still-
well and Richard Stillwell. When they arrived the
body was rigid. The body was quite cold when Dr.
Allen arrived. He estimates that Mr. Stillwell had been
dead about half an hour. Before Mrs. Stillwell became
unconscious she asked them to send for Dr. Hearne.
He arrived about the time John Stillwell and the police
got in the house. The master of the house lay cold in
death and his wife unconscious. The coroner, Wallace
Armour, was summoned, but did not make a careful
examination of the circumstances. He glanced hastily
around and then permitted the body to be removed.
Before daylight every evidence of the horrible crime
had been removed from the room. The sheets were put
away, the bedding taken out and the body embalmed.
The servants do not remember exactly who ordered
this unusual thing to be done. The murder occurred
between one and two o'clock and by five o'clock the
room had been cleared. This blundering has been kept
up ever since. Police were almost convinced that rob-
bery was the motive of this horrible crime, but the fact
that the ax was taken from their own barn leads to the
belief that it was premeditated murder. The deceased
was a very careful business man as regards money
affairs, and rarely carried much money about him, so it
was a matter of general surprise that any one would
attempt to rob him, when they must have known that
very little money could be obtained.
SEARCH OF THE HOUSE
On the stairway was found a trail of burnt matches
which led out into the yard and the woodshed. The
front doors, which were bolted and chained at night,
had been opened, but not by any violence. Not a door
or window was even scratched. Money was found
scattered from the back door to the alley gate. One
of the back doors was found open, but the bolt showed
no signs of violence. Nothing was found amiss in the

THE STILL WELL MURDER 13
room. The silverware was found on the mantel in a
cloth bag, where the family usually kept it at night.
This bag had not been touched. Mr. Stillwell's watch
was found where he usually kept it and some silver was
found in his pants pockets, but his pocketbook was
missing. The alley gate was found open. The two-
edged ax was not to be found.
The amount of money found near the alley and
Church street was about $40. It showed that the burglar
had but little regard for money. The burglar must
have been out for his health or for pleasure, as he had
not the slightest curiosity to know whether there was
anything of value in the house or not. He did not
even open a drawer. He did not make an investigation
of the drawing room. He used no violence on the
doors. The doors through the house and the back
doors were all open and no marks showed on any of
them. Burned matches were found in quantities.
These matches had the appearance of having been
burnt before they were carried into the house, as only
one end could be found. They could not have been
used to give light. Near the alley gate a silver quarter
was found. Five dollar bills were found in a bundle
and some more silver was found, and then the missing
pocketbook, and a little further on the missing ax was
found covered with coagulating blood. This ax was
usually kept in the woodshed. The streets seemed to
have been deserted by the police at that particular time,
but had an officer passed at the time of the murder he
would have been of little service, as no outcry or
screams for help came from that direction.
The assassin was compelled to pass within a few
inches of Mr. Stillwell in order to reach the door lead-
ing into the hallway. The space between the chairs on
which the pillows were lying and Mrs. Stillwell's bed
did not exceed eighteen inches. The chairs and pillows
were placed at that particular spot to prevent the child
sleeping on that side of Mrs. Stillwell from falling off
onto the floor during the night. It may be well to
state that there were only two children in the room, and
they were sleeping with Mrs. Stillwell.

14 THE STILL WELL MURDER
There are no indications that any of the doors or
windows of the house were tampered with or that the
slightest effort was made to force an entrance.
THE FUNERAL
Mr. Amos J. Stillwell was buried on New Year's
day, 1889. Mrs. Stillwell was still under the care of Dr.
Joseph C. Hearne. They were in a room upstairs
together while the parlors were crowded below. Dr.
Hearne came down and told the persons in charge of
the funeral to hurry the services, as it had a bad effect
on his patient.
About I :30 o'clock the friends of the family began
to arrive and half an hour later not only the house but
the yard and pavements of the street were crowded with
sympathizing friends. In the front parlor were the
remains of the murdered man, seemingly resting in
peace, in a beautiful casket which was laden with lovely
flowers. The face of the dead man appeared as though
he slept. At about 2 o'clock the Rev. John Davis took
a position near the corpse and read the beautiful lesson
of the Episcopal Church. This service was followed
by prayer. It was then announced that all those wish-
ing to view the remains could do so. The remains
were then taken to Mt. Olivet cemetery and laid to
rest.
CHAPTER II
THE CORONER'S JURY
£ºlor ONER WALLACE ARMOUR was
sº summoned. He made a hasty examination
of the body and surroundings. He had
recently been elected to the office and
perhaps was not fully conversant with the
duties of a coroner. At any rate he did not then make
a careful examination of all of the circumstances.
Before he made a second examination the bed had been
taken down and the bedding taken out, and all of the
evidences of the horrible crime had been removed (with
the exception of the body). Early on Sunday morning
the coroner summoned a jury of six and David Dubach
was elected foreman. The physicians were all
examined.
Dr. Joseph C. Hearne stated that he had left the
party at Mr. Munger's house at 12 o'clock (Mr. Munger
was also on the coroner's jury). Dr. Hearne had gone
to his office, which is on Broadway, between Fifth and
Sixth streets, and near the Stillwell back yard. He
transacted some business there and then went to his
home on Bird street. He was then summoned to
attend Mrs. Stillwell, who was too ill to be examined at
that time.
Drs. Allen and Gleason were called upon to tell
what they had seen and how the body was found
partially out of bed. They described the blood-
stains in the bed, and the position the body must have
occupied in relation to the stains before it was partially
pulled out of bed or in the agony of death had thrown
itself out.
The servants gave their testimony. The finding
of the burnt matches, the unlocked doors, the scattered
money and the bloody two-edged ax were all put on
record. The jury was compelled to adjourn until Mrs.
Stillwell could appear and be examined. “That lady,”
Dr. Hearne said, “could not be examined. Her
nervous condition would not permit it.” Five days


16 THE STILL WELL MURDER
later Dr. Hearne, who had been constantly attending
Mrs. Stillwell, announced that the coroner's jury might
examine her. He stated that the lady was not well and
was liable to faint at any time. The jury assembled
in the Stillwell mansion and with the greatest caution
the questions were asked the widow. She told the jury
about seeing a man at her husband's bed and how she
heard that singular whirr of the ax, and how she fainted.
She told of the silverware on the mantel not being
molested. She swore that she found the front door
wide open when she ran down stairs and across the
street. The lock on the front door was of a variety
that a most skillful expert could not open from the
outside. She was asked why she had placed pillows
on the chairs beside the children’s bed. She replied
that they might not see the body of their father. She
gave but little information that was of any value. She
faltered when asked to sign the statement. She wrote
the first part of her name with a trembling hand and
when she came to the word “Stillwell” she quivered and
fell in a faint as she made the last letter.
The coroner's jury found that Amos J. Stillwell
came to his death at the hands of some person or
persons unknown. The coroner's jury was so consid-
erately conducted that some very important facts had
been left undeveloped which the grand jury would liked
to have had explained.
January 1, 1889.
DETAILS OF THE CORONER'S JURY
Coroner Wallace Armour, assisted by a jury, has
examined a number of witnesses, but no new facts have
been brought to light.
MRS. STILLWELL’S STATEMENT
Mrs. Stillwell's statement is, in substance, that
when first awakened she heard Mr. Stillwell ask,
“Fannie, is that you? Is that you, Fannie?” She then
partly arose and saw that Mr. Stillwell had raised up in
bed and at the same time discovered the form of a man

THE STILL WELL MURDER 17
standing at the foot of Mr. Stillwell's bed. The man
was in a crouching position, and springing forward,
struck Mr. Stillwell what proved to be the fatal blow.
Horror-stricken at the awful sight, she fell back into
the bed and covered her face and head with the bed
clothing. Recovering to some extent in a few
moments, and realizing the desperate situation in which
she was placed, she unlocked the door leading into the
room of her absent daughter Mollie, and hurrying to
the door of the servants' room awakened the two negro
girls; told what had happened and directed one of them
to light the gas and the other to come with her. Going
back into her room, she took one of the children in
her arms and telling the girl to do the same with the
other, she led the way back to the servants' room,
where the two children were placed on a bed, both of
them being, fortunately, still asleep. After telling the
girls to lock the door, she then ran across the street
and aroused the neighbors, including Dr. Allen and W.
T. League, all of whom, as speedily as possible,
responded to her call, and upon arriving at the scene of
the murder found everything as has been described
before.
When Mr. and Mrs. Stillwell went to the party
Saturday evening they left the front door unlocked,
Mr. Stillwell remarking that as the lock was hard to
turn they would leave it as it was until they returned.
This, of course, strengthens the theory that the assassin
entered the house during their absence. Mrs. Stillwell
is quite positive that Mr. Stillwell locked the door when
they returned from the party. One of the servant
girls, Lizzie Julius, states that she locked the back door
of the house at 7 o'clock Saturday evening.
This jury is composed of D. Dubach, W. A.
Munger, Jas. A. Nelson, John T. Holme, W. R. Pitts
and S. A. Birch. The jury will continue its investi-
gation with closed doors.
January 4, 1889.

18 THE STILL WELL MURDER
FULL REPORT OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BY CORONER
MRS. STILL WELL
I am the wife of the deceased. I was awakened
by hearing Mr. Stillwell say, “Fannie, is that you?” I
was not fully awake, and I heard him say, “Who is
there?” I raised up and saw a dark figure, as I
thought, crouching at the foot of the bed. The figure
sprang and raised something in his hand as if to strike
and I buried my head in the bed clothes. I only saw
the figure's back and could not tell who it was. He
then sprang and ran towards the top of my bed and I
could not see him. I do not know how long I laid
there. Two chairs were at the side of the bed to
prevent the children from falling out, so that I could
not see very well. After awhile I felt as though I must
get some one there. I got up and saw Mr. Stillwell
lying on the side of the bed. When he spoke I only
saw his head raise, as the pillows prevented me from
seeing good. When I discovered Mr. Stillwell's
condition, I ran to the girls' room; we had a candle in
the room, but it gave only a small light. I unlocked
the door between my room and the next room. The
girls unlocked the door to their room. I told them
what had happened and they lighted the gas. The
smaller girl began screaming. I did not lock the door
of our room leading to the hall before we retired, as I
was working with the baby, which was coughing, and
fell asleep, forgetting to lock the door as was the
custom. I think the man who struck the blow had
a large hat drawn over his face. He seemed to be a
large man. The cook and I went into the room and
took the children. She carried one and I the other.
I told her to stay in her room with them and lock the
door. Then I came out and ran down stairs; both
front doors were open. When we went to the party
we closed both doors. They were closed but both were
unlocked. We returned a little after II o'clock. I
suppose Mr. Stillwell locked the front doors when he

THE STILLWELL MURDER 19
came in. When I ran down stairs I crossed the street
to Dr. Allen's first; rang the bell and he was so long
coming that I rang all the bells near there. I did not
hear the man leave the house. When I first saw Mr.
Stillwell he was lying on the side of the bed. Jacob
Kornder came across the street with me. We went up
stairs and afterwards lighted the gas in the hall and
sitting room. By that time Mr. Will League had
arrived. He tried to telephone Richard Stillwell and
Dr. Hearne, but could not raise them, so Jacob
Kornder went after Dr. Hearne. In the meantime
Mrs. Dr. Allen had arrived. The ladies took me
upstairs and that was the last I knew.
FANNIE. C. STILL WELL.
JOSIE BROWN
I live at Mr. Stillwell's. Have been there four
weeks. Was there last night with the children. Mr.
and Mrs. Stillwell came home about II:30. Lizzie
Julius was in the house also. Lizzie went to bed first.
The kitchen door was locked when we went to bed.
I heard Mr. League say the door was wide open when
he came over. Mrs. Stillwell came and knocked on
the door and called Lizzie, who got up, went to the
door and answered. Mrs. Stillwell asked her to open
the door and light the gas. Lizzie did so. Mrs.
Stillwell came in and said to Lizzie: “There is a burglar
in the house; he has knocked Mr. Stillwell down and I
believe he has killed him.” She told Lizzie to come
and get the children. I then got up and started in, but
Mrs. Stillwell told me to go back, as she was afraid I
would make a noise. Lizzie went in, got the children and
brought them to our room. This was a quarter of two
o'clock. We have a clock in our room. Mrs. Stillwell
said she would go across the street and get some one,
but she did not say wino. She got Mr. League, who
came in and lighted the gas in the lower part of the
house. I heard them say that Jule Sanders is the name
of Lizzie's beau. He lives in Palmyra. If he was in
town last night I do not know it. He was to go home

20 THE STILL WELL MURDER
on Friday night. She was with him at Mrs. Jackson's,
on Palmyra avenue, to a party on Friday night. We
were in the servants' room and the children in their
room while Mr. and Mrs. Stillwell were at the party.
There was no noise, and I did not hear Mr. and Mrs.
Stillwell come home, but Mrs. Stillwell came and told
us we could go to bed. Sanders accompanied Lizzie
home from Jackson's. I have never seen him in the
house at any time, but have seen him at the door.
When we go out Lizzie carries a key to the door on
the south side of the house, but if we go down town
simply, we hide the key. After supper we were
together all the evening in our room. I was sleeping
part of the time, but she was sitting up. Lizzie locked
the back door of the house. I saw her when she came
in with a load of wood and locked the door. I have
known Lizzie about a year. She stands well with the
colored people, so far as I know. Matt Bell sawed
wood there last week. I think Mr. Stillwell locked
the south door before he went to the party. One
night when I went to the Tabernacle I came in at the
front door, which was unlocked. Mrs. Stillwell did not
scream, but trembled violently. There is no help
besides myself and Lizzie. Matt Bell was there on
Friday. (Here the ax was shown the witness but she
did not recognize it). We used the ax to split kindling.
I was in the barn yesterday but did not go through.
I don’t think Lizzie went down stairs after she came
up for the night. JOSIE BROWN.
LIZZIE JULIUS
I live at Mr. Stillwell’s house and have been there
about five months. About II:30 p. m. Mr. and Mrs.
Stillwell came home from the party. I did not hear
them come in, but Mrs. Stillwell came and said:
“Lizzie, I’ve come; you girls can go to bed.” She told
me to push the door to. We then went to bed. I
went to bed first and Josie came in about ten minutes
later. About I :45 a. m. Mrs. Stillwell knocked on the

-
THE STILL WELL MURDER 21
door and said, “Lizzie.” I roused up and said, “What
is the matter?” She said, “Strike a match and light the
gas.” I lighted the gas and opened the door. She
said, “There is a burglar in the house; he struck Mr.
Stillwell, and I believe he has killed him,” and then
said, “Come in and get my little baby.” I went in
after the baby, and Mrs. Stillwell brought Harold.
Mrs. Stillwell went into the room first. She said,
“Don’t let Josie in ; I am afraid she might scream.”
Mrs. Stillwell was in her night clothes and was bare-
footed. She usually keeps a candle burning on the
mantelpiece, but I don't know whether it was burning
or not last night. She came back with Mr. League.
She was only gone a few moments. When I went
into Mrs. Stillwell's room I did not see anything
because I was so badly scared I did not look. Harold
did not sleep with Mr. Stillwell, but with Mrs. Stillwell.
I locked the door in the barn about 5 p. m. I locked
the back (kitchen) door about 7 p. m. after getting a
load of wood. Mr. Stillwell went into the kitchen and
got some water after he came home from the party. I
am 22 years of age; my sweetheart, Jule Sanders, lives
in Palmyra. I was with him at Mrs. Jackson's party on
Palmyra avenue, on Friday night. We came home
about II:30 p. m. He did not come in the yard. He
left saying he was going home that night. I have
known him about a year. (The witness identified the
ax as being the property of Mr. Stillwell.)
LIZZIE JULIUS.
JACOB KORNDER
I am employed by W. T. League as a florist; I
met the "Long Line” train on the night in question at
| 20 a. m. and I returned to the house at a quarter
before 2 o’clock; I sat down in the green-house to read,
as I am compelled to sit up till 5 a. m. to keep up the
fires; just after I heard the clock strike 2 o'clock, I
heard Mrs. Stillwell and went around to see what was
the matter. When she told me, we went over to the
house together; she told me to make a light; we went

22 THE STILL WELL MURDER
to Miss Mollie's room and then into Mrs. Stillwell's
room. Mrs. Stillwell said, “There he lies.” There
was no light in Mrs. Stillwell's room; the candle was
in Mollie's room; the servant girls were standing in
their door; I lighted the gas in the hall and sitting-
room; I saw the body of Mr. Stillwell by means of a
match, which I struck while in Mrs. Stillwell's room.
The body was on the side of the bed next to the hall
door. JACOB KORNDER.
W. T. LEAGUE
I reside immediately opposite the Stillwell resi-
dence. Last night about ten minutes to two the bell
rang. My sister went to the window; I heard Mrs.
Stillwell say: “Mr. Stillwell has been murdered and is
lying in a pool of blood.” My sister then called to me
at once and repeated Mrs. Stillwell’s statement. I
told my mother to call Jacob Kornder, my florist; I
went down the back stairs, around the house, crossed
the street, found the gate at Stillwell's open; went up
stairs and found the door of Mr. and Mrs. Stillwell’s
room open; I stepped into the room; found Mr.
Stillwell lying in a kneeling position, with his head lying
on the bed with the left side up, with a wound beginning
at the temple and running four inches towards the neck.
There was a small candle or a taper in the room. I
stepped to the head of the bed and took hold of Mr.
Stillwell's hand, which was lying on the bolster; I felt
it twitch; I went down stairs and crossed to Dr. Allen's
and found that Mrs. Stillwell had been there; I went to
Dr. Gleason’s and H. F. Dakin's also, and from there
diagonally across to the gate and met Dr. Allen at the
door, who said, “Mr. Stillwell is dead.” I asked him
to go back up stairs, which he did. The gas had been
lighted in the hall and sitting-room. I went into the
sitting-room to telephone for the police. Mrs. Stillwell,
who was standing in the room, said, “Mr. League,
telephone for Dick.” Several neighbors came in and
took charge of Mrs. Stillwell, who was in a terrible
THE STILL WELL MURDER 23
condition. Officers Reiman and Connery arrived
shortly afterwards; the house was open; each door back
to the lattice work. W. T. LEAGUE.
DR. ALLEN
I am a practicing physician in this city. I live
nearly opposite the Stillwell residence; I was aroused
by the ring of my door-bell in a somewhat excited
manner; answered the call; Mrs. Stillwell stood at the
door in her night--dress wringing her hands; she said:
“Oh, doctor, come over to the house, for God's sake.
Mr. Stillwell has been murdered and is lying in a pool
of blood.” I replied that I would come as soon as
possible; my wife and I went over; it was then about
2 o'clock; the front door was open and Mrs. Stillwell
was standing at the foot of the steps in her night
clothes. She was then alone; we all went up stairs
and my wife quieted Mrs. Stillwell as much as possible.
Mr. Stillwell was in a kneeling position across the edge
of the bed, his feet barely touching the floor, with a
horrible wound on the head; we wanted to light the
gas, but there were no matches in the match safe. Mr.
Stillwell was pulseless and there was a pool of blood
in the bed; the body had the appearance of having
been moved from the position in which the fatal blow
was struck, and there was tallow on the bolster, as if
some one had been examining the wound with a candle.
(The witness was here shown the ax.) The wound has
the appearance of having been made with this ax.
A. L. ALLEN, M. D.
DR. GLEASON
I was called and went to Mr. Stillwell's. The
body was lying a little to one side with the left hand
on the pillow and the right hand under the head or
body. The limbs were on the floor and the left was
over the right. The lower portion of the body was
just over the edge of the bed. I examined the wound
with a candle which I took from the mantelpiece;
found the wound to be four and one-fourth inches in


24 THE STILL WELL MURDER
length, reaching from above the frontal bone through
the temporal bone, severing the external carotid
arteries and probably the jugular vein also. The
portion of the wound near the spine was very much
deeper than the front. By inserting the finger, the
vertebrae of the spine could be felt. I then went with
others out into the alley, found a whole match on the
kitchen floor, which was similar to those on the mante'.
Found in the alley four five-dollar bills done up
smoothly together and a five-dollar bill four or five
inches from the other money. A few feet further
towards Church street saw part of the handle of an ax
sticking out from behind a plank which was leaning
against the stable south of the Stillwell barn. Took the
ax up stairs and discovered blood stains on the blade,
which were much deeper towards the handle, corres-
ponding with the wound, which was deeper towards the
spine. The pants were on the floor at the foot of Mr.
Stillwell's bed, while the other clothing was on a chair
near the alcove. J. L. GLEASON, M. D.
DR. HEARNE
The testimony of Dr. Gleason having been read,
I confirm the statement of Dr. Gleason as to the
character and the location of the wound on the person
of deceased, and further state that, in my opinion, the
death of Amos J. Stillwell was produced by the
infliction of said wound. -
DR. J. C. HEARNE.
VERDICT OF CORONER'S JURY
“We, the Jury, find that Amos J. Stillwell came to
his death from the stroke of an ax in the hands of some
person to us unknown.”

CHAPTER III
THE SEARCH FOR THE CRIMINAL
lº HERE were two negro women who lived
- in Hannibal at one time, but left and went
to St. Louis. They worked for their
º living, but did not bear good reputations,
although they worked in good families.
One was named Bertha Miller and the other Esther
Dick. Bertha Miller lived in a dingy little house and
Esther Dick visited her frequently. They occupied a
front room. The room back of them was rented to an
old colored woman who took in washing. The old
colored woman was sitting in her room one night,
resting after a hard day's work, and through the
partition which separated her room from the front
room, she heard Bertha Miller and Esther Dick
discussing the Stillwell murder. The old woman put
her ear to the crack and listened to the horrible story
of the murder. Next morning she went to the house
of a lady for whom she had worked and told what she
had heard. A negro man by the name of Stanley
Kendricks at that time lived in Hannibal and worked
as a servant or at anything he could get to do. He
fell sick and had no money. Dr. Hearne gave him
medical treatment, supplied food, lodging, in fact he
supported him during his illness. Stanley Kendricks
recovered slowly, and when he got well he came to see
Esther Dick and offered her inducements to assist him
in committing a crime. Kendricks knew this woman
well. He did not tell her exactly what he intended to
do. Securing her, he persuaded a negro who had
been employed by Stillwell to join him and through him
he secured the assistance of Bertha Miller. Kendricks
finally told them that he intended to kill Mr. Stillwell.
They asked him what Mrs. Stillwell had done to him.
He replied nothing, but said that he had been asked
to do it and was going to do it for the man who had
asked him. They discussed their plans. Kendricks

26 THE STILL WELL MURDER
told them that they would have no trouble in entering
the house, as that would all be arranged. They met
about midnight and sought the Stillwell neighborhood.
Kendricks stationed one of the women in the alley near
Broadway, the other in the alley near Church street.
They were to remain as guards to give warning in case
any one approached. Kendricks and Rhodes entered
the yard and they saw no more of them for some time.
Then they heard their steps; they were running; they
called the women away. Kendricks carried the bloody
ax and was covered himself with blood. He carried
the ax down the alley and tore a board from the shed
and threw the ax in. They all hurried on to a certain
house and there they found spots of blood on
Kendrick's coat, which were impossible to remove, so
the women helped to destroy it. Esther Dick says
that Kendricks gave her a ten dollar bill and also gave
Bertha Miller the same amount. Esther Dick kept
her money, but Bertha Miller became frightened and
tore hers into fragments. Afterwards Esther Dick
became frightened and thinking she would be
discovered she bought a railroad ticket and went to
St. Louis. Kendricks fled.
THE HUNT FOR KENDRICKS
Stanley Kendricks has been up and down the
Mississippi river and has friends in all of the cities.
When a detective started on his track he was said to be
in St. Louis, but when the detective arrived, he had
just gone. Some one said that he had gone to Mem-
phis. When the detective arrived at Memphis he had
returned to St. Louis. Later it was discovered that he
was at Cairo, but he had just left there and gone to
Memphis. He then left Memphis and went to New
Orleans, and then to Keokuk, Iowa. Finally he was
heard of at Peoria. November 22nd Kendricks was
located in a colored saloon, where he was preparing a
coon supper for the negroes of Coon Hollow. The
detectives entered the saloon and requested one of the
proprietors to let them see the coon they were cooking.
º
º
º
:
%
º
%
º
º
MRS. A. J. STILLWELL


28 THE STILL WELL MURDER
He consented and led the way to the kitchen. A
negro woman ran to the kitchen as soon as they asked
permission to enter it. A detective hurried past one
of the men just in time to receive the fleeing Kendricks
in his arms. The detective asked the woman if she
was Kendricks' wife; Kendricks replied that she was.
The proprietor and the woman said that she was not.
Kendricks was placed in a cell in the city jail, and was
asked who his associates were in the murder at
Hannibal. He pretended not to know where
Hannibal was, said that he never was in Hannibal, also
denied having been in St. Louis. He denied knowing
Bertha Miller and Esther Dick. A woman claiming to
be Kendricks' wife called to see him about an hour
after his arrest. In an interview she gave an account
of Kendricks from July, 1888, to the present time,
except a few weeks. She did not know just where he
was, but said that he was in the west and not in
Missouri. Stanley Kendricks, who has been followed
from one part of the country to another, is a light-
complexioned, freckled-faced, colored man, who
dresses well. During the time he was pursued,
he followed the profession of a gambler. He is not
known in Hannibal by the name of Kendricks.
TWO STANLEYS
Stanley Kendricks, who is under arrest, lives in
Keokuk, Iowa, but has been in Hannibal several times.
Stanley Christopher is a freckled-faced colored boy.
He has at different times been employed as a roustabout
on steamboats. The question is, did the colored
woman in St. Louis mean Christopher or did she mean
Kendricks? |
SAM RHODES
Sam Rhodes has been in the employ of Stillwell
& Co. for over ten years and bears an excellent
reputation. Rhodes is a married colored man and was
not accustomed to associate with such characters as
Bertha Miller and Esther Dick.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 29
Rhodes was interviewed by a reporter. Rhodes
was not averse to talking on the subject. He stated
that he knew Bertha Miller and Esther Dick, but had
never associated with them. He said that he knew
Stanley Christopher. Rhodes said that he would not
have any trouble to establish an alibi, as he could prove
that he was at his home on North street after 7 o'clock
on the night of the Stillwell murder and did not leave
the house, excepting when he went for a bucket of
beer. |
ESTHER DICK ARRESTED
Esther Dick was arrested in St. Louis. She
denied all knowledge of the murder. She said she had
not even heard of the Stillwell murder, until she was
arrested. She left Hannibal about three years ago
and went to St. Louis and has not been here since.
STRONG PRO OF OF INNOCENCE
Bertha Miller was sentenced December 3rd, 1888,
by a justice of the peace at Canton, Mo., to thirty days
in the county jail and a fine of $15 and costs for
stealing shoes. This proves that she was in jail at
Monticello December 30th. She says she was told
about the Stillwell murder by the jailor's daughter.
The jailor's wife brought her a paper containing an
account of the murder. She afterwards went to St.
Louis and boarded with the old colored woman and left
owing her a dollar and a half board bill, but left her
trunk as security.
DR. HEARNE INTERVIEWED
Dr. J. C. Hearne was indignant that his name
should be used in such a manner, and stated that he had
placed the matter in the hands of an attorney, with the
expectation of bringing suit for damages. Some
people had an idea that the toughs of the levee
knew something of this horrible crime, but the good
people of the town do not think for a moment that any
30 THE STILL WELL MURDER
one as poor as those people living in squalid shanties
along the river bank would be so cold-hearted as to
murder a man for his money, and then have so little
regard for values as to overlook them, and especially
to throw $40 to the winds, as they could easily have
gotten away with their ill-gotten spoils, as no outcry
came from that neighborhood. Strange that a burglar
would depend on finding a weapon in the wood shed
and would then take the precaution to carry it out and
hide it. -
ºnmann
~
º-
-
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jś
º
THE STILL WELL MANSION










CHAPTER IV
SESSIONS OF THE GRAND JURY
the jury stood eleven to one in favor of an
indictment, but a change took place in the
minds of some of the jurors. What made
the change, no one seems to know. So the
result of the change was understood to be seven for
returning an indictment and five against it. The jury
adjourned and prepared a communication to Judge
Bacon where they request that a special grand jury
be empaneled and a special attorney be appointed to
further investigate the case, as certain evidence could
not be obtained by the present grand jury.
THE JURY'S RECOMMENDATION
To the Hon. Thos. H. Bacon, Judge of the District Court:
We, the undersigned, members of the grand jury,
now in session in your honorable court, sitting in the
City of Hannibal, respectfully beg leave to report:
That we have made an effort to thoroughly, fairly and
fearlessly investigate the murder of Amos J. Stillwell,
which occurred in the last of December, 1888, in this
city. That in so doing we have labored under some
very considerable disadvantages, in that we have not
had the benefit of competent legal counsel and advice,
nor the hearty co-operation and assistance from those
most interested. On the contrary, we were the
recipients of a very insulting communication from Mr.
R. H. Stillwell, (which is herewith submitted) doubtless
intended to discourage and discredit the labors of the
grand jury in their efforts to discover the murderer of
his father. That we have, nevertheless, obtained some
important evidence, which we have sealed up and
herewith turn over to the custody of the court, and
recommend that it be preserved for the use of any
future grand jury, but that we are satisfied there is


32 THE STILL WELL MURDER
other material evidence attainable, which is not in the
power of the grand jury to procure. We would
respectfully recommend that a special grand jury,
composed of the best citizens of Marion and Miller
townships should at some future and convenient time
be empaneled for the especial purpose of investigating
this case, and that such a grand jury should be provided
with a competent and zealous prosecuting attorney
of whose assistance and counsel they could avail them-
selves at all times when desired.
DAVID DUBACH, Foreman.
Signed under protest as regards the part reflecting
on R. H. Stillwell.
PETER Essig, VAN. B. LEFEVER,
JosłPH BRINKMAN, WM. A. GOODRICH,
BENTON COONTz, JAMES PLOWMAN,
JAMEs F. DAVIDSON, THOMAS H. RICHMOND,
JAMEs W. WHALEY, GEORGE W. PINE,
STEPHEN GLAscock.
Dated—Grand Jury Room, Hannibal, Mo., February
18th, 1890. .
MR. STILLWELL’S LETTER
Hannibal, Mo., February 5th, 1890.
To the Grand Jury:
Gentlemen:-I hereto append a list of names
which I represent to your honorable body as having
been present at my father's house at the time or very
shortly after his murder. They are mostly neighbors
and employes and are in possession of facts and
circumstances of much importance touching the case.
If you are disposed to continue your investigation and
make it thorough, as an interested party, I must insist
and do most earnestly entreat your honorable body to
subpoena and closely interrogate every party herein
mentioned (together with such others as you may elect).
If this request impresses the minds of your honorable
body as being in accord with justice, I believe compli-
ance will ensue; if not it should seem, if indictment is
found, it should state on its face: Though especially

THE STILL WELL MURDER 33
entreated, we have declined to interrogate the following
witnesses, who (here names) are represented to us as
knowing most of the merits of the case. If this
request impresses your honorable body as being unjust,
may I ask expression from you with reason for same?
In any event, it is my desire that this paper shall form
a portion of your records of investigation, and be filed
in clerk’s office with them.
Very respectfully yours,
R. H. STILL WELL.
Following are the names of witnesses suggested
by Mr. Stillwell: Mrs. League, W. League, Dr. Allen,
Mrs. Allen, Dr. Gleason, Mrs. Gleason, Prof. Packard,
Mrs. Packard, Mrs. R. H. Stillwell, Wallace Armour, R.
H. Stillwell, S. J. Miller, Jacob Kornder, Dr. Hearne,
Matt Bell, Maria Sanders, (washerwoman), Lizzie
Julius (cook), Josie, (nurse), Walker Bryant, Mrs.
Briggs, (housekeeper) Morris (editor of the Post) Wm.
Wood, (detective), Mr. John E. Stillwell and Mrs. John
E. Stillwell, St. Louis, Mo.
The request of the grand jury was granted by
Judge Bacon and the communication was filed as the
proceedings of this grand jury. The third grand jury
has taken the matter under consideration with about
the same result as those previous. Among the
witnesses summoned was Mrs. Fannie Stillwell. She
appeared and retold her story, but when it came to
cross-examination there was trouble. One of the
members of the grand jury was not on friendly terms
with the widow, and when he asked her pertinent
questions she answered in a very wrathful manner. Just
exactly what occurred has never quite leaked out, but
this quarrel caused the wreck of that examniation.
At the time Mr. Davidson was drawn on the jury, Mr.
R. E. Anderson, prosecuting attorney, was reported
sick in bed and unable to attend to any business. Thus
they were left with some legal questions confronting
them and no legal adviser. Judge Thomas H. Bacon
made himself conspicuous by his absence when his
legal advice was much needed.
CHAPTER V
THE TRIP TO BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN
rigidity of the muscles, were due to a
serious injury and could be cured only by
the use of the knife. Mrs. Fannie Stillwell,
accompanied by Mrs. R. H. Stillwell and
Dr. Hearne, went to Battle Creek, Mich., to have an
operation performed, which was borne heroically by
Mrs. Stillwell. She was away a month or more, and
after she did return, went very little into society.
Before Mrs. Stillwell returned she wrote her attorney,
R. E. Anderson, asking him to make arrangements to
rent her house, as she intended to travel and remain
away from Hannibal for a time. Before the house was
rented, she changed her mind and returned. The
operation was not entirely successful and she was not
completely restored to health. She saw, while passing
a hardware store, one day, a double-edged ax in the
window and fainted. Some people were unkind
enough to say that she was acting a part, but they were
willing to admit that she did it well. While at
Spaulding Springs, with her children and Dr. Hearne's
children, she was taken suddenly ill and Dr. Hearne
was immediately sent for. She was constantly under
his care. He seemed to have wonderful power over
her nerves. While he was Mrs. Stillwell's physician,
T)r. Gleason was called in when Mr. Stillwell or the
children were complaining.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
One year after the murder of Amos J. Stillwell,
on December 28th, 1889, Dr. Joseph C. Hearne and
Mrs. Fannie Stillwell were married on the anniversary
of the night of the murder. The marriage took place,
at 4 o'clock, at the residence of the bride on South
Fifth street. The wedding was a quiet affair. The
persons present were Mr. R. H. Stillwell, Mr. and Mrs.
W. T. Perkins, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Stillwell's children


THE STILL WELL MURDER 35
and Dr. Hearne's children. The marriage was
performed by Rev. John Davis. The happy couple
jeft on the C. B. & Q at 5 o'clock for Chicago. They
went from there to New Orleans and from there to
Florida. This marriage created great excitement and the
streets were crowded with men, women and children.
They were followed to the train by a mob and many
insinuating remarks were made to them as they got on
the train; such as “Fannie, is that you?” and “Hit him
in the head with an ax and ax me no questions.” Dr.
Hearne was very much interested in Mrs. Stillwell
before the murder and remarked at one time “that if
Mrs. Stillwell should ever become a widow he would
only be too happy to make her his wife.”
DEAD BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Less than a year ago the citizens were startled by
the announcement that one of their best and wealthiest
citizens had been horribly butchered in his bed at home.
The question is asked almost daily, Why is not some-
thing done? Why do not the members of the family
further investigate the case, and why do not the citizens
take hold of the matter and offer a suitable reward?
Why do not his friends and business associates take an
active part? An investigation will hurt no innocent
person; it will only remove suspicion from the innocent
and re-establish their fair name. The citizens held a
meeting and Col. Dan Dulany offered $1,000 reward
or $10,000 if necessary. Mr. Voorhis, a relative of the
Stillwell family, said that it was not necessary, as the
family had ample means to offer a suitable reward
themselves, so the good citizens dropped the matter,
leaving it in the hands of the Stillwell family awaiting
the result. John E. Stillwell, a nephew of the deceased
and a member of the Stillwell firm, was anxious to
force a thorough investigation, but the prosecuting
attorney refused to render assistance, believing in the
innocence of Mrs. Stillwell. Mrs. Stillwell forced John
E. Stillwell to retire from the firm. They are now
mortal enemies.

36
THE STILL WELL MURDER
MURDER T REWARD !
Hannibal, Mo., Aug. 25th, 1890.
On Sunday morning, Dec. 30th, 1888, (a
little after midnight) the residence of Mr. A.
J. Stillwell, at 112 South Fifth street, was
apparently entered by a burglar seemingly
with intent to pillage. At about 1:45 o'clock
a. m. Mr. A. J. Stillwell was awakened by a
noise in his bed-room. He roused, called his
wife, (who was sleeping with her two children
in a separate bed in the same room.) She
awoke and saw the form of a man standing at
the foot of his bed. Through fear she
covered herself and children with bed clothing.
While concealed in bed she heard the man
strike a terrific blow and quickly leave the
room. This blow was struck with an ax and
proved fatal, causing instant death to Mr. A.
J. Stillwell. The ax, Mr. Stillwell's pocket-
book and twenty-five dollars in money were
found in the alley at the rear of the residence,
with the barn doors and the kitchen doors in
the rear of the house all open. The burglar is
supposed to have obtained about $60 and in
his flight dropped the above $25. Circum-
stances warrant the belief that more than one
person was engaged in the crime.
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD
Ten Thousand Dollars reward is hereby
offered for the arrest and conviction of the
person or persons guilty of the murder, or for
information leading to the arrest and convic-
tion of the guilty party or parties. Any infor-
mation given will be treated in confidence if
so desired and proper protection guaranteed
to any one furnishing information.
R. H. STILLWELL,
Administrator.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 37
DETECTIVES DISCOURAGED
The marriage of Fannie C. Stillwell to Dr. Joseph
C. Hearne caused much discussion. Immediately after
the murder detectives took the case in hand, but were
somewhat unsuccessful in their efforts to find the guilty
party or parties. They arrested several men who lived
in shanties along the river. Several negroes were also
arrested on suspicion and detained for a number of
days, but no proof could be found against them, so
they were discharged. It is claimed by reliable persons
that the detectives were not allowed to follow up clues
that pointed in the right direction. The detectives
traced it to the house, but Richard Stillwell told them
that if it implicated any member of the Stillwell family
he would not pay out another cent. His friends say
that he would give $50,000 to see his father's butcher
dangle at a rope's end, but that he loves his sister and
little brothers too well to see them suffer for a crime
of which they are innocent. Before Richard Stillwell
offered a suitable reward, he imposed one condition—
that the detectives should not conduct an investigation
upon the theory that the murderer gained entrance to
the house through the assistance of some one on the
inside. Being thus discouraged the search was finally
given up and this horrible crime was allowed to pass as
a mystery, although Hannibal's good citizens were
never fully satisfied.
A TRIP THAT WAS NOT TAKEN
Dr. Hearne and his wife had the outward appear-
ance of being a happy couple. The doctor seemed
very much devoted to his wife, but the world soon saw
that all was not happiness in their home. This sensa-
tional story came from a New York paper: A lady came
aboard the Bremen steamer “Spree” with passage for
herself, two children and a nurse. She requested that
her presence on the ship be known under no circum-
stances. She did not wish her husband to find her.
She said if her instructions were not obeyed she would
leave the steamer and go abroad by another line. The

38 THE STILL WELL MURDER
lady retired to her state-room. Shortly before the
“Spree” was to sail a heavy-set man, inclined to be
florid, came aboard. He seemed very much excited
and demanded to see his wife without delay. Per-
mission was at first refused; he then stormed and raved,
running from one state-room to another, calling:
“Fannie, Fannie! Only one word with you and you
can go. Please grant it.” He was finally conducted
to his wife's state-room. When she opened the door
he took her in his arms and showered kisses upon her
face. Two of the ship's officers stood close at hand,
fearing violence, but the doctor had no such intention.
He seemed to have a remarkable influence over his
wife, as she immediately consented to leave the steamer
with him. The nurse then came upon the pair. When
her gaze fell upon the man she got livid with anger;
she abused him, calling him a liar and a scoundrel.
After the girl quieted down, preparations were made
to leave the ship, the girl going with reluctance. The
husband and wife proved to be Dr. and Mrs. Hearne;
the supposed nurse was Mollie Stillwell, daughter of
Mrs. Hearne; the children were hers by her first
husband. Mrs. Hearne stated to a reporter that she
had started to Europe with her daughter, who desired
to complete her education in Germany. The doctor
was opposed to this idea. Taking advantage of the
doctor's absence at Decatur, Ill., where he was
attending a convention, Mrs. Hearne purchased tickets
and started for New York. Her husband in some way
learned of her departure and followed her. Dr. Hearne
telegraphed Richard Stillwell to meet him in Chicago
and take charge of his rebellious sister, which he did.
Mollie Stillwell was placed in an academy for young
ladies in Indiana. Dr. and Mrs. Hearne went to St. Joe.
In a few weeks they and their children went to Los
Angeles, Cal. Various reports have come from there.
One was to the effect that Mrs. Hearne's mind was
giving away; another that she was going to sue for a
divorce. The doctor wrote to a Hannibal friend stating
that he is delighted with the climate and that they are

THE STILL WELL MURDER 39
living among white people and the children are
attending school.
MRS, DR. HEARNE GRANTED A DIVORCE
Recently a statement was made on the street to the
effect that Mrs. Dr. J. C. Hearne, of San Diego, Cal.,
had been granted a divorce from her husband on the
grounds of cruelty and failure to provide. The com-
plaint was filed July 21st, 1894, and a judgment of
divorce on the ground of cruelty and failure to provide
was granted August 1oth. Mrs. Hearne resumed her
former name of Fannie C. Stillwell. Dr. Hearne
insisted that the principal ground of disagreement
between himself and wife has been incompatibility of
temperament, and says that his wife's daughter, Mollie,
has had a most disturbing influence in the household. It
was stated by friends of Mrs. Hearne that the doctor
told his wife that he would directly charge her with
being the murderer of her husband, Amos J. Stillwell,
if she persisted in seeking a divorce. She defied him
and told him to tell all he knew, warning him that he
stood on dangerous ground. After the complaint was
filed by his wife he went to La Jolla and called at the
cottage occupied by Mrs. Hearne and children. He
was denied entrance, but forced his way into the house
and going to the door of Mrs. Hearne's room, which
was locked, burst his way in with an ax. They first
located at Los Angeles, but the story followed them
there and they finally went to La Jolla.
MARRIED AGAIN
Shortly after securing a divorce, Dr. Joseph C.
Hearne and Mrs. Fannie C. Stillwell were re-married
by a justice of the peace. Mrs. Stillwell was plainly
dressed, while Dr. Hearne was ostentatiously attired in
black broadcloth.
CHAPTER VI
THE LIFE OF AMOS J. STILLWELL
;3|MOS J. STILL WELL was one of the oldest
3. and most esteemed citizens of Hannibal.
He was the senior member of the pork-
packing firm of Stillwell & Co., John E.
Stillwell, a nephew of the deceased, and
Richard H. Stillwell, a son, being the other members of
the firm. Mr. Stillwell had been married twice.
Richard Stillwell was the only child of his first wife.
Mr. Stillwell had three children by his second wife—
Mollie, aged 14 years; Harold, 8 years, and Earl
about 4 years. Mr. Stillwell was 57 years old; his
second wife was about twenty years his junior. Mr.
Stillwell was one of the most solid and one of the
wealthiest business men in Hannibal, being both honest
and influential. He was not a member of any church,
but attended the Episcopal church and contributed to
its support. He resided in Hannibal for many years
and lived in a handsome residence on Fifth street
between Broadway and Church streets. The house is
one of the finest in the city. This house was elegantly
furnished, but the better portion was added after Mr.
Stillwell was murdered. Mrs. Hearne, who had come
into her share of her late husband's estate, spent money
with a lavish hand. With all of his indulgence, he had
never provided anything like the luxury with which his
widow surrounded herself. She had the room in which
the murder had been done overhauled and occupied
that room herself, which seemed inconsistent with her
nervousness. Mr. Stillwell was a Kentuckian by birth
and was quite a young man when he came to Hannibal
from his native state. He had some money left him by
his father. He went into the pork-packing business
and prospered, and in the course of about fifteen years
he amassed quite a fortune. Before leaving Kentucky
he married a beautiful Kentucky lady, but it was
rumored that she was ruled by her husband. Mr.



THE STILL WELL MURDER 41
Stillwell was kind-hearted, but was a very positive man.
One child blessed this union, and not a great while
afterward, the wife died. Mr. Stillwell remained a
widower until 1870. He was a very plain old gentle-
man, and did not go much into society. He was honest
in all of his dealings and had but few active enemies.
ROMANCE OF THE CRIME
The second Mrs. Stillwell's maiden name was
Fannie Anderson. She was considered a very handsome
girl. She lived in Maysville, Kentucky. She had
beautiful, dark flowing hair and a lovely complexion.
Being well educated, an accomplished musician and a
brilliant conversationalist, she could fascinate when she
chose. Her mother died when she was quite young
and her father married the second time. She and her
step-mother could not agree. When she was old
enough her father placed her in a convent, where she
graduated. Upon her return home her relations with
her step-mother were not improved. She finally
resolved to return to the convent and take the veil.
The Anderson family were much opposed to this idea.
Her father remonstrated; relatives and friends advised
her not to throw her young life away. She then
decided not to carry out this intention. She then went
to Greencastle, Ind., to live with her uncle, Eli Ander-
son. Her beauty soon made her a favorite in society.
One day Mrs. Anderson, who is a sister of Amos Still-
well, received a letter from her brother, stating that
business called him east and that he would stop and
make her a visit. When he arrived at his sister's he
seemed to forget that it was business that called him
east. He fell in love with pretty Fannie Anderson.
He remained a few weeks and then went away. It was
announced that Mr. Stillwell would stop on his return
to Missouri, and when he returned a wedding took place
at the Anderson home. When he resumed his journey
he was accompanied by a young girl, his bride,
formerly Fannie Anderson. Mrs. Stillwell, being
young and pretty, soon assumed the leadership of

42 THE STILL WELL MURDER
society. She was about twenty-one years of age. She
had a high temper and a will of her own, and the old
pork-packer did not always have his own way.
Remembering the sufferings of her early life she was
very kind to Dick Stillwell and often interceded in his
behalf. In fact, she was so kind to him that he grew to
entertain a very strong liking for her, much stronger
than the most of sons usually have for a step-mother.
The good people of Hannibal are still anxious that
the murderer of this good old man be brought to justice.
DR. JOSEPH. C. HEARNE
Dr. Joseph C. Hearne was a widower with two
daughters. His first wife was Fannie Brown, daughter
of Dr. Marion Brown, now deceased. Dr. Hearne
was tall, erect and had a commanding air about him,
in fact he was rather inclined to be domineering. He
was popular and kind to his friends. He understood
his profession. He was several times appointed city
physician of Hannibal. The doctor at one time ran for
mayor, but was defeated by a large majority. He was
appointed chief surgeon of the H. & St. Joe R. R.
*S*
CHAPTER VII
THE REWARD WITHDRAWN
# HE motive that led Mr. R. H. Stillwell to
withdraw the $10,000 reward for the
apprehension of the murderer or murderers
of his father has been investigated. Mr.
Stillwell has experienced a change of mind.
He held tenaciously to the robbery theory, but recent
developments have served to convince him otherwise.
He will now follow up a more plausible clew, and those
who have been his most severe critics will soon applaud
his course, as he is determined to bring the guilty to
justice, no matter who they are. A very important
witness resides in Chicago, and this witness has hinted
facts that opened the eyes of the murdered man's son.
The murderer of Amos J. Stillwell is nearer to the
gallows now than ever before. Mr. Stillwell does not
believe that it is necessary to expend $10,000 to catch
the villain who murdered his aged father. He will now
take the matter in his own hands.
HEARNE-DeYOUNG LIBEL SUIT
Dr. Joseph C. Hearne brings suit against the
San Francisco Chronicle asking $200,000 damages.
Efforts to keep the separation of Dr. Joseph C. Hearne
and Fannie Hearne secret cause the facts to be made
public. Following is the article Dr. Hearne claims to
be libelous:
[Special Dispatch to the Chronicle.]
San Diego, August 25:—It has just leaked out that
a divorce was granted on the Ioth inst to Fannie C.
Hearne from Dr. Joseph C. Hearne of this city.
The prominence of the principals in social circles
here, as well as a certain incident in their
career at Hannibal, Mo., makes the separation of
more than passing interest. Mrs. Hearne was at the
time of her marriage to the doctor, four years ago, the
widow of Amos J. Stillwell, a wealthy pork-packer of


44 THE STILLWELL MURDER
Hannibal, whose murder less than a year previous to
her second marriage was one of the most exciting
events in the history of that city. The complaint was
filed on July 25th by her attorneys, W. T. McNealy
and Conkling & Hughes, but the matter was kept secret
by mutual consent. The charges were cruelty and
failure to provide, and were made, it appears, on an
understanding that no defense would be presented when
the case came to trial. Persons cognizant of the
feelings existing between the doctor and his wife have
long been looking for the institution of a suit for legal
separation, their disagreement being of common report.
Indeed it was stated by friends of Mrs. Hearne that she
had been deterred only by fear of personal violence
from filing a complaint long ago, containing even more
sensational charges against the doctor than that of
cruelty directed against herself. The couple have been
residents of this city for some years, Dr. Hearne being
one of the best-known physicians in this city. They
lived in a fine house at the corner of First and Laurel
streets until the present trouble led to a breaking up of
the family, since which time the doctor has made his
home at the corner of Fourth and Ash streets, where
his offices are located. Mrs. Hearne, or Mrs. Stillwell,
as she now is called, for she was permitted to resume
the name of her former husband at the time of granting
the divorce, is spending the summer at La Jolla with
her daughter Mary and two sons. Dr. Hearne's two
daughters, the fruit of a former marriage, are visiting
their old home at Hannibal, where the marriage just
annulled took place. No children were born of the
union. At the trial evidence was elicited showing the
doctor to be a man of most ungovernable temper, the
use of profane and abusive language being one of the
offenses charged, but such incidents as hurling of dishes
at his wife when engaged in arguments were referred
to by witnesses for the prosecution. These wild out-
bursts are said, however, to be merely a suggestion of
the evidence which it would have been possible to intro-
duce in case there had been a contest. Intimate
DR JOSEPH. C. HEARNE


46 THE STILL WELL MURDER
relations alleged to have been sustained by the doctor
with various women of San Diego, it is said, would have
afforded material for racy charges. The doctor wisely
allowed the suit to go by default. Mrs. Stillwell had
been contemplating a trip to Europe for some time past,
but has been prevented from leaving by the severe
illness of her daughter. Dr. Hearne insists that the
principal ground of disagreement between himself and
wife was incompatibility of temper, and he says that his
wife's daughter Mary has had a most disturbing
influence in the household. It is known, however, that
he was averse to a divorce and certain threats of a
sensational nature are said to have been made
by him to prevent the filing of the complaint.
After the filing of the complaint by his wife,
the doctor went to La Jolla and calling at the
cottage occupied by her and her children, he was
denied entrance. He forced his way within and going
to the door of Mrs. Hearne's room, which was locked,
burst his way in with an ax.
These circumstances were well known to persons
staying at La Jolla and led to an inquiry regarding the
cause of disagreement. The antecedents of the entire
family were investigated, with the result that all the
details yet known regarding the tragedy at Hannibal
have become known to those interested. It is with
reference to them that the greatest interest is felt. The
newspapers published at Hannibal and Kansas City at
the time of the murder say that late on the night of
December 29, 1888, Mrs. Stillwell is said to have
appeared at Dr. Allen's house barefooted and in her
night clothes to give an alarm on account of the murder
of her husband, whose body she said she had found in
a pool of blood in a room adjoining her own. Being
awakened by a disturbance, she had arisen to find that
he had been killed with an ax while she slept. That
robbery was not the motive was evident from the fact
that nothing of value had been taken. The ax was one
belonging to the place and had been observed a day or
two previous by servants near the front doorstep in the

THE STILL WELL MURDER 47
yard. Dr. Hearne was the family physician and one of
the first to reach the house and assist in waking the
servants. The police made some startling discoveries.
One of the back doors was open, but the bolts showed
no signs of having been forced. On the steps leading
to the first floor parlor matches were found as well as
some pieces of silver money. In the dining-room
burned matches were strewn about. The trail led out
of the rear door into the back yard, where more silver
was found; and a few steps from the house, at the door
of a wood shed, were more matches. The murderer
seemed to have had a mania for burning matches, which
was more unaccountable in that he had not used them
to make light. They seemed to have been ignited and
thrown down ere they had sputtered twice. A blood-
stained ax with which the deed was committed, was
found near by and close beside it several $5 bills.
Money was evidently no object to this murderer. All
evidence of the crime was quickly cleared away. The
funeral of the rich packer took place on New Year's day.
Before the following Christmas the wedding of Dr.
Hearne and the widow was announced, and then it was
recalled that previous to the tragedy the relations
existing between the doctor and the Stillwell family
had been of the most intimate nature. Ugly rumors
began to spread abroad, and up to the present time
grand juries in session at Hannibal have had the matter
under inquiry fifteen or sixteen times, but no indict-
ment has ever been found.
The social relations of the family became
unpleasant, and Dr. Hearne having secured the appoint-
ment of surgeon for the Hannibal and St. Joseph Rail-
road Company, they removed to St. Joseph. The story
followed them there and they soon came to Los
Angeles, where they found that the report of the murder
had preceded them. They then came on to this city,
where they have been living ever since. Soon after the
marriage difficulty arose and Mrs. Hearne took passage
for Europe, but was followed to the steamer by her
husband and induced to return to him. The daughter

48 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Mary then gave him a “tongue lashing” in public, which
was very pointed, and helped to renew the inquiry
regarding the Hannibal tragedy. Nothing has ever
transpired to fix the crime upon any one, but it is said
that whenever a grand jury is drawn at Hannibal the
whole matter is gone over afresh and an attempt made
to unearth new evidence. Any facts found pertaining
to the case are sealed up in an envelope and left for the
next grand jury.
HEARNE'S STATEMENT
In the fourth paragraph it is stated that Mrs.
Hearne testified during the divorce proceedings that
she “feared personal violence and filed even more
sensational charges than cruelty directed against her-
self.” That is a lie made out of whole cloth. And then
in the seventh paragraph of the article it is stated that
“evidence was elicited that I used profane and abusive
language in her presence and hurled dishes at her,”
which is villainously false. In the eighth paragraph
it is said that I was accused of “intimacy with various
women of San Diego”—another baseless statement.
Then in the ninth paragraph I am accused of threats of
a character to prevent the filing of the complaint. This
is absolutely untrue, as the divorce was mutually agreed
to. The statement that I burst my way into her room
at La Jolla with an ax is also absolutely false. It was
my custom to visit my wife there every Saturday night
and remain over Sunday.
“But,” asked the newsman, “didn't you break open
the door?”
“I found it locked and merely pushed it in.
There was not an ax about the house. It is not neces-
sary for me to call attention to the statement that I was
the first person at the Stillwell house after the murder.
Even my earnest enemies in Hannibal admit that such
was not the case. I never located at Los Angeles, as
alleged in the fifteenth paragraph. When we left
Missouri our tickets or passes read St. Joseph to San
Diego. These are the grounds of my suit against the

THE STILL WELL MURDER 49
San Francisco Chronicle and I am satisfied that I will
get judgment for the amount asked.”
IN HANNIBAL
Dr. Hearne, of San Diego, Cal., accompanied by
Judge Hendrick, of that state, arrived in the city on the
evening of July 4th, 1895, and will remain in Hannibal
until the work of taking the depositions in the case of
Dr. Hearne against the San Francisco Chronicle is
concluded.
PART OF DEPOSITIONS
The depositions in the libel suits of Dr. Hearne
against the San Francisco Chronicle for $200,000, there
being two suits of $100,000 each, will be taken at the
office of Hon. Geo. A. Mahan, before Judge Samuel J.
Harrison, beginning July 9th, 1895. Dr. Hearne and
his attorney, Judge Hendrick, of San Diego, Cal., will
be present. The Chronicle will be represented by Hon.
Geo. A. Mahan. A. L. Clark, the personal representa-
tive of Mr. DeYoung, of the San Francisco Chronicle,
is in the city to represent Mr. DeYoung. Mr. DeYoung
is now in Paris. Mr. Clark is a very bright young man
and has spent a great deal of time on the Stillwell.
murder case. -
DICK STILL WELL’S STARTLING TESTINTONY
Asserts that He Has Learned that His Father's Wife and
Dr. Hearne Were Intimate–Other Statements
Richard H. Stillwell testified as follows: What is
your name, age and where do you live?
Richard H. Stillwell, age 39, live in Hannibal, have
lived here thirty-seven years. My business is provision
dealer.
Who was your father?
Amos J. Stillwell.
Were you at Mr. Munger's party on the night of
Dec. 28, 1888?
I was not.

50 THE STILL WELL MURDER
What time did you retire that night?
I retired between II and 12 o'clock.
Where did you live at that time?
At 1221 Bird street, probably three-quarters of a
mile from my father's house.
Where was your father's house?
On South Fifth street.
Did you receive any information from your father's
house on that night? If so, what was it, and how did
you receive it?
I received it by telephone, about 20 minutes to 2
o'clock. I went down stairs and William League
stated to me that my father had been killed by a burglar,
and wanted me to come there immediately. I went
up stairs and tried to persuade myself that possibly I
might have been mistaken. After I was thoroughly
waked up I went down the second time and called up
my father's residence, and Will League answered and
he told me the second time that my father had been
killed—hit on the head with an ax, and he would like
to have me come down at once. I dressed as rapidly
as possible and went to the house.
Now state in detail what you found at your father's
house when you arrived there.
When I arrived, there were present Dr. Allen and
his wife, Dr. Gleason and his wife, John Stillwell and
wife, Dr. Hearne and probably several others.
What did you do? Give in detail as near as you
Ca11.
As well as I can remember I went first to my
father's room and looked at him, put my hand on him,
and made up my mind positively that he was dead.
Possibly after a few minutes' conversation with one or
two parties that were standing near me, I went out into
the wood shed and into the alley to the rear
of the house to see if there was any indication,
or could find any clue that might possibly lead
to the party or parties. We found there in the
alley a roll of bills—probably $20 or $30–
one silver dollar, and possibly a silver quarter that had

THE STILL WELL MURDER 51
been dropped out of his pocket-book. We also found
the empty pocket-book. We found, a little further
along toward the south end of the alley, a double-bladed
ax with which he had been struck. The ax had some
bloody stains on it, and evidently was the weapon that
was used for the murder.
Was it an ax used around the house?
It was said to have been by the servants of the
house. I was not familiar with the ax.
How far was this ax found from the door leading
from the barn into the alley and from which direction?
It was found probably seventy-five feet south of
the barn door, at the rear of my father's premises.
Was it under anything?
No, sir, it was lying very close to an old wood shed
in the rear of the Hickman property and behind the
base-board, which was loose and partly protruded from
the barn.
Where was the money found with reference to the
ax?
I should say almost half-way between the barn
door and the place where the ax lay.
Do you remember who found the money and ax?
I do not remember who found either the money
or the ax.
Was there anything else found that you remember
of?
No, sir.
Well, after you got these things, what did you do?
I think they were given to me and I put them in
my pocket and brought them in the house and preserved
them quite a while.
Did you make any examination of the doors or
the windows of the house?
My recollection is that the parties that were with
me in the alley made an examination so far as possible
of the doors and windows. We saw no marks of any
º that would indicate their having been tampered
With.
How was the lock on the front door?

52 THE STILL WELL MURDER
The lock on the front door is what is commonly
known as a night-lock, provided with a key and lock–
the key on the outside or inside; provided also was a
night key that could be used on the outside.
How was the door to your father's room fastened?
The door of my father's room was provided with
a brass mortised lock.
Do you know whether there was any bolt on that
door or not?
I think there was.
Which door was that—the one entering the hall?
Yes, sir.
What other doors were there leading into your
father's room?
There was a door leading to the room adjoining
on the east. There was also a door leading from my
father's room to the room adjoining on the north, and
another leading into a bath-room on the west.
Did you examine the room in which your father's
body was found?
Yes, sir, I examined it as well as I could in the
time I was there; possibly was too much excited to have
entered into details with reference to it.
Where was your father's clothing that he wore?
As well as I remember his clothing was on a chair
just south of his bed, and his pants belonging to that
suit were found on the floor at the foot of his bed.
State how your father was lying when you saw
him, in detail.
He was lying, as well as I could describe it, in the
attitude of prayer, on the north side of his bed, with his
knees almost touching the floor, with one arm extending
around his head, and the other arm hanging down by
his side.
Did you find any wound on him?
I saw the wound where the ax had struck him.
How was his head laying with reference to that
wound?
My recollection is that the wound in his head was
exposed to view. My recollection also is that the blood

THE STILL WELL MURDER 53
on his side was congealed. He looked as though he
had lain in the blood and afterwards either been pulled
around or fluttered himself around. I think the indi-
cations are that he had been pulled around to the
position that he occupied.
Did you notice how his feet rested on the floor?
I do not remember just how they rested. I do not
think his knees were resting on the floor. I think the
weight of the body was so as to prevent his knees
touching the floor.
Where was the blood on the bed?
The blood on the bed was in the lower part of the
bed, where he lay; the blood seemed to have run almost
down to his feet.
Where from P
The head—almost to the head.
Did you observe any indentation on the pillow or
bed; if so, what part?
I think I observed an indentation of the bolster
and pillow where he was lying. My recollection is there
was some blood either on the bolster or pillow, probably
the bolster.
With reference to the center of the bed where was
this indentation?
I think it was near the center.
What indication, if any, was there of the blood
having run down towards the foot of the bed?
I do not understand the question exactly.
Now state where the blood had run from, and to
what point?
The blood, as I remember, had run from the
bolster to where my father's feet would have extended
if outstretched.
Where did you find the congealed blood that you
speak off
The congealed blood was on the bed.
Was it all congealed?
I think all the blood was congealed.
Do you remember whether the blood had soaked
through any part of the bedding?

54 THE STILL WELL MURDER
I did not examine the mattress. I suppose, as a
matter of fact, it did.
Did you observe any blood on your father?
I did.
Just detail if it ran over the body at all.
My recollection is that the blood extended almost
to his feet on one side of his body.
Do you remember which side that was?
I cannot say positively.
How did it seem to have run down on the sheet
from the wound?
It seemed to have flowed from the bolster towards
the foot of the bed. Underneath him and between him
and the sheet.
Between him and the sheet?
Yes, sir.
Do you remember who was in the room while you
were there?
I do not.
What did you do after having made the examina-
tion?
My recollection is I sat down and talked with the
party who made the examination with me.
Do you remember to have looked at your father's
face at the time you first saw him?
I could only see his side face.
Do you know whether his eyes were shut or
opened?
I could not see; they were obstructed from view.
Did you afterwards see him?
I did not.
Who was the undertaker who took charge of the
body?
Mr. S. J. Miller.
What became of the bed upon which your father
was killed?
So far as I know the bed and mattress were put in
the barn at the rear of the house. I think they remained
there for some time after he was killed, possibly as long
as a year.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 55.
~
How long after you arrived there was it before the
bed and bedding were taken down?
My recollection is that the bed and bedding were
not removed out of the room until near breakfast time
in the morning.
Do you know what time the undertaker arrived?
I do not.
Or the coroner?
I do not.
Do you know whether or not there was any of the
family plate or silverware of the family in that room on
that night?
I think there was.
Was it disturbed?
It was lying on the mantel. It was undisturbed.
In your examination of the premises did you find
any burned matches?
I found quite a number at the door in the lower
hall leading into the dining-room, and from there on out
towards the rear of the premises. These matches were
well burned. They looked to be matches that were
used in the house and parlor. They impressed me with
the idea that some one had used them at that particular
place to light the way, for possibly a second party was
upstairs and committed the murder.
At what door were these matches found with
reference to the door entering your father's room?
At a door down stairs almost directly underneath
a door that leads from my father's room into the front
hall.
Into what room did that door enter?
Into the dining-room and from that door straight
out from the house, through the kitchen into the back
yard and through the wood shed. A man to have
passed out of the house from where the matches lay
would have simply to have walked through the diming-
room and through the kitchen. There were also a few
matches burned at the cellar door, which goes from the
inside of the house down into the cellar. These
matches were found on the cellar side of the door,

356 THE STILL WELL MURDER
which looked to me as though possibly some one might
have gone down in the cellar from the outside door,
and possibly tried to have obtained an entrance to the
house from the cellar door.
Did you find any matches in the lower hallway?
Not that I remember of. The matches seemed to
have been in one place.
Do you remember or not whether there was any
on the stairway leading up?
I do not remember to have seen any there.
Do you remember to have seen any in the wood
shed?
My recollection is that there were some burned
matches in the barn, used possibly for some one to find
the ax.
Did you see your mother that night, or Mrs.
Stillwell?
Yes, sir.
Did you have any talk with her?
I did not.
Where was she when you saw her?
Lying in the room north of my father's bed-room
on a lounge, possibly Dr. Hearne and one or two ladies
sitting around her.
Whose room was that?
The room was commonly known as Mollie Still-
well's room—my father's daughter and half-sister of
mine.
Was she at home that night?
She was not.
Do you know where she was?
She was visiting in Quincy.
Did you see any of your father's children?
I did not.
Or the servants?
I saw the servants of the house after the murder.
HDo not remember how long after.
How frequently did you see Dr. H. that morning
after you got there? -
I think Dr. Hearne remained there constantly until
breakfast time.
|
-|
ſ
|


58 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Where was he?
He was at or near the lounge where my father's
wife was lying.
In whose charge was your mother, practically?
In charge of Dr. Hearne.
Did you have any talk with Dr. Hearne?
I do not remember to have done so.
During the morning, you mean?
Yes, sir, about the time of my father's murder.
Do you remember where your father was laid out—
in what room?
I think his body was washed off in the bed-room
where he was killed. My recollection is that he was
afterwards brought down into the parlor, on the first
floor and in the front of the house.
Where he lay until he was buried?
Yes, sir.
Do you remember what day he was buried on?
My recollection is he was buried on the last day of
December of the year 1888.
What time did you return to your own home from
your father's house the morning of the murder?
Think I returned about 6 o'clock. From second
thought do not believe I ate any breakfast that morning.
There was quite a general excitement, was there
not?
Yes, sir.
Were you frequently at your father's house between
the time of the murder and when he was buried?
Yes, sir; I was.
Where was Mrs. Stillwell during that time?
I think she spent most of the time in the front
room of the house, on the second floor just west of my
father’s bed-room.
Was it Mollie’s room?
It was not.
Mollie's was west of that, was it not?
It was north.
Who was with her most frequently, if anyone,
during that time?
I think Dr. Hearne was with her almost constantly.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 59.
Did you see her yourself?
I did.
Very frequently?
Well, very frequently. I cannot say how often.
Who was there when you saw her?
My recollection is that there was always present
one or two ladies.
When you saw her?
Yes, sir.
Was there any one else except the ladies?
I think not, as well as I can remember. Dr.
Hearne's intentions were to keep the room as quiet as
possible.
During the morning of the murder, who, if any
one, was constantly in attendance upon Mrs. Stillwell—
what physician, if any?
Dr. Hearne was the only one I saw.
Where was your mother during the funeral services
of the body of your fatther?
She was in the front room on the second floor of
my father's residence.
Who was with her, if any one?
My recollection is that Dr. Hearne and possibly
Mollie; probably one or two other ladies.
Do you remember whether or not she attended or
went to the cemetery?
I think she did not.
I mean at the time your father was buried?
She did not.
What, if anything, did Mrs. Fannie Stillwell do
hºtly after the burial of your father? Where did she
go:
Possibly a week or two after my father was killed
she went to Battle Creek, Mich. I think Dr. Hearne
went with her.
Do you remember who else went with her?
My brother and my wife also.
How long did she stay there?
Cannot say; probably several months.
Do you know who brought her back?
I think Dr. Hearne was there several times during

60 THE STILL WELL MURDER
her stay, and I believe he either met her on the way
back or possibly went to Battle Creek for her.
Do you remember a publication giving the details
of the murder of your father in the Chicago Herald?
I cannot say positively about the name of specific
newspapers; quite a number have gone into detail about
the matter. I think, however, I have seen it in the
Chicago Herald.
Now, with reference to that first publication, do
you know whether or not Dr. Hearne left here and
went to Battle Creek, Mich.”
I think he went directly there.
(Objected to as leading.)
On the return of your mother to Hannibal, where
did she reside?
At her residence on Fifth street, where my father
was killed.
Who, if any one, was a visitor or constant visitor
at the house? Do you know?
Dr. Hearne was a frequent visitor at the house.
Many ladies also frequently visited the house.
Did you see Dr. Hearne and Mrs. Fannie C. Still-
well together in such a way as to observe the conduct
of either? -
(Objected to as leading.)
I saw them frequently together.
What was Dr. Hearne's conduct toward her?
What did it indicate?
(Objected to as leading.)
My impressions of his conduct toward her were
that his movements, his language and his touch were
as gentle and affectionate as they could be.
When did you first make this observation, Mr.
Stillwell?
Within a day or two after my father was killed.
What did it cause you to do, if anything?
Dr. Hearne's conduct and conditions caused me
to write a letter to Mrs. Stillwell, in Battle Creek, and
advise her that if she was not aware of Dr. Hearne's
devotions and attentions to her, or if he had not already
proposed to her, my belief was that he soon would, and

THE STILL WELL MURDER 61
that unless she stopped her attentions to him or com-
pelled him to keep away from her, or in other words,
if she should accept a proposition of marriage from him,
which I could see was inevitable, my opinion was she
could no longer associate with respectable people in
this community, or be looked upon with respect in
Hannibal.
What effect, if any, did that letter have on Mrs.
Fannie C. Stillwell? -
My impression is that she wrote back and told me
that I was mistaken in my judgment about Dr. Hearne,
that he was naturally kind and sympathetic; and she
believed his attentions and actions were natural—that
is, they would have been the same to any other woman.
How long was this letter written after the death of
your father?
Would say probably two months.
Now with reference to that time, how long prior
had you observed this relationship existing between
them?
I had observed it from the start, commencing with
my father's murder.
Did your letter affect or in any way break off the
relationship?
No, sir; it did not.
How long did it continue after that?
It continued until they were married.
What was the date of the marriage?
Probably in December, 1889.
Had you any information or knowledge of any
relationship existing between Dr. Hearne and Mrs.
Fannie C. Stillwell, the wife of your father, prior to
the death of your father? (Objected to as leading.)
I had not.
Have you since learned of anything of that kind?
(Objected to as leading.)
Yes, sir; I have.
What is the general nature of that knowledge and
information? What is the conduct?
I have learned within the past two weeks that Dr.
Hearne and my father's wife were, before my father's,

62 THE STILLWELL MURDER
death, in love with each other. Their actions and
conduct on one occasion caused my father's wife to be
alarmed at the situation that existed between the two,
and that she in some way tried to break off this
relationship and persuaded one or two persons to have a
talk with Dr. Hearne, and induce him to quit exercising
his influence over her—to induce him to stop his visits
to her; and that Dr. Hearne at that time told that party
who had interfered in the matter that he was not willing
to stop his devotions to my father's wife; that he did
not consider my father a fit companion for her; that he
intended to use his influence to bring about a divorce
between my father's wife and my father; that on one
occasion he made a remark to the party who had talked
with him that he could hire a man to slug my father for
a very small sum. I also have learned lately, which I
never knew before, that Dr. Hearne was too
intimate with my father's wife before my father was
killed. I have learned on one occasion, while my father
was in St. Louis, that Dr. Hearne was in my father's
house one night when he returned suddenly and unex-
pectedly; that Dr. Hearne was in the house when my
father walked in the door; my father passed him in the
hallway upstairs without my father's knowledge, and
after my father went into his room and locked his door
Dr. Hearne slipped out of the house and went home.
I have also learned that he was cautioned in his actions
touching this matter, and replied that if he had met my
father in the hall that night he would have shot him
dead on the spot. He also made a remark that he had
a revolver with him. The party with whom he had
this conversation made the remark to him that he
would some day be found out in his tricks with my
father's wife, and he replied that doctors and ministers
were never suspected. I desire to state that prior to
this knowledge I believed they were innocent of the
crime—that they were not too intimate with
each other, and that the suspicious circumstances which
connected them with the crime of my father's murder
were excluded from my mind; but these statements
have changed my mind with reference to the murder.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 63
Have you read the daily press of Hannibal con-
taining accounts of the murder of your father during
the last eight years?
I have read many of them.
And also the press of the eastern cities, Chicago
and St. Louis, containing such accounts?
I have.
Have these publications been frequent since the
death of your father?
They have.
In a general way whose names were connected or
associated with the murder of your father?
Among the names I will mention I think those of
Dr. Hearne and his wife.
Whose name or names, if any, are by general
repute among the people of Hannibal connected and
associated with the murder of your father?
I have not heard any names associated with it,
with the exception of Dr. Hearne and his wife by
inference.
How long have such rumors or repute been
prevalent among the people?
Possibly six years. “I desire to state one thing
that I omitted,” said Mr. Stillwell. “I have been told
that Mr. R. E. Anderson, an attorney of this city, and
now the attorney for the plaintiff in this case, knew
from time to time and that both my father's wife and
Dr. Hearne consulted with him from day to day.”
Here Mr. Mahan suggested to the witness that
it was unnecessary to give his opinion. The witness
hesitated for a few moments when he was asked by
Mr. Mahan if he had anything further to say.
“Nothing,” he suggested, “unless I am permitted
to proceed as I started.” Mr. Mahan then suggested
that he could do so, as he had no special objection to
urge. The witness continued: “It is my belief, from
what I have heard, that Mr. Anderson knew they were
intimate; that they talked together and consulted him
about the plan to get my father out of the way or
obtain a divorce, with alimony; that Mr. Anderson

64 THE STILL WELL MURDER
advised them that he could obtain a divorce, and rather
urged them to this procedure.”
Here Judge Hendrick suggested that this testi-
mony had developed a new matter, and asked that an
adjournment be agreed upon until 9 o'clock this morn-
ing. Such action was agreed to by M1, Mahan. When
the investigation begins again this morning, the cross-
examination of R. H. Stillwell will be begun.
CROSS-EXAMINATION OF R. H. STILL WELL
R. H. Stillwell was the first witness on the stand
on cross-examination. Before the witness began testi-
fying, Judge Hendrick, Dr. Hearne's attorney, wanted
to know of Judge Harrison if he issued subpoenaes in
the case.
“I do,” was the reply.
“Then I want a subpoenae for R. H. Stillwell. I
learn that he is going to light out this evening,” said
Judge Hendrick.
“What do you mean by 'light out'?” asked Mr.
Mahan, who suggested that Mr. S. was merely going
to leave the city on business.
Judge Hendrick then said: This is a witness who
came out of his way to bring evidence irrelevant in this
case. All the evidence introduced in this case bearing
on the murder of Amos J. Stillwell is irrelevant and
immaterial. The answer of the defendant denies that
they made any such charge. The witness in his
evidence of yesterday, partly in response to the ques-
tions which were asked him and partly of his own
volition, came forward and made statements which are
positively blasting, not only to the reputation of the
plaintiff in this case, but also to a certain citizen who is
not a party to this action and an attorney in this city.
The newspapers state that the wife of Dr. Hearne is
on her way here and will probably arrive here this
evening or in the morning, and it is nothing more than
right that the witness should be confronted and com-
pelled to renew his statements. We enter upon the
cross-examination with the understanding that we

THE STILLWELL MURDER 65
proceed to a certain point and shall ask the witness to
appear on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. If
not, I want him subpoenaed as a witness in behalf of
plaintiff.
Judge Harrison stated that the matter would be
taken under advisement and passed upon later, and the
deposition of Mr. S. was proceeded with.
Mr. Mahan, on direct examination, first became
the questioner as follows:
Have the grand juries ever investigated the murder
of Amos J. Stillwell?
Yes, sir; they have.
How frequently, to your knowledge?
Should say five or six times, by five or six different
grand juries.
During what period of time?
During the past six years.
Now, if I am permitted to do so, Mr. Hendrick, I
would like to state that I have been accused by ninety-
five per cent of this community of having done all
within my power to suppress any conviction, or bringing
to light this crime for a period of five or six years. I
believed firmly in the innocence of both Dr. Hearne and
his wife, and I so asserted myself boldly on many
occasions. I simply stated yesterday that these devel-
opments brought to mind within the past two weeks
have changed my mind about the matter, and I want
the public to know it. I do not say they are guilty of
the crime, but these circumstances which have been
brought before my mind had changed it.
‘How long will you probably be gone, Mr. S. *
asked Judge Hendrick. I could not say.
By Judge Hendrick: Where were you on the night
of December 28, 1888?
My recollection is I went to an entertainment at
the opera-house, that I returned home about 11 o'clock,
that my wife and I both took a bath and it was possibly
12 before we got to bed.
Do you know how much money your father had
on his person that night?
I think I do.

66 THE STILL WELL MURDER
About how much?
I should say about $35 in paper and about $35 in
silver.
How much money was found after the murder?
Should say possibly all the paper money and a
dollar or so in silver.
Did you count the money after it was found?
Yes, sir.
Cannot state exactly how much paper money was
found?
I cannot without referring to the record.
You are also sure there was $35 of it?
I am pretty positive on that subject. Believe it is
correct.
When you first noticed the bed and bedding in
which he was sleeping that night, what was the condi-
tion of the bedclothes?
They were bloody and were twisted underneath
my father's body and indicated that he was either pulled
around in bed or that in his struggles he fluttered or
kicked himself around.
You refer now to the bed covering which was
under him?
I mean the sheet upon which he lay.
I refer to the bed covering with which he was
covered, if any, on that night.
When I saw him there were no covers on him.
They had, I think, been thrown back. Whether they
were touched or not before I saw them I could not say.
Did you examine them to see if there was any
blood on them?
Not that I remember of.
Can you say whether they were bloody or not?
I cannot.
You say the bed and bedding were removed—do
you know under whose direction?
I cannot state.
Have you not in your testimony, either before the
coroner's jury or grand jury, stated that you ordered
the bed and bedding to be removed and the room
cleaned up?

THE STILL WELL MURDER 67
(Obected to by Mr. Mahan as leading, on the
ground that the grand jury proceedings are made secret
by law.)
Do you know where you were?
I do not.
Did you, as a matter of fact, order the bed and
bedding removed from the room?
I may have done so, but do not remember at this
moment. It may be likely that after the room had
been straightened up and my father's body removed
from the room or the side of the bed, I directed one of
the servants or colored people around the house to take
the bed out of the room. Very likely I did so, but
have no recollection of it.
Did you have the body removed?
Not that I remember of.
You were present all the time?
I was. It is more than likely that I called the
coroner and asked him to take charge of the body. I
remember very distinctly in my own mind that neither
I nor any one present took any precaution to preserve
the room in the condition in which it was found. I
have thought a thousand times that it was a fatal mis-
take. It is the one regret that I have ever since had—
that such was not done.
Is it not a fact that you picked up your father's
pants at the foot of the bed?
I could not say. Likely I did.
- That Dr. Hearne cautioned you about them?
I have answered that question as well as I could.
Do you know Mr. Charles Clayton?
I do.
Do you remember seeing him there that morning?
I do not remember of seeing him.
Do you remember of being with him and Dr.
Hearne in the front hall on the first floor?
I do not.
Do you remember a conversation that he had with
Dr. Hearne on that occasion about removing the body
down stairs?
I do not.

68 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Did you hear Dr. Hearne tell him in reference to
that matter that if the body remained upstairs it possibly
would not have kept?
I did not.
if there had not been any such conversation
there between him and Dr. Hearne, do you think you
would have remembered it?
I do not think I would have done so, because I was
too much excited at the time to allow any trifling inci-
dent to be impressed upon my memory. The horror
of the murder throws from my mind every detail.
You testified on yesterday that when you saw your
father's wife that night that she seemed always to be in
charge of Dr. Hearne. Was not Dr. Hearne her
physician?
Dr. Hearne was often called to my father's house
to attend in cases of sickness, which were very seldom.
I might state in this connection that my father was a
man who was opposed to the use of medicine in any
shape or form; that he was opposed to the employment
of any doctor; but his wife was rather inclined to employ
a physician; and on many occasions I have heard my
father say to her that he had no faith in the world in
medicine, but if she insisted on having a medical doctor
to send and get one.
Your father was a very strong man, was he?
Comparatively so.
And his wife rather a frail, delicate woman?
Yes, sir.
Had not his wife had hysteria for some years before
the murder?
She had.
Such required the attendance of a physician?
Yes, sir.
You spoke of the extreme attention shown your
father's wife by Dr. Hearne that night. Was there any-
thing more than an excellent physician of keen sensi-
bilities would have shown? Did you remark it that
night?
I saw nothing in Dr. Hearne's conduct that night
that would have me to remark it. I do not know that

THE STILL WELL MURDER 69
he did anything that was in any way unbecoming a
physician.
Were there not women with her all that time?
There were. I would, in this connection, like to
state in Mrs. Hearne's favor that Mrs. Hearne was
subject to these spells of unconsciousness which she
frequently had, and I often saw her have them before
my father's murder and after my father's murder; and
I firmly believe in my own mind that she talked at
random when in these spells; that she is liable to talk
on one subject as another; that I have heard her speak
injuriously and in uncomplimentary terms to parties
who were attending her while she was in those spells.
I have known her to have spells when my father's mur-
der was foremost in her mind, and have never heard her
say anything that would indicate that she knew anything
at all.
What was her condition that night?
She was seized immediately after she alarmed the
neighbors with one of those spells.
How long did she remain in it?
I would say possibly from five to eight hours. I
think she talked at random while she was in that spell
that night, and apparently not knowing what she said,
having no control of her voice at all. I think she made
the remark that her husband had been killed, and that
she could see the form of a man with a slouch hat on
standing at the foot of the bed. I have heard her make
that remark while unconscious and possessed of these
spells, and it all goes to indicate to my mind that she
was innocent of the crime.
Do you not believe she is innocent?
I cannot state that. -
h Had she and your father had any trouble before
that:
She and my father, while I lived at my father's
house, got along, so far as I know, well together. There
were no more controversies or disputes than there
would have been in any ordinary family. She was
inclined to be extravagant, and I very often heard my
father censure her for her extravagance.

70 THE STILL WELL MURDER
They had a delightful home, did they not?
Yes, sir.
Well furnished with all the luxuries and necessaries
of life?
Yes, sir.
You stated that a week or two after the murder
she went to a Battle Creek sanitarium, and Dr. Hearne
went with her, I believe?
I think I stated that fact.
State your opinion as to whether her physical
condition was such that she needed a physician on that
trip.
I think it was.
Was there anything remarkable in her taking Dr.
Hearne on that trip?
Nothing remarkable that I can think of.
Where was she when you wrote the letter to her
stating that if she wanted to be respected in this com-
munity by respectable people that she ought to get rid
of Dr. Hearne?
I did not state that she ought to get rid of Dr.
Hearne.
What did you say?
I don’t remember just what I did say.
Where was she when you wrote that letter?
In Battle Creek, Michigan.
Had been there from the time she went there?
Yes, sir. -
How could you, then, be cognizant of any affec-
tionate attention which the doctor was showing her?
The actions of Dr. Hearne prior to the time she
went to Battle Creek; the sensational reports in the
newspapers and by comment, all had their weight with
me to write the letter to her.
Well, didn't you know that from the night of your
father's murder the newspapers of this place and some
other places have hounded Dr. Hearne and his wife?
I believe for a period of some time after my father's
murder that neither Dr. Hearne nor his wife were sus-
pected of the crime.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 71
But what were the remarks in the newspapers
then?
They were remarks that were made after the rumor
became current.
Well, but you say you wrote this letter on account
of the scandal and remarks of the newspapers?
Yes, sir.
What were these remarks?
I cannot say what the remarks were now. They
were remarks that implicated either Dr. Hearne or his
wife in connection with this crime.
Then there were no remarks about the undue
familiarity between Dr. Hearne and your father's wife?
I think the remarks were of that nature frequently
and became newspaper comment.
Don't you remember that immediately after your
father's death his wife's father came on here?
I do.
And lived in the house with her until she started
to Battle Creek.
Possibly he remained that long. ,
Mrs. Stillwell had servants in the house? -
She did.
How old was her daughter Mollie at that time?
About thirteen or fourteen years.
Well, when you saw Dr. Hearne and Mrs. Stillwell
frequently together, in what way did they manifest their
pleasure in each other's society before they went to
Battle Creek?
There were many ways in which the actions of both
indicated to my mind that a fondness existed between
them.
Was she too sick to manifest fondness for anybody?
No, sir.
Was she confined to her room?
She was not sick except when seized with one of
those spells of epilepsy. Apparently after they had left,
her mind was as clear as ever and her taſk was as
Sangulne as ever.
Did you sign your name to the letter you wrote
to her?

72 THE STILL WELL MURDER
I did.
Did some one ever offer a reward for the arrest
and conviction of the murderers?
I was administrator of my father's estate and
offered a reward of $10,000 for the arrest and conviction
of the murderer. I stated in that reward that my
impressions were that the crime had been committed
by two people. I signed that reward as administrator
of my father's estate. I made that reward in good
faith, and I believe in my own mind that it could have
been paid out of the funds of the estate. I felt in my
mind that after a final settlement of the estate that the
reward was void. Again, a short time ago, possibly
within a year, had a talk with one Mr. Clarke with
reference to this reward and I think the conversation
was such as to lead Mr. Clarke to believe me responsible,
knowing I had offered a reward personally for the same
amount, $10,000, and after this, sensational develop-
ments brought to my mind within the past two weeks,
I was induced to write Mr. Clarke a letter, addressed to
Chicago, saying to him that I withdrew any reward
which I had formerly made for the arrest and conviction
of my father's murderer. My reasons for having with-
drawn the reward are these: I was advised by my attor-
ney that I had a right to withdraw the reward. I was
further advised by him that if by any possibility the case
of my father's murder should be brought to trial and a
reward of $10,000 outstanding for the conviction of the
guilty parties, that it would have a tremendous weight
with the jury in the manner of influencing witnesses to
falsely testify in gaining the reward, and if the case ever
went to trial my intention was to have the trial free and
unrestricted, uninfluenced by any amount of money in
expectation.
When you offered the reward of $10,000 of your
father's estate, did you do so after consultation and
advice with your father's wife?
My recollection is that she acquiesced or consented
to the offer of that reward. I do not think she hesi-
tated or objected to the fact of the offer.
You stated that your father's wife did not go to

THE STILLWELL MURDER 73
the cemetery at the time of the funeral. Who remained
with her?
I do not know.
Do you know whether Mollie went to the funeral?
I do not remember.
What was the reason that she did not go to the
funeral?
I do not think that she was in a proper condition to
go. It is possible that I advised her myself not to go.
How did you become possessed of the information
you gave yesterday in regard to the criminal conduct
of Dr. Hearne and your father's wife?
I prefer not to answer that question, but if under
rulings I am compelled to do so I would be pleased to
have these newspaper people report this as I state it.
“We are perfectly willing for you to refrain from
answering that,” said Judge Hendrick, “if you will
notify me or Dr. Hearne.” -
Mr. Mahan: We prefer to have the question
answered. It is his duty to answer.
Judge Hendrick: Are you willing to that?
Mr. Stillwell: Do I understand that the notary
rules that the question must be answered
Judge Harrison: I certainly do rule that the
questions have to be answered, provided they will lead
to any criminal prosecution on your part.
Mr. Stillwell: Do I understand you that it will
lead to criminal prosecution on my part?
Judge Hendrick: We will let that question remain
pending for the time being. I believe you stated that
there were two persons who gave you the information?
Mr. Stillwell: Think I could truthfully state that
portions of that information came from three different
SO111 CeS.
Have you had any talk with Mr. A. L. Clarke?
Have had some talk with him about it.
Did you tell him this information?
The information was told to Mr. Clarke in this
way: Mr. Mahan and Mr. Clarke had a conversation
with me the night before I was put on the stand and

74 THE STILL WELL MURDER
in questioning me I indicated to them or told them
about what I knew.
As you stated yesterday afternoon?
My recollection is that I gave them one source
from which I gathered the information.
And yet you are, after having given your testimony
reflecting so seriously on the former wife of your father,
unwilling to give me the name of your informants.
I was not asked on the stand yesterday.
I know, but you were by me in a private conversa-
tion.
Mr. Mahan : It is on the witness stand and I sup-
pose it will be necessary, as he insists on your answer.
Mr. Stillwell: I only suggested to him.
Judge Hendrick: And you were unwilling yester-
day afternoon, after giving your testimony, to give me
the same source?
Quite a colloquy ensued between those assembled,
and Judge H. finally said: I ask the names of your
three informants.
Witness: Do I understand that the notary rules
that I must answer that question?
Judge Harrison: Provided it does not lead to any
criminal prosecution on your part.
Witness: Part of this information was gathered
from Mr. C. P. Heywood, part of it from Mrs. John
Hayward, part of it probably from W. A. Munger.
What did Mr. C. P. Heywood tell you?
He told me substantially about all that I told yes-
terday. Witness here paused and was admonished by
Judge Hendrick to go ahead.
Witness: Well, it's only natural for a person—
Judge Hendrick: Well, just repeat what he told
O11.
y Well, won’t the statement I made yesterday—
Judge Hendrick: You mean that he told you all of
the testimony that you gave yesterday in regard to the
criminal conduct of Dr. Hearne and your father's wife?
I cannot state that he told me all—he told me
some portions of it. He knows it all—has known it
for some time.
-BLADED AX
THE TWO


76 THE STILL WELL MURDER
What party told you that Dr. Hearne said he could
have a man slug your father?
Mrs. John Hayward, in Chicago, made that state-
ment to me. That is, Mrs. Susie Hayward. Mrs. Susie
Hayward made the statement to me as having been told
to her by Dr. Hearne. She also told me in about the
same connection that Dr. Hearne told her in connection
with the same conversation about meeting and having
passed my father in the hall when in my father's resi-
dence. She told him that if he had shot my father that
night he would have been hung for the murder. Dr.
Hearne replied that if he had shot my father the people
in town would have thought that he had been killed by
a burglar.
What kind of a woman is Mrs. Hayward?
So far as I know, her reputation is above reproach.
Her statements are as truthful as any in this community.
Mrs. Hayward also told me in this connection that Mrs.
Stillwell was completely in the power and under the
control of Dr. Hearne; that just before my father's
death, he could do anything in the world with her.
How did he do it?
I don’t know.
Did she say how?
She did not.
Where is Mrs. Hayward living?
Further than Chicago I can't say.
Why can't you?
I don’t know.
Did you see her there?
I did.
Where did you see her?
At the Palmer House in Chicago.
How did you happen to see her? How did you
get her?
I got to see her through the influence of a gentle-
man and his wife who formerly lived here and are now
spending awhile in Chicago.
What are their names?
Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Heywood—or rather Mr. C. P.
Heywood

THE STILL WELL MURDER 77
That is one of the parties from whom you received
your information?
No, sir; that was Heywood.
Where do they live?
Do not live in Chicago, but are visiting there.
Where are they residing:
I think at times they travel with a theatrical
troupe; their present address is 4747 Kimbark avenue.
How did you first learn that Mrs. Hayward knew
anything about this matter?
A short time after my father was killed I surmised
in my own mind that Mrs. Hayward, if anybody could,
could throw more light on the subject than any person.
I visited in Chicago either once or twice for no other
reason than to interview her on this subject.
Well, did you find her?
Have never been able by my own efforts to induce
her to talk freely on the subject; in fact, she has told
me nothing until recently. While Mr. and Mrs. C. P.
Heywood and Mrs. McKnight were visiting in Han-
nibal, about a month ago, I induced these people to go
to see Mrs. Hayward in Chicago and prevail upon her
and insist that she tell what she knew with reference to
this crime. They promised to do so, and as a result of
either one or all three of these people, Mrs. Hayward
was finally induced to make the statement in my pres-
ence. Mr. C. P. Heywood was present when she made
the statement; Mr. W. H. Haines, whom she called her
attorney and adviser, that’s all.
Did Mrs. Susie Hayward claim to be intimately
acquainted with Dr. Hearne and his wife?
I do not know what you mean by intimately
acquainted.
Well, know them very well?
She knew Dr. Hearne well. She lived here a great
many years while Dr. Hearne resided here.
Is she a married woman?
Yes, sir.
Where is her husband 2
Lives in Tennessee—she in Chicago.
Are they divorced?

78 THE STILL WELL MURDER
I think not. -
What does she do for a living?
Think she teaches school; am told also that her
husband assists in her support.
Did Mr. C. P. Haywood tell you that he had
learned these things from Dr. Hearne in conversation
with him—these things that you testified to yesterday?
No, sir. | \
Well, how did you learn from him—what did he
tell you?
He stated that they were facts which he knew.
And didn't give you his source of information?
He didn't give me his source of information, but I
inferred that they were facts which he had gathered
during his association and conversations with Mrs.
Hayward. |
Did Mrs. Hayward tell you why she had been so
long in revealing these facts?
Yes, sir.
What reasons?
She says that on one occasion she indicated to Dr.
Hearne that these facts were so worrying her that she
stated to Dr. Hearne, “Suppose I should tell Mr. Still-
well of the relations existing between you and his wife?”
Dr. Hearne said: “Mrs. Hayward, if you should, I
would kill you.” That fear of Dr. Hearne possibly
deterred her, in connection with her former love of my
father's wife, from even making any statement in con-
nection with the murder of my father.
Did she say these were the reasons? She said
these were the reasons?
No, I cannot say that she said these were the
reasons, but they are my inference and impression
gathered from the manner in which she made the state-
ment. I feel confident in my own mind that Mrs. Hay-
ward, prior to my father's murder, was a very intimate
friend of my father's wife. I know that her knowledge
of Dr. Hearne's intimacy with my father's wife caused
her to avoid and afterwards treat her coolly and grad-
ually break away and sever herself from that friendship.
Did Mr. W. A. Munger tell you that he knew of

THE STILL WELL MURDER 79
his own knowledge of these facts or that somebody had
told him?
He told me that he had heard them.
From Mrs. Hayward?
He did not say that he had heard them from Mrs.
Hayward.
He did not tell you from whom he did hear them?
My recollection is that he said he had heard differ-
ent statements from different people, in the aggregate
amounting to about what I have said.
Judge Hendrick: Yes? When can you promise
to be here, Mr. Stillwell?
I cannot answer that question. I have some bus-
iness that calls me away from the city and just how
long—
Will it be two or three days?
I cannot say about that. I know exactly
Mr. Hendrick, what you are trying to confront me
with, and I wish to say that I am trying to avoid it.
Judge Hendrick: We do not care about any
statement of that again. It is digressive. Addressing
Judge Harrison, Judge Hendrick said: Your Honor,
have you prepared the subpoenae for Mr. Stillwell?
Judge Harrison: I have, sir, with the exception
of the date.
Judge Hendrick: Monday, I think, unless Mr.
Stillwell can tell us that he will be here Tuesday or
Wednesday. We are willing to make an extension
of two or three days for him.
Judge Harrison: The witness is here now.
Judge Hendrick: I would like to have the sub-
poenae served on him for next Monday. Dr. Hearne
wants the witness to make a statement. Let Mr. Still-
well make his statement why he does not wish to meet
Mrs. Hearne.
Judge Harrison: Proceed, Mr. Stillwell.
Mr. Stillwell: Whilst the facts and circumstances
which I have stated are true to the best of my knowl-
edge, I believe I would prefer to have my cross-examin-
ation continued now than to postpone it later, when,
by inference, I presume, she would be present, which

80 THE STILL WELL MURDER
presence seems to me a circumstance calculated to
influence me in this statement.
The witness was excused at this juncture, but was
later subpoenaed to appear at 9 o'clock Monday morn-
ing on the part of the plaintiff.
MORE SENSATIONAL STATEMENTS
Mrs. R. H. Stillwell Testifies in the Noted Hearne-DeYoung Case
Mrs. Stillwell, wife of R. H. Stillwell, testified as
follows:
What is your name?
Lulu Voorhis Stillwell.
Are you the wife of R. H. Stillwell?
I am. -
May I be allowed to ask your age?
Thirty-four my next birthday, the 16th of Septem-
per.
Where do you reside?
IOI8 Bird street.
When were you married?
The 28th of April, 1886.
Where did you live in December, 1888?
On West Bird street.
In the city of Hannibal?
Yes, sir.
State whether or not you or your husband, Richard
Stillwell, obtained any information that had you to visit
the home of Amos J. Stillwell on the night of December
28, 1888, or the morning of the 29th
Yes, sir.
What relation was Amos J. Stillwell to your hus-
band 2
Father to my husband.
He lived on Fifth street, in the city of Hannibal, at
that time?
He did.
What was the nature of the information that you
had 2

THE STILL WELL MURDER 81
A message sent by Mr. Will League to my hus-
band that his father had been murdered.
Delivered to Mr. Richard Stillwell?
Yes, sir.
Do you know about what time that was?
Between half past one and two.
Where were you and your husband at that time?
At the time I heard the ringing of the telephone we
were in bed.
After getting the message, what did you and
Richard Stillwell do? Did you get up and dress and
prepare to go?
I immediately got up, but I insisted on my husband
lying down for a few minutes. We got up and started
down.
To the home? . .3
After informing my family. -
Now, what time did you arrive at the residence of
Amos J. Stillwell?
Well, I do not think it was more than half an hour
after we received the news. We hastily dressed and
walked down some time after 2 in the morning.
Was it some time after 22
Not before 2.
Well, Mrs. Stillwell, how did you enter the resi-
dence—through the front door?
Yes, sir.
After you got into the hall, where did you go and
what did you do?
I preceded my husband up the steps and asked him.
to wait till I went to see the condition of things.
You went from the hall to the upper floor?
Yes, sir. When I reached the landing, I saw Mr.
Amos Stillwell in the position he was found, and I told
my husband to wait till I could close the door leading
into the room where Mr. Stillwell lay. Then I went
into the room occupied by Mrs. Stillwell to the right.
Did you find Mrs. Stillwell in that room?
Yes, sir.
Who else was in the room?
As far as I recollect Mrs. Gleason and Mrs. Allen

82 THE STILL WELL MURDER
—there may have been others. They were there I
know.
Then what did you do, Mrs. Stillwell, after that;
do you remember? -
Not distinctly. I do not remember what I did. I
went to see what Mrs. Stillwell needed. Saw that she
was well attended to.
Was there any one in charge of Mrs. Stillwell that
morning?
Not until Dr. Hearne arrived.
What time did he arrive?
Perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes or one-half an
hour after we arrived. We were there some time before
he arrived, because we met Mr. Kornder on the way.
When you first went into the room where Mrs.
Stillwell was, did you go up to the couch where she lay?
I think I did.
What did she have on?
Her night-dress.
What kind of a night-dress?
A white one.
Was it the kind of a night-dress she was in the
habit of wearing?
No, sir; entirely different.
What was the difference?
Mrs. Stillwell, to my certain knowledge, had been
in the habit of wearing a heavy, untrimmed gown.
When I got there she had on a very nice gown—the
kind that the majority of ladies wear.
How do you know she was in the habit of wearing
the heavy, untrimmed gown? -
Because I have been there and have heard her
remark concerning the gown.
Been there previous to that night?
Yes, sir.
Was there anything about this white gown that
attracted your attention that night? -
Yes, sir. I thought it looked as though it had not
been used very much. That impressed me very forci-
bly when I got there that she had her gown changed—
that that was not the gown she had slept in.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 83
Not the gown that she had slept in
No, sir. I thought the ladies had re-arranged her
in that dress.
How frequently did you see Mrs. Stillwell that
night—how continuously?
I cannot say.
Well, off and on?
I was in and out of the room the entire night.
Do you remember any of Dr. Hearne's positions
in the room—what he was doing? Was he lying on
the floor or anything of that sort?
After he had administered to Mrs. Stillwell’s wants
he professed to be very tired and sleepy and threw him-
self on the floor.
Where did he lay with reference to the door in the
hall:
That door enters and faces as you enter the room
leading into the room facing west, and Dr. Hearne's
face was north and his feet south.
How long was Dr. Hearne in that position during
the night?
I do not remember.
Did you observe what was Mrs. Amos J. Stillwell's
condition? -
Unconscious to all appearances.
Of course you did not know whether she was or
not, yourself; or did you speak to her or she say any-
thing to you by which you could determine whether she
was unconscious or not? Did you try to talk to her?
Not that night.
Now, what time did you leave the house next
morning, or did you leave?
I did not leave in the morning.
You remained there during the day?
Yes, sir.
Do you know whether or not Dr. Hearne was in
attendance upon Mrs. Stillwell that day?
I do not remember.
Where did you stay the night after the murder?
My husband and I occupied the room in which
Mr. Stillwell was murdered.
84 THE STLL WELL MURDER
Did you see Mrs. Stillwell that night?
No, sir; not after she retired.
Where did she sleep?
In the front bed-room—the room just directly in
front of the one in which Mr. Stillwell was murdered.
Did you see her next morning?
Yes, sir.
Where was she?
She passed through our room.
Was there anything that attracted your attention
to her? i
I was awake and she spoke to me.
What was her general condition then?
Very lively and gay.
Did she say anything to you?
Yes, sir.
What did she say?
She said she thought my husband and I were very
spoony. I remarked that under the circumstances it
was anything but the condition of spooning—that we
were not feeling at all spoony. -
Where did Mrs. Stillwell go as she passed through
the room? -
Into the servants' room.
Did she return back through your room?
I presume she did, but don't remember.
Did you see her during that day?
I was there—yes, I saw her during that day.
What, apparently, was the condition of her mind
and body during the day?
To all appearances, when talking to her family, she
was very lively, but not so in the presence of Dr.
Hearne.
Do you know whether or not Dr. Hearne called
during that day?
I do not remember.
During that night was Dr. Hearne in attendance
upon her?
I do not know.
Where did you stay that night?







THE STILL WELL MURDER 85.
At the Stillwell residence. We stayed there until
she left for Battle Creek.
Do you remember the day that Mr. Stillwell was
buried?
Yes, sir.
Were you in attendance?
I was.
As the people were congregating at the home,
where was Mrs. Stillwell?
In the front bed-room.
From where did the funeral ceremony take place?
From the residence.
And the corpse was there?
In the front parlor, the head of the coffin facing
south. -
In the front parlor down stairs?
Yes, sir.
Who was in charge of Mrs. Stillwell, if any one,
just prior to and during the ceremony?
Dr. Hearne.
Who, if any one else, was up in the room where
she was?
Mrs. Heywood, if I remember.
Do you remember any incidents connected with
the funeral ceremony just prior to the people coming in?
Yes, sir.
Well, what was it? I presume that Mrs. Stillwell
had expressed a desire to view the remains of her hus-
band. Did she come down stairs?
Yes, sir.
Who accompanied her down stairs?
Dr. Hearne.
What, if anything, occurred—what did she say
or do, if anything?
She fainted, I presume, and exclaimed something
to the effect that “Amos, my husband, is dead!”
As she stood at the coffin, where was Dr. Hearne—
was he at the coffin with her?
He was there in time to catch her as she fainted.
When she fainted did he catch her?
Yes, and carried her up stairs.

86 THE STLL WELL MURDER
How long was this before the ceremony began—
was it about the time? * . . . .
It was before. - -
During the funeral ortaion was Mrs. Stillwell in the
parlor?
No, sir; she was upstairs.
Who was with her?
Dr. Hearne.
Did you go to the cemetery?
Yes, sir. -
Where was Mrs. Stillwell?
She was at her home with Dr. Hearne and Mrs.
Heywood, and I think Miss Anderson and Mollie.
The night after the burial did you stay there?
Yes, sir.
How long did you remain there then?
My husband and I stayed every night until we left
for Battle Creek. -
What time did you leave for Battle Creek?
Mr. Stillwell was buried the first of January; we left
on Friday.
Who went with you?
Mrs. Stillwell and three children, Miss Nellie
Lyons, Dr. Hearne and Miss Stillwell.
You left here at 5 o'clock on the “Q?”
Yes, sir.
What, if anything, did you observe in the conduct
of Dr. Hearne and Mrs. Stillwell during that trip to
Battle Creek?
Not so much during that trip as I noticed after we
arrived there.
Did you notice anything of his attentions?
They were very marked in solicitations of her wel-
fare.
Do you mean as a physician?
No, decidedly not.
How long did that continue—I mean until you
arrived at Battle Creek?
We took a sleeper and I do not know what trans-
pired while I was asleep.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 87.
Well, I mean did these attentions keep up until
you arrived at the sanitarium at Battle Creek?
Yes, sir.
What time did you get to Battle Creek?
So far as I remember, it was about 2 o'clock in the
afternoon. -
How did you take rooms there with reference to
each other? -
We had two rooms opening into each other.
Where did Dr. Hearne room?
I do not remember whether it was on the same
floor or the one above—it was across the hall.
Did you observe any conduct of Dr. Hearne and
Mrs. Stillwell after you arrived at Battle Creek? State
whether his treatment of Mrs. Stillwell was that of an
ordinary physician.
(Objected to as leading by Judge Hendrick.)
Witness answered: I was impressed with an idea
that they were rather fond of being alone and locked
in a room together.
Do you say that they were locked in a room?
I certainly do. I went to the door and knocked,
and it was locked. -
Do you know that Dr. Hearne was in there with
Mrs. Stillwell?
I knew that they were together, because they
unlocked the door to admit me.
Was the door locked 2
Yes, sir.
How long was that after you arrived there—about,
—was that the first, second or third day—do you
remember?
Well, it was either the first, second or third—do
not remember.
Do you know how long Dr. Hearne remained dur-
ing that time?
I think that Dr. Hearne left Battle Creek on Mon-
: I am guessing because I am not able to remem-
er.
During this trip from Hannibal to Battle Creek.

$8 j THE STILL WELL MURDER
how did Mrs. Stillwell seem to stand it? What was
the condition of her health?
I thought very good.
At Battle Creek, what was the condition of her
mind and bodily appearance?
I saw so little of Mrs. Stillwell that I couldn't tell.
On the 7th of January Mrs. Stillwell went to the hospital
which was connected with the sanitarium. -
º,” say you think Dr. Hearne left there on the
9th
I am not positive. It was after the 7th.
Did I understand you to say that Dr. Hearne and
Mrs. Stillwell were alone while you were there?
Yes, sir.
Who went there to be in charge of her?
I thought I did.
Who was really in charge?
Dr. Hearne.
(Objected to not as leading, but as pumping.)
Now, after Dr. Hearne returned to Hannibal, what
time, if at all, did he come back to Battle Creek? He
came back about the day following the publishing of an
article written by the Chicago Herald containing an
account of the murder?
Yes, sir.
How did you first learn of Dr. Hearne being in
Battle Creek?
By a note sent me from Dr. Hearne.
What was the note about?
He wanted to see me without the knowledge of
Mollie.
What did you do?
I saw him.
What did Dr. Hearne say?
He said that my husband had sent for me.
What did he say, if anything, else?
He thought he had better be there to keep Mrs.
Stillwell from reading that paper. I suggested that I
was there for that purpose.
What paper did he have reference to?
The Chicago paper.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 89
Well, do you know what length of time Dr.
Hearne stayed there?
I do not.
Did you see him and Mrs. Stillwell together many
times during that visit?
Yes, sir.
Was there anything peculiar in their conduct?
Did their relationship seem to be that as a physician?
(Objected to as leading.)
Witness answered: No, sir.
How much were they together while Dr. Hearne
was there?
Do you mean the first or second visit?
Well, the first and second.
The night after Mrs. Stillwell was operated on, Dr.
Hearne was with her the entire night.
Well, now the second visit; how long did he
remain?
I do not remember—possibly a day or two days,
think only one day.
What, if anything, did you hear about anyone
coming back to Hannibal?
Mrs. Stillwell had arranged to spend the summer
in Battle Creek; made arrangements to be there under
Dr. Hearne's treatment; she had engaged a nurse to
take care of her little boy and a French teacher for her
daughter; was to remain there during that summer; but
after breakfast, when Dr. Hearne came back, he went
over to see Mrs. Stillwell and Mollie, and Mrs. Stillwell
emphatically declared that she would come back to
Hannibal.
Who suggested that she should come back to
Hannibal?
Dr. Hearne.
What time did he see you in the morning?
Possibly 7 o'clock in the morning.
How do you know that he had been to see Mrs.
Stillwell?
He told me so.
Do you know anything about his leaving for home
90 THE STILL WELL MURDER
the last time? Do you know what time he bade you
good bye? -
Yes, sir; I remember very distinctly.
What was said about her and where was she?
Mrs. Stillwell was brought from Battle Creek san-
itarium and occupied a room just adjoining ours, but
not connected by a door at all. I had to meet Mrs.
Stillwell that night about half-past 9. I suggested that
it was bed-time and that I was going to bed.
Dr. Hearne remarked that he would stay with Mrs.
Stillwell until train time, and I suggested that I would
stay in the room with Mrs. Stillwell.
Do you know what time the train left?
After mid-night. I slept in the room that night.
When you came back to Hannibal, were you fre-
quently at the home of Amos J. Stillwell—did you go
there?
Yes, sir. I do not know how frequently, but I was
a visitor there more frequently than before this.
Was Dr. Hearne a visitor at that home?
I don't know; I presume he was. He was there
in the capacity of a physician on one occasion when I
was there. He was called to attend the little boy. I
was not there when he arrived.
Did you observe anything out of the ordinary way
between physician and patient existing between Dr.
Hearne and Mrs. Stillwell at the house here in Hannibal
after they had returned from Battle Creek?
Well, upon one occasion I invited Mrs. Stillwell
to my house to dinner on Sunday, and for some reason
she was not able to eat her dinner. Very soon after
dinner she felt too ill to remain and the carriage was
sent. Dr. Hearne telephoned for her and she went
home, I presume. I presume he met her; I don’t know.
You don’t know unless you saw her?
No.
You were not at the wedding?
No, sir.


THE STILLWELL MURDER 91
CROSS-EXAMINATION
By Judge Hendrick: Mrs. Stillwell, you are the
wife of Richard H. Stillwell, I believe you said.
Yes, sir.
For a long time you have not been friendly with
Dr. Hearne and his wife? -
I had been very friendly with them until the time
of their marriage.
Were you friendly with them up to the time of
their marriage?
I wasn't friendly with Mrs. Stillwell at the time of
my marriage to my husband.
Why?
Because she objected to my marriage. We were
married the 28th of April, 1886.
You say that Mrs. Stillwell, on the night of the
murder, when you arrived there had on a different
night-dress from that which she usually wore?
Yes, sir.
What kind did she usually wear?
A partly unbleached night-dress—a plain night-
dress without any trimming on it.
Well, what kind of a night-dress did she have on
this time?
A cotton night-dress.
In what respect did it differ from the rest?
It was very different from the kind which she had
been wearing.
Did you speak to her about it?
No, sir.
How did you happen to mention the night-gown?
I was asked the question.
Have you ever mentioned this to anybody?
I don’t know whether I did or not.
Did you mention it to Mr. Mahan?
I told Mr. Mahan all I know.
He had an interview with you about your testi-
mony in this case, had he not?
I told him what I know. I knew that I was subpoe-
naed here and went to him and told him what I know.

92 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Did he ask you about the night-gown business?
I told him.
You told him?
Yes, sir. -
You have frequently given your testimony in
regard to the case?
Once only.
Where?
Before the grand jury.
Didn't you give your testimony before the coro-
ner's jury?
I did not.
What was your testimony before the grand jury?
(Objected to by Mr. Mahan.)
Witness: I took an oath not to divulge what I
told to the grand jury.
Have you ever given any testimony anywhere
about this night-gown business before. Did you before
anyone anywhere?
I have talked of it, certainly.
When did you first mention it to anyone?
I don’t remember. It was a circumstance that I
noticed at the time I met Mrs. Stillwell.
What interpretation did you put upon it?
I think that I answered that I thought the ladies
had attended to her and re-dressed her.
Nothing unusual for a woman to change her night-
dress, is it?
Not at all; an ordinary circumstance.
You noticed that Dr. Hearne was lying on the
floor?
Yes, sir.
Do you know why?
He said he was tired and sleepy. But he was also
111.
Was there anything remarkable about his lying on
the floor?
No, sir.
Why did you testify to his lying on the floor? Is
there anything remarkable about it?
I remember distinctly that he was on the floor.
THE STILL WELL MURDER 93.
You have not been friendly with Dr. Hearne for a
long time?
Not since the wedding.
You don't object to people getting married, do
you?
Not at all.
Well, why should that influence you?
Simply because, in my mind, it convinced me of
the fact that Dr. Hearne and his wife murdered Mr.
Stillwell.
How soon after the marriage were you convinced? .
Less than a week or just a week. The anniversary
of his death was the first fact and the week less than a
year at which they married.
Mrs. Stillwell, didn't you give a nice, social party
on the anniversary of that day? Is there anything
more remarkable about that than that the widow should
marry within the year?
I had not been suspected; she had.
Is it not rather a proof of their innocence—that
they dared to take this step of marrying?
I would not think so.
Did not you and other people, here in Hannibal,
attempt to have Dr. Hearne and his wife implicated in
that murder in some way?
Witness: I refuse to answer that question.
Mr. Mahan: Oh, yes, answer the question.
Witness: I felt that I was with Dr. Hearne and
Mrs. Stillwell more and knew probably a little more of
them than others.
Was it the day of the murder or the day after the
murder that Mrs. Stillwell seemed lively and gay? Was
it on the 29th or 3oth of December that she seemed
lively and gay and made the remark to you and your
husband? Have you testified when Mrs. Stillwell came
through your room, where yourself and husband were
ºping in what way she indicated she was lively and
gay!
From the remark she made to my husband and
me while we were still in bed.
Did he hear her speak about your being spoony?


94 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Yes, sir.
When Dr. Hearne was around did she seem to be
sick after reaching Battle Creek? -
Well, Judge, when Dr. Hearne was around there
was seldom anybody else around.
Well, how did that happen? How did they exclude
the rest of the world from the room in which they were:
Mrs. Stillwell was confined to her room.
She was suffering from shock?
I think so.
You say that she seemed extremely well when
he was not there? Well, in what way did she seem
when he was there?
I believe Mrs. Stillwell was subject to epileptic
spasms, or something—I don't know what they are.
She was taken with these very often while Dr. Hearne
was there.
Wasn't she subject to these convulsions while her
husband was living?
Not often.
Didn't the calamity through which she passed have
a tendency to increase her illness?
Yes, sir.
Mrs. Stillwell, hasn't Dr. Hearne been your
family physician a portion of the time?
Yes, sir.
Isn't he a man generally noted for the care and
kindness with which he takes care of his patients?
I think so. Yes, sir.
Did you notice anything different in the care which
he gave Mrs. Amos J. Stillwell from that which he
usually bestowed upon his other patients?
Yes, sir.
Well, what, for example?
I believe I said they were more fond of being
alone than the majority of patients and doctors.
That sometimes happens when you are off by the
waters or at a sanitarium, doesn't it?
I don’t know, sir.
You say you went upstairs a time or two and found
the doctor and Mrs. Stillwell locked in a room together.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 95
How did you know they were in there. If they
unlocked the door there could have been no impro-
priety going on. Why should they lock it?
Judge Hendrick, I don't know.
“How often did this happen,” continued the
lawyer.
On one occasion at Battle Creek and on one
occasion after they returned home.
Did Dr. Hearne ever have the door of your room
locked when he was giving you professional service at
your home?
Not that I remember of.
Mrs. Stillwell, I notice that you have a little paper
or memoranda?
Yes, do you want to see it?
When did you prepare it?
I prepared it this morning at my home. I have
no objection to your seeing it.
Judge Hendrick examined the paper and returned
it.
You spoke of Dr. Hearne's going back the second
time after the publication of an article in the Chicago
paper?
I don't remember which paper it was.
What was the character of that article? Was it
one of those delightful tid-bits of scandal?
I presume that probably Mr. Birch can tell you all
about it.
Mr. Mahan: Tell it yourself.
Judge Hendrick: Did it refer to the murder of
Amos J. Stillwell? Why did Dr. Hearne go back if it
didn't? Is that why Dr. Hearne returned—because he
was a little uneasy about that paper?
I had kept it from Mrs. Stillwell.
Wasn't that natural in the doctor as a physician?
Well, Judge, I was there. I had taken charge of
the children. I think I remarked to the doctor that—
Yes, but the doctor might have supposed that you
would not know what the effect would be upon Mrs.
Stillwell of reading an article like that. Is that not so?
Didn't she finally see the article?

96 THE STILL WELL MURDER
I suppose she did.
You spoke of one time there when Dr. Hearne was
with her the entire night. Was that at Battle Creek?
As her physician, I remarked.
Wasn't there anyone else there—a nurse? Was
she not scarcely able to turn over in bed?
Not able to.
You say that upon the occasion of the second visit
that Dr. Hearne suggested to Mrs. Stillwell the desir-
ability of returning to Hannibal. How did you know
that?
Mollie became very much incensed and asked her
mother and she said the doctor thought it best to come
back and live down the scandal.
Was there a scandal so soon?
Yes, sir.
Did you hear it yourself?
I heard it myself that Dr. Hearne advised her to:
return to Hannibal and live down the scandal. Mrs.
Stillwell and her children were present at the time.
How long did Mrs. Stillwell remain in the hospital?
Until the day of Dr. Hearne's second visit and she
returned that evening.
You say that when the party returned to Hannibal
that Dr. Hearne was a frequent visitor at the Stillwell
mansion?
I don’t know.
You say that upon one occasion when she was to
take dinner at your house that Dr. Hearne telephoned?
No, sir.
What did you testify in regard to that?
I said Mrs. Stillwell was not able to eat that day.
She returned home after we telephoned for her carriage
and Dr. Hearne. She returned home I presume.
You know Mrs. Susie Hayward?
Yes, sir.
Do you know where she is living?
Yes, at Chicago.
Do you know her address?
I do not.
Have you recently met one A. L. Clarke?

* THE STILL WELL MURDER 97
Yes, sir. -
Have you talked to him about this case?
I had some conversation with Mr. Clarke.
How long ago was that?
On one of Mr. Clarke's visits here.
What was the object of the interview?
To find out what I knew of this case.
Did you tell him all about it?
No, sir.
Did you tell him the testimony you have given
here?
Not all.
Did you tell him about the night-gown?
I did not.
Did you tell him anything about Mrs. Susie Hay-
ward 2
I did not.
Do you know whether he knew of her at that time?
I don’t know.
JAMES A, ABBEY
The main feature of yesterday's evidence in the
Hearne-DeYoung case was the testimony of James A.
Abbey, who recited the horrible story of the finding of
a bloody gown. Other witnesses testified regarding
the connection of Dr. Hearne and wife with the murder
by common repute. Following will be found the tes-
timony in full:
James A. Abbey testified as follows:
Mr. Mahan: What is your name and age, and
where do you live?
James A. Abbey. Live in Hannibal.
Did you know Amos J. Stillwell?
Yes, sir.
And Dr. J. C. Hearne?
Yes, sir.
Prior to the year 1888 and possibly during that
year, what were you engaged in-were you in the secret
service of any railroad: -
I had been. Yes.
Under whom *

98 THE STILL WELL MURDER
I worked about four years under the Missouri
Pacific under Thos. Furlong.
W. you living in Hannibal in December, 1888?
WaS.
What were you engaged in then?
I was driving a team for Mr. Thomas J. Cousins.
Did you become aware of the murder of Amos
J. Stillwell?
Yes, sir.
Were you employed in any capacity with reference
to that murder? -
I was.
What capacity?
I tried to find out who committed the murder.
State whether or not during that investigation you
made any search of the Stillwell residence or the ad-
joining property.
I searched the vault.
When did you make that search with reference to
the murder of Amos J. Stillwell—how long afterwards?
On Monday, January 7th.
Was Mrs. Stillwell at home at that time?
I don’t know.
Had she not left for Battle Creek, Mich. ”
I think so. I cannot swear, as I am not positive.
What time did you make this search?
About 9 a. m.
Who went down into the vault?
I did.
Where was the vault located with reference to the
house?
It was directly in the rear of the house.
How far from the wood shed?
I couldn't be positive—not very far; I did know;
I measured the distance, but could not find the book
yesterday when I looked for it.
How far was it from the door that entered the wood
shed and the door that led to the alley in the rear of
the Stillwell residence?
I could not say.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 99
Was it as near the back door of the house as the
wood shed was?
Very near it, about the same. It seems to me
that the corner of the vault was right opposite the edge
of the door.
Going into the wood shed?
Yes, sir; the east edge of the door going into the
woodshed.
When you entered the wood shed was that door
you entered opposite the door going into the alley?
When I went in, I went through the alley. Mr.
Wood went through and opened the door, and I went
through the wood shed.
How did you make a search of that vault?
I got down on a ladder and got an iron hook.
How deep a vault was it?
I should say at least fifteen to sixteen feet to my
best judgment.
What did you find there?
Well, I got a good many things in the way of
pieces of sheet and cotton things. I pulled out a pair
of men's drawers, and the last thing was a night-gown.
What kind of a night-gown?
It seemed to be a heavy night-gown.
A lady's night-gown?
Yes, sir.
What, if anything, was on that gown?
There was blood on it.
What did you do with the gown?
Mr. Wood made me put it back into the vault.
He had charge of me and the rest of us that were at
work. We did so. He was a detective.
Did you do as instructed by him?
Yes, sir; after we had quite an argument over it.
Apparently how long had that gown been in that
vault?
I could not say just how long. The blood was
still on it and had turned black—looked black-like.
You were absolutely certain that it was blood, were
you not?
Yes.

100 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Judge Hendrick: How did you happen to make
that search?
I made it on my own judgment from a report that
was given me at the Government building on the Sun-
day morning previous.
Who gave it to you?
Mr. Wood and Mr. Kelly. -
Were you employed to assist in the search?
Yes, sir.
Who employed you?
I consider that Mr. Kelly and John Stillwell did.
Was there anything about the gown by which its
ownership could be identified?
Not that I could see. I didn't search it as I might
if I had had my own way.
Did you unfold it? In what condition was it—
folded or unfolded ?
Unfolded.
Was it pretty much covered with blood or just
sprinkled?
It had considerable blood on the left arm; it was
covered with blood.
Was it as though some one had used it to wipe
up the blood?
It didn't look that way to me. The blood had run
down. The streaks from the big splotches had run
down.
What condition was the gown as being torn or
untorn?
It was ripped under the left arm. And where there
was a slot there was a ripped place.
What would cause that?
I don’t know. I have never seen it since I put it
back.
What is vour race and nationality?
I am called an African. I am an American citizen
of African descent.
Have you ever been indicted for any crime?
I believe I was once. I think to the best of my
knowledge I was once accused of killing a hog through
mistake and they acquitted me.

THE stillwell MURDER 101.
Were you ever indicted for a serious crime?
No, sir. I was arrested and brought up before the
police judge once, but I was acquitted.
Were you tried before a jury?
I was tried before Judge Porter.
Were you on the police force here at any time?
Yes, sir.
Were you not discharged from it?
I served my time out.
Do you know A. L. Clarke?
I have met him.
A correspondent of the Chicago Times-Herald?
I have met him twice with this morning.
Have you had any conversation with him in this
case?
He asked me about the case.
Have you given your testimony before in this
matter?
Yes, sir; before the grand jury.
Mr. Mahan : Abbey, with reference to this serious
charge, you mean that the charge was filed against you
and on a preliminary examination before Judge Porter
you were discharged?
Yes, sir.
You never were indicted for anything of that kind?
No, sir.
Judge Gilchrist Porter was the officer who dis-
charged you?
Yes, sir; and the prosecuting attorney himself told
me that he knew I was innocent, but he had to pros-
ecute me.
R. H. STILL WELL AGAIN ON THE STAND
Mr. Stillwell, have you been in Chicago since you
were examined the other day?
I have. -
Did you see Mrs. Susie Hayward while there?
I accidentally met Mrs. Hayward on the street; did
not intend to meet her; didn't go there for that purpose,
but am rather glad I did meet her.

102 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Did you have any conversation with her about this
case
I had some talk.
Did you know that Mr. A. L. Clarke went to Chi-
cago at that same time?
He did not.
Did you see him in Chicago while you were there?
I did not. -
Do you know whether he was there during that
time?
Not that I know of.
At the time Dr. Hearne was married to Mrs. A. J.
Stillwell, didn't you give the bride away?
I don't remember; I was there at the wedding.
Well, can't you refresh your memory on that
subject?
I cannot; I haven’t the faintest idea whether I did
Or not.
Do you know whether any Pinkerton detectives
were employed to search for the murderer or murderers
of your father?
They were.
Who employed them? I did.
How long?
I employed two Pinkerton detectives from Chicago
and they persuaded me to employ one Abbey.
How long were these Pinkerton detectives em-
ployed?
I don’t remember exactly, but will say three
months—two or three months.
Why were they discharged?
They were discharged because they indicated to
me that they had done about all they could in the case,
and thought it was useless for them to stay any longer.
Did they tell you they thought it was impossible
to find the murderer?
They told me they had worked at about every clue
they knew of; I inferred from what they said that they
considered it impossible.
Did either of them tell you that they thought it
was probable that it was some negro burglar?

- THE STILL WELL MURDER 103
I think from their conversation and work while
they were here that they were rather inclined to that
belief.
Mr. Abbey, who you spoke of having employed,
was he that colored policeman here?
Yes, sir.
Did he ever make any report to you about his
investigation? -
He did not. Mr. Abbey was employed by me at
the request possibly of the two detectives from Chicago
and Mr. John Stillwell, possibly Mr. Mahan; they had
made an arrangement with him; I paid for his services;
my father's house was searched within a few days after
his death. It was searched at a time when, so far as I
know, there was not any suspicion against either Dr.
Hearne or his wife. If there was I had not heard of it.
I have a written report from the Pinkerton detectives
from Chicago as to what was found there. Since Mr.
Abbey's testimony I have looked it up and it directly
states that there was nothing found in the vault that
would throw any light on the murder; there were a good
many bloody rags and bloody water that looked as
though they were used in wiping up the blood around
the room and on the bed.
In giving your testimony, the other day, among
other things you said that you knew that Susie Hay-
ward, after she discovered the intimacy between
your father's wife and Dr. Hearne, quit the friendship
and companionship of Mrs. Stillwell. How do you
know that?
While I lived at my father's house, before he was
murdered, I knew that my father's wife and Mrs. Susie
Hayward were very intimate friends; I knew that they
confided to each other many and possibly all of their
secrets. I cannot say exactly how I know that the
friendship was gradually severed. After I left my
father's house it was probably two years before the
murder; but in many ways indirectly I knew that they
were not as warm friends as they had been.
Had their friendship ceased before the murder of
your father?

104 THE STILL WELL MURDER
No, sir; not entirely; I don't think it had afterwards
entirely; that is, it was not entirely severed after the
murder. I think Mrs. Hayward felt it her duty as a friend
of my father's wife to advise with her and try and direct
her towards the proper course of action to pursue.
I think you also testified that you had an inference
that Mrs. Susie Hayward knew something about the
circumstances of your father's murder from the begin-
ning, or at least from some years prior to this time.
How can you have that inference?
I never intended to create that impression in my
testimony. I stated or intended to state that Mrs.
Hayward knew that my father and his wife were not
friendly; that she was trying in every way possible to
either separate herself from him or to get a divorce
from him, or try and have him commit some overt act
that would entitle her to a divorce with alimony. On
one occasion before my father's murder, he, in some
way, knew or felt in his own mind, that there was an
improper relation existing between his wife and Dr.
Hearne, and in a conversation one morning at the
breakfast table my father said to his wife that he would
not again permit Dr. Hearne to put his foot inside of
his house, and with that remark his wife threw a coffee-
cup across the table at him.
Were you there?
No, sir; I was not there, but I got that from sources
that are unquestionable, and I can substantiate those
facts. My father confided that fact to one Dr. Z. P.
Glass. She told Mrs Hayward of that fact in Chicago. .
Who did? -
Mrs. Stillwell, my father's wife. My father did
nothing—simply got up from the breakfast table and
walked out of the house. Again in this connection I
would state that on the day my father was killed, Mrs.
Stillwell wrote a letter to Mrs. Susie Hayward; that
letter seems to have been written during the day and
my father was killed that night. In the letter she said
to Mrs. Hayward that she and my father were getting
along better together; they had several times played
cards together and that she really believed that he was
º

THE STILL WELL Muft|DER 105.
in love with her again or something to that effect.
That letter was mailed the day my father was killed; he
was killed that night, on Sunday. And again in this
connection, I would like to state that I was in the office
with my father constantly for two months prior to his
murder, and I never remember in the course of my life
to have seen him as downcast and depressed as he was
during that period of two months. I have thought of
it a thousand times since. The cause of this depression
I do not know; cannot say; he never said anything to
me about it.
How long before your father's death was it that
his wife threw this cup at him across the table?
I can't say; was only a very short time.
When did you first learn of it, Mr. Stillwell?
I learned the fact, as I remember, from Dr. Glass,
a short time after my father was killed. The statement
was corroborated by Mrs. Hayward in Chicago.
Do you know who was at the table when that
occurred 2
I don't remember.
You stated in your evidence that you visited Chi-
cago a number of times to see Mrs. Hayward about this
matter. What reply did she make when you asked her
for information?
I stated that I had been to Chicago especially to
see Mrs. Hayward either once or twice. She seemed
very confident, in fact, knew or had made up her mind,
that either Dr. Hearne or his wife were accountable
either directly or indirectly for my father's death; but
I suppose the fact that I was so closely related to the
family caused her to not be very communicative with
me. She would tell me comparatively nothing.
She did tell you, however, that she was confident
that either Dr. Hearne or Mrs. Stillwell was accountable
for that death?
She felt that way in her own mind, and so ex-
pressed herself to me.
Do you recollect writing a letter to Mrs. Dr.
Hearne's daughter Mollie, Mrs. Murray Gray, of Los
Angeles, some five or six weeks ago? -

106 THE STILL WELL MURDER
I do.
In that letter you stated that Dr. Hearne ought to
come here; that the Chronicle man was spending lots
of money here?
I made no such statement, sir.
What did you state?
My recollection is that Mollie wrote to me that
Dr. Hearne was in Los Angeles, and had spent a good
part of the day with her husband trying to borrow
$3,000, and that he did not get it. That she would not
let him have it and that her husband would not let him
have it. In reply to that letter I stated that I thought
she did right in not letting him have it. I also stated
that the excitement here was at a pretty high pitch and
that my impression was if Dr. Hearne came here he
possibly might stay. I don't know what she inferred
from that statement. She told me that this money
which he wanted to borrow was for the purpose of
coming to Hannibal. That was what caused me to
make that statement to her. I knew she was not
friendly with Dr. Hearne and that she would not tell
him what I said. I also felt in my mind very confident
that she wouldn’t mention the matter to her mother,
because these things were very worrying to her mother.
Were those parties who told you about your
father's wife throwing a cup across the table present
at the time it was thrown?
They were not. It was my father told him the
circumstance.
Mr. Mahan: Mr. Stillwell, there was no arrange-
ment with Abbey, the colored policeman, by which he
was to make any report to you, was there?
No, sir; there was not.
Isn’t it the fact that he was under the control and
direction of Mr. Wood and was only required to make
reports to him. That is to say, Mr. Wood had charge
of him?
He was working under the direction of Mr. Wood
and Mr. Johnson. Possibly Wood was the head man.
I think he was. But Mr. Wood and M. Johnson were
not working in this case as a sham. They were em-

THE STILL WELL MURDER 107
ployed to work without reserve. Pinkerton would not
say they worked here in a reserved manner. The vault
never would have been searched at my expense if it
had not been with a view to ascertaining the murderer.
Some one might possibly have suggested to me, the
advisability of searching the vault. I ordered it done
and paid for having it done.
The mode or manner of the detectives reporting
was not directly to you but to the home office at Chi-
cago, and then the report was transcribed and sent to
you from the home office?
Yes, sir. Only verbal reports from day to day as
they progressed.
Did you observe in these reports anything in
regard to obtaining a pair of drawers?
I think not.
That search of the vault was made the day after
Mrs. Amos J. Stillwell and Dr. Hearne left for Battle
Creek, Mich.
The report, itself says the search was made on the
7th day of January.
You never knew any reason why it was made in
the absence of Mrs. Amos J. Stillwell and Dr. Hearne?
The only reason I can ascribe for it having been
made at that time was because the propriety of the
search was not suggested to me before that time.
Well, now that you had placed the matter in the
hands of the detectives, and of course you didn’t dic-
tate or direct the time of the search or the manner of
making it. That was their affair, was it not?
They were instructed by me to search the vault.
I don't remember whether it was done the same day I
directed it done or not. I noticed by the reports sent
me that they preferred to do it without the knowledge
of any of the servants around the house and without
the knowledge of the colored man who was working
around the premises.
Isn't it a fact that they wanted it done without the
knowledge of Dr. Hearne and Mrs. Stillwell?
I think not.
It wasn't done until after their departure?

108 THE STILL WELL MURDER
I think it was not, but their departure from the
city had nothing to do with it, or the time of searching
the vault.
Do you know whether the house also was searched
at the same time or not?
I think not. I know it was not.
Isn’t it a fact that the house of Mr. Stillwell was
searched very shortly after the death or murder?
I think the detectives went frequently to the house
to see the location of the rooms, the position of the
furniture, etc.
Do you know whether the detectives followed the
couple from here to Chicago and Battle Creek, Mich. ”
Do you know anything about that?
They didn't that I know of. I never paid for any
such service. -
Now, directing your attention to Mrs. Susie Hay-
ward. How long had this friendship existed between
her and Mrs. Amos J. Stillwell, prior to the death or
murder of Amos J. Stillwell?
For many years.
Isn't it a fact that they were intimate personal
friends, visiting each other's houses frequently?
I should say very intimate friends.
And that continued for a great length of time,
didn’t it?
Yes, sir.
Did you find Mrs. Susie Hayward at the bedside
of Mrs. Amos J. Stillwell shortly after the murder of
your father? -
On one occasion Mrs. Hayward was living away
from Hannibal.
Judge Hendrick: Is this something you know of
your own knowledge, Mr. Stillwell?
No, sir. While Mrs. Hayward was living away
from Hannibal on one occasion, she visited my father's
wife, went to call on her; and during the visit and the
only time when they were alone in the room, my

| THE STILL WELL MURDER 109
father's wife said to her or cautioned her to be very
secret about what she knew, saying also that her life
was in her hands and that she trusted in her as she did
in her God, or words to that effect or meaning.
Was that said here in Hannibal?
Yes, sir.
What was the amount of your father's estate at
the time of his death? -
I don't now remember.
About how much?
My recollection is that the inventory or appraise-
ment of the estate was about two hundred thousand
dollars.
What part of that estate did the widow receive?
One fifth–$40,000. The estate was wound up and
distributed probably at the end of two years.
Were you one of the administrators?
I was the only administrator.
During the year 1889, did you have much to do
with your mother in settling up the affairs of the estate?
I had something to do with her.
Do you know who, if any one, advised her in a
friendly way?
Dr. Hearne and Mr. Anderson were her sole
advisers. She probably asked my advice.
How early after your father's death and in what
manner did you find out that Dr. Hearne was one of
her advisers?
From observations and conversation with Mrs.
Stillwell.
Did that continue down to the marriage of Dr.
Hearne and your mother?
Yes, sir.
Could you give the exact date of their marriage,
Mr. S. 2
It was in December, 1889, a little before the expir-
ation of one year after my father's murder. Mrs. Still-

110 THE STILL WELL MURDER
well advised with me something about the wedding with
Dr. Hearne.
Did you observe that it created any excitement in
the city of Hannibal?
It seemed to create some excitement and dis-
CuSS1On.
Was there any crowd in the street in front of the
house and at the station?
I think there was.
After the marriage of Dr. Hearne to your father's
wife, who took entire charge of her affairs?
She and Dr. Hearne jointly managed their own
affairs, so far as I know. She had some stock in the
company in which I am now. -
When was this forty thousand dollars paid over to
them?
It was paid over to them at the final settlement of
my father's estate, about two years after the murder.
Do you know what has become of the larger part
of this money, whether they have it or not?
(Objected to as leading and pumping.)
I can't say positively, but from what I have heard
from different sources, I should say that it is all gone.
Don't you know that it has been gradually pur-
chased at your hands. That is, you purchased the stock
in the Stillwell Meat Company?
I purchased, from time to time, the interest they
had here and paid them cash at the time of the purchase.
And the property was sold for the purpose of rais-
ing money; wasn't that your understanding from Mrs.
and Dr. Hearne?
I don’t know that I could state that.
What share of the estate did your brothers Harold
and Earl get?
The same amount as Mrs. Hearne, $40,000 each;
about that amount. Their estate and curator are in
this county and state.
Did anybody make application to take the money
out of this state?
An application was made several years ago to have
the curator of these minor children moved to California.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 111
Who was that application made by? Isn't it a
fact that it was made by Dr. Hearne and his wife?
I think it was made by Dr. Hearne and his wife at
the special demand and persuasion of Dr. Hearne. I
think a curator was appointed and a suit was brought.
The curator gave bond and as I remember, in a short
time, both curator and bondsman failed after the effort
was made to remove the funds.
Judge Hendrick: Mr. Mahan, let it be a stipula-
tion that I interpose objections to all your questions as
leading.
Mr. Mahan: I admit they are leading. I have
a right to make them leading. You took an interest
in defending that application.
I seriously opposed every step taken to remove
their funds from Hannibal.
*S*
CHAPTER VIII
MRS. SUSIE HAYWARD’s DEPOSITION
§HICAGO, IL.L., July 20–Big Chicago
#| knows nothing about the excitement that
has stirred several strange hearts within her
midst to-day. The interested parties were
Dr. J. C. Hearne and wife and R. H.
Stillwell and Mrs. Susie Hayward, the latter being the
star actress in the part of the Hearne-DeYoung
engagement played in this city this afternoon. It will
be remembered that in his deposition taken at Hanni-
bal, R. H. Stillwell testified that he believed, from
information received during the past few weeks, that
Dr. Hearne and his (Stillwell's) step-mother, now Mrs.
Hearne, murdered his father in Hannibal in December,
1888. He testified that a large part of that informa-
tion was secured from Mrs. Susie Hayward, whose
home is in this city. The interested parties came here
for the purpose of taking Mrs. Hayward's deposition,
and at I :30 this afternoon an interesting scene was
presented in a little room in the law office of Moran,
Kraus & Meyer, 79 Dearborn street. There were
present Notary Austrain, Nat C. Dryden, of St. Louis,
and Judge Hendrick, of San Diego, attorney for Dr.
Hearne; Geo. A. Mahan, of Hannibal, attorney for
DeYoung, Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Hearne, R. H. Stillwell,
Mrs. Susie Hayward and two stenographers. Awaiting
in an adjoining room were a number of newspaper rep-
resentatives, eager to be admitted to the inner chamber.
They were not, however, kept in suspense very long.
A. L. Clarke, Mr. DeYoung's personal representative,
as tenderly as possible, informed the press “gang” that
Mrs. Hayward had stated positively that she would
consent to giving her deposition only upon his solemn
promise that newspaper men would be excluded and
that her testimony would not be published. Dr.
Hearne made a vigorous kick. He said that the doors
were thrown open to the press during the examination
at Hannibal and he saw no reason why they should


THE STILL WELL MURDER 113
change the programme here. But no change was made
and the press was excluded.
The witness was in a shiver of excitement when
she commenced her story, evidently being apprehen-
sive of bodily harm at the hands of Dr. Hearne and
wife, whose secrets she was about to give to the world.
Close to her sat R. H. Stillwell; in fact, so close that
the right foot of the pretty witness, encased in a dainty
oxford, was on his chair during the entire examination;
she felt that her life was temporarily in his keeping
and he seemed to realize the responsibility of the situa-
tion and was willing to assume it regardless of what
the emergency might be. Mr. Mahan conducted the
examination in chief. He realized the extreme
nervous condition of his witness and governed himself
accordingly. Soft of voice and unassuming in manner,
he plied the questions, and sentence by sentence, slowly
but surely the witness drew from her inner soul
important secrets seriously affecting two lives that had
been buried for years. During the recital Mrs. Hearne
sat only a few feet away, with nothing to obstruct her
view of the witness, with her features as if cut in mar-
ble, listening to every word, and within her being a
veritable cyclone of rage was placing her rapidly beyond
self control. When the witness was in the middle of
one of the most damaging sentences of her story, Mrs.
Hearne, with nerves strung to the tightest tension,
her face wearing almost a death pallor and resentment
depicted in her large, fierce eyes, involuntarily began
to leave her chair as if to leap forward and devour her
enemy with the ferocity of a tigress. The notary
observed the agitation and expressed the hope that
there would not be a scene. During the examination
Mrs. Hearne sank back into her chair and remained
quiet during the remainder of the proceedings.
Witness stated that her age was forty-five; that
she lived in Chicago four years; that she lived in Han-
nibal, but left there prior to 1888; that she knew Amos
J. Stillwell and wife; that she knew Dr. J. C. Hearne by
sight and had met him once or twice.
Mr. Mahan: Did you ever talk with Dr. Hearne?

114 THE STILLWELL MURDER
I decline to answer how it came about.
Just state what was said by either of them.
What I saw was an accident and I don’t think I
have to tell those things.
Just state what you saw by accident.
I saw nothing. Witness stated that she had a
talk with Mrs. Stillwell about Dr. Hearne; that she
knew C. P. Heywood, George W. Haines and R. H.
Stillwell. That she met the latter gentleman in Chi-
cago, June 26, 1895.
Mr. Mahan: What did Mrs. Stillwell say to you
about Dr. Hearne prior to the murder of her husband?
She stated that she had become attached to him
and asked me to have a talk with him about this
attachment. I talked with him in Mrs. Stillwell's par-
lor; he said he was attached to her and was anxious for
her to have a divorce. I told him it would be a foolish
thing for her to get a divorce; that he could not support
her; that she was so extravagant she could not live on
a man's salary; he replied that of course she would have
alimony; Mrs. Stillwell said Dr. Hearne had great
influence over her.
Did you hear anything about something that
transpired at Mrs. Stillwell's house one night when Mr.
Stillwell returned from St. Louis?
Dr. Hearne was in the house when Mr. Stillwell
returned; he (Hearne) said that if he had met Stillwell
in the hall he would have shot him; I said to him then:
“You would be a murderer and would be hanged.”
He replied that the people in Hannibal would have
thought it was a burglar. I do not remember of Dr.
Hearne saying that Mr. Stillwell was not a fit com-
panion for his wife. -
When you said to Dr. Hearne that Mrs. Stillwell
could not get a divorce and could not get alimony,
what reply did he make?
He said he could have Mr. Stillwell slugged for
two dollars and a half.
Did Mrs. Stillwell ever write you in regard to a
divorce? -
Yes, but I do not remember what she said. I got
THE STILL WELL MURDER 115
a letter from her the day of the murder, but I do not
know where the letter now is; it may have been
destroyed. It was a very ordinary letter about dress-
making; she stated that she was getting along nicely
with Mr. Stillwell, was well contented and very happy.
Did you meet Mrs. Stillwell after the murder in
Hannibal 2
I did, at the home of Mrs. Chas. T. Hayward.
What did she say to you?
She said she trusted me as she trusted her God.
In the talk you had with Dr. Hearne what was
said about the discontinuance of his visits to Mrs.
Stillwell?
He said he was visiting her in the capacity of a
physician and would not discontinue his visits.
How came you to meet at Mrs. Stillwell's Did
you send for him?
Mrs. Stillwell asked me to meet him there.
Did you know the relationship between Dr.
Hearne and Mrs. Stillwell?
I knew they were very friendly.
Dr. Hearne retained additional counsel in the
person of Nat C. Dryden, one of the most noted
criminal lawyers in the state. The doctor seems to
realize that he will be indicted.

CHAP T E R IX
DR. AND MRS, HEARNE INDICTED
JURY composed of the following gentle-
men: Sam Withers, Robert Kerrick, S. F.
Roderick, Henry Elzea, Elijah Hawkins,
|X Y& John H. Davis, H. C. Nerlich, W. B. Pet-
º- * tibone, A. G. Hamlin, Fred Bassen,
George W. Dulany, Thomas Robinson, returned an
indictment against Dr. and Mrs. Hearne, charging
them with the murder of Amos J. Stillwell.
Armed with the capias, Sheriff Pratt started for
the residence of W. T. Perkins, where Dr. Hearne and
wife have been stopping since they came from Cali-
fornia. He found Dr. Hearne standing on the street
in front of the house engaged in a conversation with a
representative of the Journal. “I suppose,” said the
doctor, “you have come to arrest me.” “Yes, sir,”
responded the sheriff. “Well, I am here and subject
to your command,” replied the doctor. The doctor
invited the sheriff to enter the house. He did so and
read the warrant to Dr. Hearne and his wife and placed
them under arrest. Just before leaving for Palmyra
the doctor manifested a feeling of uneasiness. He was
fearful of a mob and told the officer so. The sheriff
informed him that there was no danger and that he
would protect him even with his own life.
The prisoners arrived at Palmyra about Io o'clock
and were placed in jail. Mrs. Hearne was given a room
with Mrs. Virginia B. Todd, who is accused of murder-
ing her daughter, and Dr. Hearne was placed in a cell
with Doug Roland, charged with grand larceny. It was
expected by many that when the time arrived for Dr.
Hearne and wife to start to Palmyra to enter prison
that Mrs. Hearne would break down, but she tripped
out of the house as spryly as a young girl, and entered
the carriage apparently perfectly unconcerned. She
had made up her mind to make the best of it and her
bravery was remarkable. Dr. Hearne took a seat by
his wife in the carriage and bade a cheerful good bye
to those present.


THE STILL WELL MURDER 117
AT PALMYRA
Sheriff Pratt arrived at Io:30 o'clock, having in
charge Dr. J. C. Hearne and wife, charged with the
murder of Amos J. Stillwell. When near the home
of Dr. F. W. Bush, a reckless driver ran into the sur-
rey driven by the sheriff and containing the prisoners,
breaking the pole and smashing up the vehicle consid-
erably. It was so badly wrecked that another con-
veyance had to be sought. The occupants were not
injured at all and walked to the home of John Bush,
where they attempted to secure a spring wagon. Mr.
Bush hadn't a spring wagon and Sheriff Pratt went to
the home of Robert Sarson and secured one. They
arrived at Palmyra about an hour behind time. There
were about 100 people at the jail to see Dr. Hearne
and wife. When the party arrived at jail Mrs. Hearne
was calm and collected, but the doctor was agitated.
The doctor seemed very nervous when the door was
unlocked to admit him to prison life. Dr. Hearne
and wife brought their bed clothing with them, and
Mrs. Todd kindly arranged a cot in her cell for Mrs.
Hearne. Dr. Hearne's cot was placed in the corridor
down stairs along with Doug Roland, in for robbery.
The doctor still maintains his innocence of the crime
with which he is charged and says that he will demand
a speedy trial. “I want it tried quickly and right
here,” he said. They arranged to have their meals
sent in to them from the Mitchell Hotel. They will
be kept in prison until the September term of court.
The doctor was subjected to trial by the Kangaroo
court, composed of fellow prisoners. The charge was
breaking into jail. John Nelson, who is under sen-
tence, officiated as judge, Doug Roland as sheriff
and Ed Feeney, prosecuting attorney. The prisoner
was found guilty and fined one dollar, which was
promptly paid, and promptly invested in tobacco for
the common use of the prisoners. Dr. Hearne in-
quired of Deputy Wachendorfer as to the spare room
in Sheriff Pratt's residence, being confident that he and
his wife would be given quarters outside of the jail

118 THE STILL WELL MURDER
proper. The idea was quickly dispelled when he was
ushered into one of the iron cages and introduced to
his cell mates.
There is a rumor that a telegram was sent from
Quincy by an attorney to Dr. Hearne immediately
after the divorce had been procured by Mrs. Hearne,
something like the following: “Re-marry at once;
trouble ahead.” There are all sorts of wild rumors
and there may be no truth in the statement. Mrs.
Hearne had evidently made up her mind to meet any
emergency. Her friends thought she would show
some emotion when the charge of murder was formally
made against her. But she did not shed a tear. Dur-
ing the trip to Palmyra the doctor was very talkative,
but Mrs. Hearne was silent.
THE INDICTMENT
State of Missouri, County of Marion. In the Han-
nibal Court of Common Pleas, May Term, 1895.
The Grand Jurors for the state of Missouri, sum-
moned from the body of Mason and Miller townships,
in the county of Marion and state of Missouri, duly
empaneled, sworn and charged to enquire within and
for the body of Mason and Miller townships, in said
county of Marion, state of Missouri, and true present-
ment make, upon their oaths present and charge that
Fannie C. Hearne and Joseph C. Hearne, on the 29th
day of December, A. D., 1888, with force and arms
at the township of Mason, county of Marion, state of
Missouri, in and upon one Amos J. Stillwell felon-
iouslyſ willfully, deiberately, premeditatedly and of
their malice aforethought, did make an assault, and
that she, the said Fannie C. Stillwell with a certain
ax, which said ax was then and there a deadly weapon,
and which said ax she, the said Fannie C. Hearne, in
both her hands then and there had and held, then and
there feloniously, willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly
and of her malice aforethought, did strike, cut, thrust,
penetrate and wound him, the said Amos J. Stillwell,
in and upon the left side of the head and neck of him,

THE STILL WELL MURDER 119
the said Amos J. Stillwell, then and there with the ax
aforesaid, by the stroke aforesaid, in manner aforesaid,
in and upon the left side of the head and neck of him,
the said Amos J. Stillwell, one mortal wound of the
length of five inches and of the depth of four
inches, of which said mortal wound he, the said
Amos J. Stillwell then and there instantly died. And
that the said Joseph C. Hearne, at the time and place
of committing the felony and murder aforesaid, by the
said Fannie C. Hearne, in the manner and form and by
the means aforesaid, feloniously, willfully, deliberately,
premeditatedly, and of his malice aforethought, was
then and there present, aiding, helping, abetting,
assisting, comforting and maintaining the said Fannie
C. Hearne the felony and murder aforesaid to do, com-
mit and perpetrate. And so the grand jurors afore-
said upon their oaths aforesaid do say, that the said
Fannie C. Hearne and Joseph C. Hearne him, the said
Amos J. Stillwell, then and there in the manner and
by the means aforesaid feloniously, willfully, premed-
itatedly and of their malice aforethought did kill and
murder, against the peace and dignity of the State.
And the grand jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths,
do further present and charge that at the time and
place aforesaid Joseph C. Hearne and Fannie C.
Hearne, on the 29th day of December, A. D., 1888,
with force and arms at the township of Mason, county
and state aforesaid, in and upon one Amos J. Stillwell,
feloniously, premeditatedly, and of their malice afore-
thought, did make an assault, and that he, the said
Joseph C. Hearne, with a certain ax, which said ax
was then and there a deadly weapon, and which said
ax, he, the said Joseph C. Hearne, in both his hands
then and there had and held, then and there felon-
iously, willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly and of
his malice aforethought did strike, cut, thrust, pene-
trate and wound him, the said Amos J. Stillwell, in
and upon the left side of the head and neck of him,
the said Amos J. Stillwell, giving to him, the said
Amos J. Stillwell, then and there with the ax aforesaid
by the stroke aforesaid, in manner aforesaid, in and

120 THE STILL WELL MURDER
upon the left side of the head and neck of him, the
said Amos J. Stillwell, one mortal wound of the length
of five inches and of the depth of four inches, of
which said mortal wound he, the said Amos
J. Stillwell, then and there instantly died. And
that the said Fannie C. Hearne, at the time and
place of committing the felony and murder aforesaid
by the said Joseph C. Hearne, in manner and form and
by the means aforesaid, feloniously, willfully, deliber-
ately, premeditatedly and of her malice aforethought
was then and there present, aiding, helping, abetting,
assisting, comforting and maintainng the said Joseph
C. Hearne, the felony and murder aforesaid in manner
and form aforesaid to do, commit and perpetrate.
And so the Grand Jurors aforesaid, upon their
oaths aforesaid, do say that the said Joseph C. Hearne
and Fannie C. Hearne, him the said Amos J. Stillwell,
then and there in the manner and by the means afore-
said, feloniously, willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly
and of their malice aforethought did kill and murder,
against the peace and dignity of the State.
H. CLAY HEATHER,
Prosecuting Attorney, Marion County, Missouri.
A 7 rue Bill: ELIJAH HAWKINS,
Foreman of the Grand Jury.
WITNESSES FOR THE STATE
R. H. Stillwell, W. A. Munger, Lizzie Julius, Dr.
Allen, Dr. Vernette, Mrs. J. H. League, Jake Korn-
der, John E. Stillwell, Benjamin Rodison, S. J. Miller,
James Abbey, Tom Winters, W. L. Rose, J. E. John-
son, Mrs. R. H. Stillwell, Mrs. Susie Hayward, Josie
Brown, Dr. Gleason, W. T. League, George McCart-
ney, W. C. Modisett, Ed Herring, J. F. Davidson,
Mrs. Don C. Brown, Albert Briggs, Stanley Clark,
Mrs. Dr. Gleason. º
CHAPTER X
THE TRIAL OF THE HEARNES
Fºl HERIFF PRATT arrived on the Brookfield
: accommodation at Io:55 a. m. with Dr.
and Mrs. J. C. Hearne. The train
stopped at Fourth street, and the prisoners
=" walked from there to the court house in
charge of the officer. The Case of the State vs.
Frances C. and Joseph C. Hearne, indictment murder
in the first degree, was called. Dr. and Mrs. Hearne
entered the court room in the custody of the officers
and accompanied by their attorneys, Col. R. E. Ander-
son and Geo. M. Harrison. The case will be called
on the first day of the Pike County court in November.
D. A. Ball, of Louisiana, has been employed as
additional counsel for the defense. Col. Dryden was
not present.
The attorneys for the state will be Ras Pearson,
prosecuting attorney for Pike county; H. Clay
Heather, prosecuting attorney for Marion county;
Champ Clark and Dick Giles.
Dr. Hearne and wife were taken to the grand jury
room and remained there until noon, when they were
taken to the Park hotel. One table was set apart for
Dr. Hearne and wife, Harold Stillwell and Mrs. Vir.
ginia Todd and her sister, of Bowling Green. Dr.
Hearne and wife will be taken to the Bowling Green
jail as soon as the transcript has been completed. The
prisoners were taken to Palmyra this afternoon.
Dr. J. C. Hearne and wife, under indictment for
the murder of A. J. Stillwell, the pork-packer of Han-
nibal, in 1888, were brought to Bowling Green yester-
day on a change of venue from the Marion county
circuit court and lodged in jail to await trial, which is
set for the first week in January. The prisoners
appeared to be well and cheerful, though Mrs. Hearne
seemed a little nervous. She was neatly dressed in a
blue skirt and hat, with white shirt waist and white
bow at throat. The doctor was attired in black and


122 THE STILL WELL MURDER
wore a Masonic pin in his lapel. The prisoners
entered a carriage and were driven direct to the jail,
where Sheriff Daughertv took charge of them. Dr.
Hearne was placed in a steel cell, but not in the cage.
His room is 8 by 15 feet, contains a stove and cot and
has new matting on the floor. One grated window
admits a dim light. Mrs. Hearne fares better. Her
apartment is not a part of the jail proper, but is a brick
room on the second floor, a part of the sheriff's resi-
dence, and is tastefully furnished. Brussels carpet,
with a pretty design of vines and roses, oak chairs and
table, one rocker, bedstead, washstand and dresser,
the latter with French plate mirror. In Marion
county, Pike county has the reputation of not con-
victing prisoners of murder in the first degree, and the
impression has gone out there that the people of this
county are rather opposed to capital punishment.
Whether this is true or not, it is undoubtedly the
reason that the Hearnes asked to be tried here. Dr.
Hearne is getting tired of confinement. He said he
was anxious to get back to his business and did not
believe he would be confined much longer, so he evi-
dently believes that Pike county will hold to her repu-
tation and clear him without much trouble. Mrs.
Hearne still manifests that stony indifference and
silence she has shown from the beginning.
THE TRIAL
Bowling Green, Mo., Dec. II.
Court was opened at Io o'clock this morning and
the Hearne party was brought in by Sheriff Dough-
erty, accompanied by W. T. Hearne, of Independence,
Mo., who is an uncle of the doctor, J. W. Hearne, of
Chicago, also an uncle, and Frank P. Hearne, of
Alton, a half-brother, who is here to stand by Dr.
Hearne and furnish all the money required to fight the
case to its bitter end. He believes in the innocence
of the doctor, notwithstanding all that has come out
tending to the contrary. Mrs. Susie Hayward has
expressed herself as not wanting to come to the trial
to testify. The jurors to serve on the case are all

THE STILL WELL MURDER 123
farmers except one, who is a druggist, and all are
married men. Daugherty and Hearne spend all of
their leisure time in abusing newspapers and patting
each other on the back.
The witnesses who will be first called to testify
will be H. Clay Heather, Richard H. Stillwell and
Sample Birch, for the state, and Mrs. Hearne, Rufus
Anderson and Miss Virginia Hearne for the defense,
and they will be permitted to remain in court by agree-
ment, but all other witnesses will be excluded. G.
Dick Biggs has arrived in the city with the ax with
which Mr. Stillwell was murdered, and the blood stains
are still upon it. Excitement in this case is raging
and there is considerable speculation as to what the
final outcome wil be.
Court was called to order again, when Prosecuting
Attorney Heather submitted a list of new state wit-
nesses. H. Clay Heather then began his opening
statement, and said: “I will now unfold to the court
and jury the foul assassination of one of Missouri's
best and wealthiest citizens,” and after dwelling to
some extent on the character of Amos J. Stillwell, went
on to say that “Dr. Hearne's wife had killed him, and
that the validity of the indictment devolved upon the
character of the Marion county grand jury.” He went
on with his opening address and made a concise state-
ment of the case. Mrs. Hearne remarked to friends
that she had been hypnotized by the wily doctor.
Attorney Heather went on to say that he expected to
prove a deep conspiracy on the part of Dr. and Mrs.
Hearne. It was the effort of Heather’s life and made
a good impression on the jury. When court opens
tomorrow it is expected that sensational developments
will occur.
DR. HEARNE TO FACE THE MUSIC FIRST
N. C. Dryden, attorney for the defense, called up
the motion for a severance, and suggested that Mrs.
Hearne be tried first. Prosecuting Attorney Heather
objected to this and asked that the doctor be tried
first. The court decided that the doctor should be

124 THE STILL WELL MURDER
tried first, making first victory for the state. Champ
Clark, of counsel for the prosecution, asked how many
had visited the Hearnes at the jail. This move was
made as basis for disqualifying jurors, but Judge Roy
ruled that the simple fact of having visited the jail
would not be sufficient to disqualify, unless a conver-
sation had been held with the Hearnes.
Bowling Green, 3:30 p. m.—Harold Stillwell,
oldest son of Mrs. Hearne, arrived at noon. When
he entered the court room his mother called him to
her side. He looked at her and hesitated. Then he
entered within the railing and sat by her side.
On examination, five jurors from the second pan-
nel of twelve were excused on account of having vis-
ited the jail and conversed with the defendants.
A DEFIANT SHERIFF
At the time of Hearne's arrest, and in fact till he
came into Mr. Dougherty's keeping he was crest-
fallen. This has all disappeared and Hearne is him-
self again. He made an open threat in the court room
against a representative of The News and crossed Pros-
ecuting Attorney Heather. Mr. Heather was standing
between the doctor and his daughter addressing the
court, when Hearne said: “Get away from here. Don't
stand between us.” The state's attorney replied in a
caustic manner: “Who appointed you officer of this
court?” Mrs. Hearne is improved in looks, having
gained in flesh since she has been in Bowling Green.
She wears a cloth skirt and blue shirt waist, gray cloak
trimmed in fur and a pretty little bonnet. When look-
ing at her adversaries the fire snaps out of her eyes, but
she is usually laughing and talking with friends in the
court room, not seeming to realize the situation.
Champ Clark, of the attorneys for the state, made
a remarkable statement today that if Dr. Hearne was
not hung it would not be because he has not said and
done everything he could to give out the impression
that he committed the murder, except to confess it.
The state will attempt to show that Dr. Hearne was at
the bottom of the prosecution started in Hannibal some

THE STILL WELL MURDER 125.
time ago against Dr. Vernette for assaulting the Haw-
kins girl, knowing that at some time Vernette might be
a valuable witness against him and with the view to for-
ever discrediting him. In examining jurors Champ
Clark took a delight in asking them if they had called
at the jail and been introduced to the Hearnes by Sheriff
Dougherty. Many answered in the affirmative that it
became a joke. One juror Champ Clark asked: “Have
you been down to the jail yet to pay your respects to
the Hearnes?” Senator Ball, of the defense, objected
on the ground that the question was improper, and he
was sustained by the court. One juror when asked if
he had met Dr. Hearne, replied that he had formed the
doctor's acquaintance in the post office some weeks ago,
and since that had met him several times on the streets.
The sentiment here in Bowling Green is divided. More
than half the people in Bowling Green have called upon
the Hearnes personally and have been introduced by the
sheriff, who never loses the opportunity to present these
“distinguished guests” in the best manner. Mr.
Dougherty is defiant. He is in bad repute with the best
citizens here and is probably serving his last term as an
officer of Pike county. The doctor has come to the
conclusion that he was mistreated by Sheriff Pratt and
has sent word to that gentleman that among those he
is going to kill when he gets out are Dick Stillwell and
Sheriff Pratt.
It may be true that the defense wanted to try
Hearne first, but it is also true that the state wanted to
try him first. -
Bowling Green, Dec. 12–The Hearne trial has
opened in earnest and with all parties on their mettle.
Much interest is now centered in the jury. It is com-
posed of three young men, five middle-aged and four
aged men. All are good, substantial and intelligent
men, who will, it is believed by both sides, decide the
case honestly. They have families and can realize what
it is for a man to work a life-time, accumulating a com-
petency and rearing a family, and then while enjoying
the fruits of his labor in old age, to have a villain step in
and murder the man and cast a shadow over his children
126 THE STILL WELL MURDER
that will remain for life. If it can be proven that Dr.
Hearne was the villain in this case, there is no question
about the sense of justice and the action of the jury.
The fate of the Hearnes now depends upon the evi-
dence. As to the trial, much depends on the court.
Judge Roy ruled, while Mr. Heather was making his
opening statement to the jury, that the domestic infe-
licity attending the marriage of the Hearnes divorce,
re-marriage, etc., was not relative. Judge Roy simply
made this ruling in so far as the opening statement was
concerned, and it is not believed that he will exclude
such material testimony.
Charles Bonfils was the first witness to testify in
the case. He had made a map of the Stillwell house
and surroundings, which was admitted in evidence, and
marked “Exhibit B.”
W. A. MUNGER ON THE STAND
W. A. Munger was second on the stand. His
testimony was about the same as his deposition in the
DeYoung case. He said Hearne had told him that he
had gone directly to his office from Mr. Munger's house
and from the office to his home and did not come out
that night. The state expects to prove that Dr.
Hearne was out again that night and was seen coming
from the direction of the Stillwell mansion. Col. Dry-
den cross-examined Mr. Munger to quite an extent.
Dr. Gleason testified about the condition of the
body as he found it and indicated to the jury the
length, breadth and depth of the wound. Mr. Heather
was in fine spirits and said the state would prove all
that had been stated and more. The state is not rely-
ing altogether on Dr. Vernette to prove that Dr.
Hearne was seen on the street after one o'clock on the
morning of the murder. It will be proven by a man
whose testimony cannot be impeached that Dr. Hearne
was seen on the same night after Dr. Vernette had seen
him. This will be in the nature of a surprise to the
defense, as they have not been expecting it. The skies
are brightening for the state. Mr. Heather says he
realizes all the disadvantages he has to contend with in


THE STILL WELL MURDER 127
the case, in that much of the most convincing evidence
which has been talked for years will not be admissible,
and yet, taking all this in view, he expects conviction.
A CARD FROM DR. HEARNE
To the Public:
After a continuous tirade of abuse, heaped upon
me by H. B. Hull, of The Evening News, when he
came to Bowling Green on Monday last, he presumed
to speak to me when I entered the court house. I
refused to recognize him. Smarting under his deserved
rebuke, he further vents his spleen in his issue of the
Ioth inst, by concocting and publishing in his “chump”
paper the following language: “Hearne has been so
well treated at the hands of Dougherty that he has
come to the conclusion that he was mistreated by
Sheriff Pratt, and has sent word to that gentleman say-
ing that prominent among those he is going to kill
when he gets out are Dick Stillwell and Sheriff Pratt.”
I take this opportunity to denounce said charge as
being made out of whole cloth. I have neither enter-
tained nor sent any such threats, and am forced to the
conclusion that the said H. B. Hull is a constitutional
liar, whose natural talents for mendacity are only
equaled by his impudence, and that he would receive
the application of a cowhide with the cringing humility
of a cur, to which he has more than a striking resem-
blance.
Respectfully,
(Signed) J. C. HEARNE, M. D.
The above statement was handed out last night
by counsel for the defense for publication. The News
representative's informant about the matter was
Richard Stillwell, who said today that Sheriff Pratt told
him of it and would verify the statement. But cer-
tainly it is no discredit to be publicly denounced by
Hearne, the man who stands indicted as the murderer
of Amos J. Stillwell.
Dr. Gleason finished his evidence. He said that
Stillwell did not move after the blow was struck. The
evidence of Dr. Gleason was very damaging to Hearne.
128 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Dr. Gleason said that the victim might have moved
convulsively after the blow had been struck, but that
he believed that he did not. It was shown that Ander-
son had said at the time of the murder that there was
no necessity for a post mortem examination. Dryden
asked the witness if he had ever seen a chicken’s head
cut off, and asked if the chicken did not jump around
pretty lively. Gleason stood the cross-examination
well, and gave testimony damaging to the defense.
The state will attempt to prove that Col. Anderson, as
prosecuting attorney of Marion county, stood in the
way of an indictment.
W. T. League was called to the stand and
rehearsed the story of Mrs. Stillwell crossing the street
to his house and awakening the family with the state-
ment that Mr. Stillwell had been murdered, and that
she was dressed in her night clothes and was bare-
footed. During all of Mr. League's testimony Dr.
Hearne's eyes were riveted upon him as though he were
trying to exert some hypnotic power over the witness.
At the conclusion of Mr. League's testimony Dr.
Hearne helped him on with his overcoat, and manifested
a great deal of friendship for him.
Jake Kornder gave in his evidence this afternoon,
which is substantially the same as has been published
in his depositions. The trial will likely be more sensa-
tional tomorrow.
INTEREST GROWING IN THE TRIAL
Dr. Hearne occupies a ceat in the group of his
attorneys and stares at the witnesses as though he were
trying to exercise an undue influence over them. This
was especially true while Lizzie Julius, the colored
servant at the Stillwell home, was on the stand. Every
time she would catch the eye of Dr. Hearne she would
become frustrated and stammer as though frightened.
She stated that the ax that struck the blow was locked
up in the wood shed on the night of the murder—that
she locked it up herself. She was very positive on this
point. Mrs. Hearne occupies the same seat every day
on a bench immediately back of the press table. Dr.


THE STILL WELL MURDER 129
Hearne's two daughters and her son Harold sit with
her. No intelligent person who knows the history of
this case believes there is a single spark of affection
existing between them. Champ Clark gives it as his
opinion that if by accident these people should be set
free, divorce proceedings would be begun immediately
and that they would get as far away from each other as
possible. In the event that Dr. Hearne is acquitted, it
has been stated that the case against Mrs. Hearne would
never come to trial because it has been alleged, certain
parties fear her. Mr. Heather said: “Hearne will never
be acquitted, but if he should be I will try Mrs. Hearne
just the same.” The state's attorney shows that A. J.
Stillwell had been dead nearly an hour before Mrs.
Stillwell gave the alarm. Senator Ball intimated in a
remark to the court that the defense would prove how
this time was spent. A big effort will be made by both
sides on this point, as it is very material. Dr. Hearne
is seen about the hotel lobbies nearly every evening.
While Lizzie Julius was on the stand Prosecuting
Attorney Heather exhibited the ax. Lizzie is supersti-
tious and said: “I don’t want to touch that thing.”
Mrs. Hearne was amused and laughed, as much as to
say “That won't hurt you.”
Mrs. Gleason said that she had resided in Hannibal
about thirty years and knew Hearne and wife and A.
J. Stillwell. She described the location of the resi-
dence. She was called to the Stillwell house the night
of the murder, about 2 o’clock. She went over and
saw Hearne there. She was surprised to see him there
when she arrived, as she hurried so. Dr. Hearne said
he had not been in bed. As he was coming down the
steps at Munger's he met A. J. Stillwell, who asked him,
"Why are you, a young man, going home so early ’’
Hearne left Munger's and kept just ahead of Mr. Still-
well and wife to Broadway. Hearne made this explai
nation to witness soon after she arrived, even before
she went up stairs. After talking to Dr. Hearne wit-
ness went up stairs. Dr. Hearne remained with Mrs.
Stillwell, staying there all night. Witness heard Mrs.
Stillwell say, addressing Dr. Hearne, “Don’t leave me.”

130 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Mrs. Gleason says she looked at the body of Mr. Still-
well and was surprised that it had been removed from
the place where the blood was, which was on the south
side of the bed, while the body was on the north side.
Mollie was in Quincy that night. Mrs. Gleason
remarked that Mollie was surprised to get permission
to go away from home. Witness said Mollie and her
children were very intimate. While the attorneys for
the defense were on their feet crying, “Object,” Mrs.
Gleason raised her voice and said her children told her
that Mrs. Stillwell's children told them that they were
sent away on occasions when Dr. Hearne called. Col.
Dryden cross-examined witness. Witness said Dr.
Hearne visited Mrs. Stillwell frequently, and she knew
of it because Mollie would invariably come over to her
house. The state scored some good points in Mrs.
Gleason's testimony and it was perceptible that an
impression was made on the jury.
COURT CALLED TO ORDER
R. H. Stillwell was the first witness placed on the
stand this morning when court opened, and as he took
his seat Mrs. Hearne changed from her accustomed
seat and took a position directly in front of him and
stared at him throughout his examination, but if she
had any effect on him it was not discernible. Hearne
glared at him occasionally and showed more than ordi-
nary concern. In relating the crime Mr. Stillwell lay
upon a table to show the jury how his father was found
dead; said that the body had evidently lain in the mid-
dle of the bed until all of the blood had run out, and
then been moved to the side of the bed; said this was
the first time Mollie had ever been away from home
over night that he knew of. Witness said that his step-
mother had told him that she cared nothing for his
father—her husband; that she thought he was too old
for her. She also said that she wished she had married
a young man. Mrs. Hearne was peering into witness
eyes and was half smiling and half crying. Witness
testified that his father had made a will leaving the
entire estate to him in trust for twenty years. Mrs.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 131
Stillwell set about breaking the will, and did so; shortly
afterward Stillwell was murdered; that Mrs. Hearne got
a child's part. He said Anderson had the grand jury
reports in his office and Dr. Hearne had free access to
said reports. Anderson was prosecuting attorney for
the county at the time and had complete control of the
grand jury. Col. Dryden cross-examined the witness.
Witness said his step-mother had repeatedly told him
that his father was too old for her and that she wished
she had married a younger man. All this was said to
him before his father was murdered. Witness said that
Dr. Hearne was never employed in the service of the
family with the consent of his father.
SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
Bowling Green, Mo., Dec. 14.
R. H. Stillwell got some good work in for the
state last evening while on the stand. A letter which
had been written by him to his step-mother while she
was in Battle Creek was read by Col. Dryden for the
purpose of cross-examination. The letter was full of
comfort. The state's attorney objected to the letter
being read, but consented with the understanding that
witness should have an opportunity to explain it.
There were two letters. Mr. Stillwell’s letters were to
the effect that there was nothing in the accusation and
that he believed in Hearne’s innocence. Then Mr.
Stillwell dropped the bomb. It was to the effect that
he was the last man in Hannibal to believe that his step-
mother and Dr. Hearne committed the crime. He
explained how natural it was that he should feel as he
did. His step-mother had always treated him kindly.
She was the mother of his father's children, whom he
desired to protect, but recently evidence had come to
his knowledge which had changed him completely.
When the second letter was read and Mr. Stillwell’s
time arrived to explain it, he simply said these words:
“The very fact that those letters have been preserved
by them through all these years is convincing evidence
to my mind of their guilt.” Why did those people pre-
132 THE STILL WELL MURDER
serve the papers for seven years unless they thought
there was a possibility of their arrest?
Harry Nichols, who resided in Hannibal at the
time of the murder, testified that he set his watch at
I :I 5 o'clock on the morning of the murder and walked
to the opera house in company with Harry Nash and
Dana Hubbard. When they arrived at the opera house
witness said it must have been I :Io or 1:15 o'clock and
that he saw Dr. Hearne pass. Hearne was going north
and turned the corner of Center, going towards his
home. -
MRS. SUSIE HAYWARD
Mrs. Susie Hayward was placed on the stand this
morning. Witness stated that she had visited Mrs.
Stillwell more than a year before the murder occurred,
and from the beginning related her knowledge of the
doctor worming his way into the Stillwell home, and
went on to say how she had followed Mrs. Stillwell to
Dr. Hearne’s office and found them locked in a back
room. Witness said that on one occasion she went
over to the city park and watched for them to come out
of the doctor's office; that she saw Dr. Hearne come to
the front door about two hours after she had seen Mrs.
Stillwell enter the office, and look up and down the
street as though looking to see if anyone was watching,
and that shortly afterward she saw Mrs. Stillwell come
from the office. Witness said she approached Mrs.
Stillwell and said, “Fannie, I know where you have
been;" that they went to dinner together, and that
during the conversation that followed Mrs. Stillwell
said to her that she was very unhappy, and that she
could see nothing but trouble before her; that she
studied more and more about the matter and had made
up her mind that she would break up the family ties
between herself and husband. Witness said that she
remonstrated with Mrs. Stillwell and advised her not
to do it. She further said that Mrs. Stillwell had asked
her to go and have a talk with Dr. Hearne, and ask him
to desist from his attention to Mrs. Stillwell, and in


THE TILL WELL MURDER 133
reply to her Dr. Hearne said that he would not give her
up. “The fact is,” said he, “I want her to get a divorce
from old man Stillwell and marry me.” Witness told
him he could not support her and she did not see what
he wanted with her. Dr. Hearne replied that she could
get alimony, and with the assistance he could take
care of her all right. Witness said to him: “Well, but
she would lose the alimony when she married you.”
Then Dr. Hearne said he could have Mr. Stillwell
slugged for $2.50. Dr. Hearne further said to witness:
“I suppose you know about me being in the house one
night, about 1 o'clock when Stillwell returned from St.
Louis?” Witness replied: “Yes; suppose he had seen
you?” “I would have shot him.” “Then you would
have been hung.” “Oh, no. It would have been
thought that a negro burglar had gotten into the house,
and upon being discovered, had done the work.”
“Then you will not give Mrs. Stillwell up?” “Remem-
ber, I visit her professionally. Physicians and preachers
are never suspected.” “Suppose I should tell?” said
witness to the doctor. He replied: “I would kill any
one standing in my way.” Witness said this was all
she knew about the case; that she had not talked with
Dr. Hearne from that day to this. The court ordered
Col. Dryden to refrain from pointing his finger at Mrs.
Hayward, on an objection from that lady. She said
she would not object if he pointed both hands at her.
Witness said she had not disclosed these secrets sooner
because of her love for Mrs. Stillwell; that she wanted
to protect her. Hon. H. Clay Heather asked witness
if an attorney for the defense had not been to Tennessee
to see her, in an attempt to induce her not to appear at
this trial? This question brought both Dryden and
Ball, of the defense, to their feet with objections. The
objection was sustained by the court, but it had its
effect on the jury, just the same. Mr. Ball charged
witness with having been prompted by her husband,
and asked that he be excluded from the room. The
court refused to exclude him, on the ground that he had
not been subpoenaed before taking the seat he then
occupied.

134 THE STILL WELL MURDER
OLLIE COLE
Ollie Cole was placed on the stand this afternoon.
He told of the conversation he had heard over the
telephone which took place between Dr. Hearne and
Mrs. Stillwell. The conversation took place on Dec.
22, 1888, just a few days before the murder. He said
the talk was as follows: “Hello, Fannie, is that you?
Where is A. J. * “He is across the river.” “What
time is he coming home?” “About 7 o'clock.” “I had
better come over, hadn't I?” “No, I guess not. Some-
body might see you.” “I can come over by the back
way.” “All right, come ahead.” Soon after the mur-
der the doctor was met in a drug store where he made
the threat to witness that he would kill a d-d telephone
spy or two, if they should ever say anything about him.
Cole was the only telephone man present at the time.
Dr. Hearne Out of Danger so far as this Trial is Concerned
Bowling Green, Mo., Dec. Io.
As the trial wears on Dougherty grows more defi-
ant and irregular in his conduct of the office of sheriff.
He has sacrificed his political ambition for the Hearnes.
When the jury of twelve was secured Judge Roy turned
them over to the sheriff and instructed him to keep
them together. He also warned the jury about reading
newspapers and talking to outsiders. Dougherty
secured the parlor of the Emerson house for the jury.
It was expected that they would not have callers and
that no communication would be sent to them. A cor-
respondent of the News sat in the hall, in view of the
parlor door for thirty minutes. During that time
Dougherty was bobbing in and out of the room. Two
little girls were admitted, and one juror was permitted
to go out with a man.
MRS. HEARNE'S FATHER
Mrs. Hearne's father is living in Kentucky, and
is a high-minded, respectable old gentleman. Some
have wondered why he is not here standing by his
daughter who needs friends so badly. Perhaps the
Kentucky lady could tell. Her aged father attended

THE STILL WELL MURDER 135
the funeral of A. J. Stillwell and returned home to Ken:
tucky a broken-hearted man. He said when questioned
about the murder and funeral: “Fannie's levity was
worse to me than her grief. I never expect to see
Fannie again.” Mrs. Hearne looks into the face of her
boy Harold as though he were all the world to her.
Harold is like his brother Dick in one respect. The
expression of his face is always the same—no matter
whether the testimony is good or bad. Dr. Hearne's
daughters always look pretty in court, and everybody
is anxious to see them. Much sympathy is felt for
these innocent victims of circumstances. Nothing but
sorrow is written on their young faces. Some say that
Col. Anderson is nearly as much on trial as Hearne.
He has been accused of using his official position while
prosecuting attorney, to shield Hearne. The state will.
attempt to sustain this charge.
JOHN E. STILLWELL
John E. Stillwell was the first witness placed on
the stand today. He testified that he attended the
Munger party on the night of the murder. He noticed.
that Mrs. Stillwell looked morose toward the end of
the party. Dr. Hearne and Mr. Stillwell and wife left
the party at II:30. Dr. Hearne kicked the money in
the alley with his foot and called witness' attention to
it. Prosecuting Attorney Heather: “Did you know
the condition of Dr. Hearne's eye-sight?” Witness:
“Yes; he was near-sighted.” In conversation with
witness Hearne said: “Either a burglar killed Mr. Still-
well or Mrs. Stillwell knows all about it. Now is the .
time for her friends to rally around her. My name has
been connected with hers and the only way for me to
stop it is to do some shooting.” Mrs. Hearne shed her
first tears since the trial began, while John Stillwell was
testifying. Dr. Hearne noticed it and asked Senator-
Ball to speak to her. He did so and she replied: “All
right, I'll try to stand it.” She afterwards braced up,
but looks unusually sad. She is apparently suffering the
tortures of hell. Witness said that he was surprised to
see the calm and peaceful expression on his uncle's face,

136 THE STILL WELL MURDER
as though he had fallen asleep. He had expected to
see the terrible expression of one killed in a struggle
with a burglar. -
At the afternoon session George D. Clayton testi-
fied that he attended a party at A. J. Stillwell's in the
latter part of November, 1888, and that Dr. Hearne
and Mrs. Stillwell remained up stairs for fully thirty
minutes. -
Charles Clayton swore that Mr. Stillwell and wife
and Dr. Hearne left the Munger party at II:30.
Dr. Vernette was then called to the stand and tes-
tified that he saw Dr. Hearne after I o'clock on the
morning of the murder. Col. Dryden cross-examined
him and an attempt will be made to discredit him by
other witnesses. Mr. Heather says the state's case is
made and that the state may rest at any time.
Bowling Green, Dec. 17.
During the course of Dr. Vernette's testimony it
developed that the state board of health had revoked
his license to practice medicine while Dr. Hearne was
its secretary, and while Dr. Vernette resided in Mont-
gomery City. “Do you know William Gilchrist?”
asked Col. Dryden.
Witness: Yes, sir.
What did you call him?
Mr. Gilchrist.
Didn't you call him Gil. *
I don’t think I did.
Didn't you tell Mr. Gilchrist, in your office in
Montgomery City, that you would get even with Dr.
Hearne?
No, sir.
Never said anything of that kind?
No, sir. -
While your office was in Hannibal, on Broadway,
and Dr. Hearne was driving by one day, didn't you
remark to Lucy Hawkins, in the presence of H. O.
Hawkins, that you proposed to get even with him?
No, sir.
Didn't you send Lucy Hawkins to the Eclectic
college in Cincinnatiº

THE STILLWELL MURDER 137
No, sir; I did not.
On re-direct examination Mr. Heather asked wit-
ness why his license was revoked. The reply was be-
cause he advertised. “Who was the prosecuting attor-
ney when you first testified before the grand jury?”
Col. R. E. Anderson.
George Harrison asked the witness if he did not
meet Dr. Hearne on the street one day, after he had
gotten into trouble with the Hawkins family, and say,
“You have gotten me into trouble with the Hawkins
family, and by G- I propose to get even with you if
it takes a life-time?” -
Never made any such statement in my life.
Did you arouse anybody to get into your office
when you arrived home from St. Louis that night.
No, sir.
Were you on friendly terms with Dr. Hearne
before the murder?
I was not on unfriendly terms. I have no ill-will
towards Dr. Hearne.
MRS. R. H. STILLWELL
Mrs. R. H. Stillwell went on the stand at 4:30
o'clock yesterday. She began with the trip to Battle
Creek, Mich., which she made in company with Mrs.
Amos Stillwell, Dr. Hearne and the Stillwell children.
Left Hannibal Friday and arrived at Battle Creek Sat-
urday afternoon. Nearly all of that day Mrs. Stillwell
and Dr. Hearne were alone. On Saturday or Sunday
she found Mrs. Amos Stillwell and Dr. Hearne alone
together in the latter's room with the door locked. On
Tuesday or Wednesday Dr. Hearne went back to Han-
nibal, after telling witness that he intended to propose
to Mrs. Amos Stillwell after the proper length of time
had elapsed. Two weeks later Dr. Hearne returned
to Battle Creek, and one morning sent a note to witness
saying he wanted to see her without Mollie Stillwell's
knowledge. She met him and he showed her a copy
of a Chicago paper with allegations against Dr. Hearne
and Mrs. Amos Stillwell. He said he had been sent
to Battle Creek by Dick Stillwell to keep Mrs. Stillwell

138 THE STILL WELL MURDER
from reading the papers. Witness said she understood
she was in Battle Creek for the purpose of doing the
same thing, and Dr. Hearne replied that he knew it,
but thought it wise for him to be the one—that Dick
Stillwell had sent him. On that day Mrs. Stillwell was
brought back to the sanitarium from the hospital, where
she had been almost ever since her arrival, recovering
from the effects of a surgical operation. That night
Dr. Hearne returned to Hannibal. Two weeks later the
Stillwell party returned to Hannibal. Mrs. Amos Still-
well returned to her home and Mrs. Dick Stillwell to
hers. Witness visited the widow twice a week for some
time, seeing Dr. Hearne there on one occasion and at
that time in a room with her behind a locked door,
alone. Mrs. Hearne was said to be sick, suffering from
one of her “spells.” On the night of the murder, when
Mr. and Mrs. Dick Stillwell reached the house of death
and Mrs. Dick Stillwell went to the room of Mrs. Amos
Stillwell, she found the widow lying on a wicker couch,
wearing a fresh, clean Mother Hubbard gown, made of
muslin, with trimming at the neck. It struck the wit-
ness that the gown did not look as though it had been
slept in. Witness testified that it was the custom of
Mrs. Amos Stillwell to sleep in a very plain common
flannel night-gown. Closing the examination witness
testified that the widow had told her some months
previous to the murder that she wished she had a
young, handsome husband. Col. Dryden began cross-
examination by asking a question that provoked merri-
ment, and caused witness and her husband some em-
barrassment. “Didn't you ever say that you wished
you had a young, handsome husband?” Mrs. Stillwell
blushed and replied, “I think I have.”
Aha, you think you have.
I mean that I think I have a young, handsome
husband.
Then Mr. Stillwell blushed. In the cross-examin-
ation witness admitted that she had not been friendly
toward Mrs. Amos Stillwell for some time prior to the
murder, nor to Dr. Hearne since his marriage. She
said she understood Mrs. Hearne was an epileptic and

THE STILL WELL MURDER 139
had seen her in one fit. She admitted that she saw
Mrs. Stillwell faint at her husband's coffin.
Dr. E. D. Ireland testified as to having heard Dr.
Hearne call up Mrs. Stillwell often and tell her when
he would be at liberty.
T. B. Morris testified that Dr. Hearne on one
occasion said to him: “By G–, suppose I did kill Still-
well. Let them prove it.”
Jim Abbey was called to the stand and told about
searching the Stillwell vault and finding a pair of men's
drawers and a woman's heavy night-gown, besmeared
with blood. Col. Dryden did not cross-examine Abbey.
Richard Stillwell was recalled and Dryden asked
him: “Do you remember Dr. Hearne telling you not
to take the things out of the room?”
Stillwell: “No, sir. I think he was glad to get
them removed.”
State Rests upon Failure to Get Important Evidence Before Jury
The refusal of Judge Roy to admit as evidence
Mrs. Hearne's petition against the doctor for a divorce
and the re-marriage episode was another ruling in
which the state got the worst of it. Mr. Giles read the
divorce petition filed by Mrs. Hearne against her hus-
band in San Diego, last August, alleging cruelty and
abuse and an endeavor to force her to deed to him her
property, which petition Mr. Giles contended has direct
bearing on the intent of the defendant to acquire the
property of A. J. Stillwell secured by his wife by deed
of murder, claiming that their re-marriage was
prompted by the fear that in case the divorce was
allowed to stand the woman might be compelled to tes-
tify against her divorced husband.
Mr. Giles was followed by Mr. Ball, who ridiculed
the proposition set up by the state that the divorce and
remarriage and the unhappy life of the pair were evi-
dences of murder.
Champ Clark followed with a speech on the sacred-
ness of the marriage tie. He quoted “Hamlet” in
speaking of the hasty marriage of Dr. Hearne and Mrs.

140 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Stillwell, saying, “The funeral baked-meats were used
to eke out the marriage feast.”
Mr. Heather followed in a short exposition of the
position of the state in the matter, and Nat Dryden
wound up the discussion in a few words, in which he
stated to the court that the only object of the divorce
testimony was to cast a suspicion on the defendant.
The attorneys for the state consulted for a few minutes
and then Mr. Heather announced that the state rested
its case.
Mr. Ball then made his opening statement dealing
with the facts as the defense expects to prove. “We
expect to show the gentlemen of the jury that Dr.
Hearne was early enlisted in the Confederate army in
Kentucky, and at the close of the war entered Columbia
college in this state and graduated. He then spent
three years at Jefferson college in Philadelphia and then
took up his residence in Hannibal, where he had a
large, lucrative practice. His first wife was Miss Fan-
nie Brown. He was the family physician of R. H.
Stillwell and Amos Stillwell, as well as their intimate
friend. We expect to show that Dr. Hearne went
directly from the Munger home to his office. We ex-
pect to show that the testimony of Dr. Vernette and
Harry Nichols cannot be true. We expect to show
that Vernette's testimony was prompted by malice.
We expect to show that Mrs. Anderson, the mother of
Mrs. Stillwell, now Mrs. Hearne, insisted on Dr.
Hearne going to Battle Creek with her daughter, and
that Dr. Hearne went against his will. In December,
1889, Dr. Hearne and Mrs. Stillwell were married. R.
H. Stillwell and wife and the prosecuting attorney of
Marion county were present. We expect to show that
the story of Cole, the telephone man, was an infamous
lie.”
Dr. Hearne and his wife will go on the stand late
in the trial. Mrs. Hearne will be on the stand at least
a day.

THE STILL WELL MURDER 141
Defense Commences to Establish the Innocence of Hearne
L. P. Munger was the first witness called for the
defense. Witness said it was 12 o'clock when A. J.
Stillwell and wife and Dr. Hearne left the Munger
party, and that it was between 12:15 and 12:30 when
he took Virginia home. Witness was asked how long
it would take to walk to the Hearne residence from the
Stillwell house and replied, “three minutes.”
Miss Virginia Hearne then told of her father
unbuttoning her dress, talking to her grand-mother and
going to bed.
Ed Tomer testified that he was on the corner of
Fifth and Broadway at 1 o'clock on the morning of the
murder for five minutes, but did not see anything of
Dr. Hearne.
H. C. Graham and John Hollyman testified to the
good character of Dr. Hearne prior to the murder.
Bettie Blackwell, a nurse, testified that pleasant
relations existed between Stillwell and his wife, and
that Dr. Hearne had only been there twice except when
called professionally. The defense introduced a
wooden model of the room where the murder was com—
mitted.
Dr. Crewsdon testified that the blow which killed
Stillwell caused convulsive movements of the body.
Gov. Ball asked David Dubach if Col. Anderson
had performed his duty as prosecuting attorney. Wit-
ness said Anderson was given the cold shoulder.
W. A. Munger was the first witness who ever pub-
licly announced that Dr. Hearne was suspected of mur-
dering Amos J. Stillwell. At the time he was on the
stand Mr. Munger testified that the only person he
knew of who did not believe Dr. Hearne had something
to do with the murder were Col. Garth and Charles N.
Lee.
Dr. Lucy Hawkins was called to go on the stand
to impeach the testimony of Dr. Vernette. Dr. Lucy
was positive that Dr. Vernette was at home
sick on December 29 and 30, 1888, and that he
was not out of the city. The witness said that Dr.
142 THE STILL WELL MURDER
Vernette was sleeping in the back parlor and that she
saw him every fifteen minutes up to 12:30 o'clock on
the night of the murder and gave him his medicine.
“What kind of medicine did you give him?”
shouted Champ Clark.
“His own medicine,” was the reply.
But what kind of medicine?
Well, if you must know, it was whisky and opium.
Then he was drunk?
“Yes.” Witness said she had rheumatism at the
time and seldom slept.
What school of medicine do you practice, doctor?
I am a Vitapatch.
You mean you cure people through the advice of
the spirits?
Yes, sir; I do sometimes.
Was George Harrison at Springfield to see you?
Yes, sir. -
There to talk about the Hearne case?
No, sir; he wanted to know where Fred Vernette
WaS.
Didn't you know Vernette was in Hannibal?
No, sir. Witness stated that Dr. Vernette had
threatened fifty times to get even with Hearne for
revoking his certificate to practice medicine.
H. O. Hawkins, father of Dr. Lucy, followed her
on the stand and corroborated what she testified to.
On cross-examination Hawkins could think of but little
except that Vernette was home sick on the 29th and
3oth of December, 1888. Champ Clark accused the
witness of looking at Dr. Hearne before answering
questions and after that Dr. Hearne turned his head in
another direction.
Clark Price and Press Winn were put on the stand
and testified that they had made a test of standing in
the shadow of the electric light tower on the corner of
Fifth and Broadway, and standing there they swore they
were unable to distinguish a white man from a negro
in the middle of Broadway on an average night while
the electric lights were burning. On cross-examina-


THE STILL WELL MURDER 143
tion Mr. Winn said he thought the shadow was not the
same every night.
David Dubach, foreman of the grand jury in 1891,
was put on the stand to prove Dr. Hearne's good char-
acter prior to the murder. Mr. Heather asked him
who was prosecuting attorney at the time he was on
the grand jury. “Col Anderson,” was the reply. Mr.
Ball then asked if Col. Anderson didn't do what he
could in the way of giving the grand jury assistance.
The reply was that the members of the grand jury gave
the prosecuting attorney sort of a cold shoulder.
ALL FOR THE DEFENSE
George Leake was the first witness called. His
testimony corroborated the evidence of Price and
Winn.
John Patten testified to the good character of Dr.
Hearne prior to the murder.
M. L. Franklin, Dr. Hearne's book-keeper, intro-
duced his books and showed that A. J. Stillwell's
account was $39, also charges of $75 and $140 for the
Battle Creek trips. This account was credited in Dr.
Hearne's handwriting, proving a victory for the state.
William Gilchrst, of Montgomery City, testified
that Dr. Vernette had threatened Dr. Hearne in his
presence.
Wes Butler testified that Dr. Hearne had assisted
him to arrest a man, and had gotten blood on his sleeve.
Dr. Hearne then went to Munger's to attend the party.
He went up stairs and washed the blood off.
Mrs. Dr. Allen testified that she went over to Still-
well's on the night of the murder and found Mrs. Still-
well shivering and placed her on a couch and covered
her up.
Dr. Hays thought that convulsive movements
might have thrown Mr. Stillwell from the bed.
An adjournment was then taken.
The court room was packed this afternoon on
account of the rumor that Dr. Hearne and Mrs. Hearne
would take the stand. Will League testified that Mrs.
Stillwell was very much excited the night of the mur-

144 THE STILL WELL MURDCR
der. She crouched down and said, “There he is,”
several times.
Mrs. Briggs stated that she knew Mrs. Stillwell
after the murder and said that Dr. Hearne visited the
Stillwell house professionally only. Did not know of
Mrs. Stillwell ever going to Dr. Hearne's office except
when accompanied by witness. On cross-examination
witness said she positively knew that Dr. Hearne never
made a social call on Mrs. Stillwell until three weeks
before marriage.
Mrs. League testified that Mollie Stillwell visited
her daughter at Wither's Mill twice between ten and
twelve years ago. Witness did not remember Mrs.
Stillwell, saying to Dr. Hearne, “Don’t leave me.”
The witnesses for the defense were generally surprised.
Mrs. Fannie Hearne was placed on the stand at
2:30 o'clock. She drew a long breath as she stepped
upon the stand, but was never more composed. She
said when they came home from the party Mr. Stillwell
went to the back part of the house and got a drink of
water. She then stated how the family slept. Mrs.
Hearne grew dramatic when she was asked if she knew
who killed her husband. She drew herself up to her
full height, and with a firm voice said: “No, sir.”
Did you see Dr. Hearne there that night?
No, sir.
Did you ever tell Susie Hayward that you did not
love your husband?
No, sir.
Did you tell her you were intimate with Dr.
Hearne?
No, sir.
Witness said that she had been subject to queer
spells since the birth of her first child.
STATE INTRODUCES MORE TESTIMONY IN REBUTTAL
John E. Stillwell swore that he was positive there
was no snow on the ground that morning in rebuttal of
Tomer’s evidence. R. H. Stillwell testified that he had
never paid any of Mrs. Stillwell's bills to Dr. Hearne.
W. J. Roth spoke words of praise for Dr. Vernette

THE STILL WELL MURDER 145
S. A. Birch swore that there was no snow on the
ground that morning and that a man could be identified
under the electric light at Fifth and Broadway as sworn
to by Dr. Vernette.
EVIDENCE ALL IN
There was something pathetic about the closing
hours of the Hearne trial. Dr. Hearne seems morose.
Apparently he is not confident that he will be acquitted.
Senator Ball's pathos in describing Mrs. Hearne's
pitiable condition did not move her. She surely has a
heart of stone and iron nerves. The society women of
Bowling Green have been much in evidence at the trial.
“It was cold-blooded murder in the first degree, without
a doubt,” said Mr. Giles. The question of the guilt
of this defendant is left in your charge. The law does
not require you to know that Joseph C. Hearne killed
Amos J. Stillwell. It is simply necessary for you to
believe it beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a case
of circumstantial evidence, not a case where the crime
was observed by eye-witnesses. The assassin does not
carry his witnesses with him.” A description of events
leading up to and following the murder was given.
After describing all this, Mr. Giles said: “Now the
question is, who committed this murder? The jury
must have arrived at the same conclusion that it was
either a burglar or that Mrs. Stillwell knew all about
it. I will go a step farther and say that it was not a
burglar—that Fannie C. Stillwell knew all about it.
Burglars don't kill if they can help it. They don't burn
matches all over the house.” He advanced illicit love
and the greed for Stillwell's money. Illicit love he
quoted as the most powerful motive in the world
inductive to crime. “Mrs. Hearne did not go to bed
that night with her husband. The bolster shows only
one indentation, made by one head. She arranged the
house. Her own evidence shows it. I am willing to
believe that when she saw the man sneak into the room
with the horrible instrument of death in his hand, that
she hid her face from the awful spectacle of the murder.
I believe it, for she is a woman.” Senator Ball made a

146 THE STILL WELL MURDER
strong argument for the defense. He was followed by
E. W. Major, a young attorney from Bowling Green.
A NIGHT SESSION
The court house was crowded last night with the
best people of Pike county. Mr. Major was followed
by H. Clav Heather. He made a master effort. He
was once Dr. Hearne’s best friend and is now sworn to
use his best efforts to secure a conviction. He knows
the story of the Stillwell murder mystery from begin-
ning to end, and he knows it well. In closing, Mr.
Heather expressed sympathy for Mrs. Hearne. He
said Dr. Hearne's hands were not only stained with the
blood of Amos Stillwell, but with the disgrace of Fannie
C. Hearne. The disgrace and stigma on her children
he was responsible for. Mr. Heather concluded by
thanking the jury, “and when your verdict is returned,”
he said, “I hope a message will flash over the wires that
will enable grand old Marion to say that her fair and
proud name has been at last set right and that the foul
assassination of Amos J. Stillwell has been avenged.”
Probably the strongest point in Mr. Heather's speech
was his closing words in which he charged that Dr.
Hearne has ruined the life of Mrs. Stillwell, which
might have been a happy one; that he had disgraced
her and cast a stigma upon her children which would
stay with them through life.
E. P. Hicks, of the defense, followed Heather in a
short speech. George M. Harrison, of Hannibal, was
the next orator for the defense. He started in to
explain Dr. Hearne's war record. He worked entirely
to bolster up the alibi and to discredit the testimony of
Dr. Vernette. Ras Pearson, prosecuting attorney of
Pike county, made the opening statement for the state.
It was a good argument and was well received. The
attorney jumped on the war record of Dr. Hearne. He
appealed to the sentiment of decency of the members
of the jury who fought for the lost cause for their opin-
ion of a man who would for sympathy claim the honor-
able distinction of having been a soldier at such an early
age that the fact if true, would make him a hero. The

THE STILL WELL MURDER 147
speaker placed Dr. Hearne in an extremely bad light
before the jury. Col. Nat Dryden followed for the
defense. Col. Nat Dryden appeared wearing his blue
and white seersucker coat.
THE SPEECH OF COL. DRYDEN
In an easy conversational tone, the speaker
announced the positive innocence of Dr. Hearne, and
then with startling suddenness, broke into a beautiful
description of the joys of Christmas time, of the coming
of the Christ child, the atmosphere of love that pervades
the season, the reuniting of home ties, the hanging up
of the stocking, “the peace on earth and good will
toward men.” When the eyes of the jury were dewy
and blinky there came a request, a hope from the
speaker that as a Christmas present to Dr. Hearne and
his beautiful daughters, his sorrow-stricken wife and
his friends, the jury “would give relief from as bitter a
persecution as exists in history.” Col. Dryden then
went at once into the case and the evidence. Concern-
ing the evidence of the state he affirmed that it forbids
the belief for an instant that Dr. Hearne was present, no
matter who struck the blow. Drifting over to circum-
stantial evidence, he announced that sometimes the
“surest things on earth are the most uncertain,” and to
illustrate the fact he gave a most realistic and appro-
priate illustration of a supposed game of three card
monte. It was an illustration that went home. After
reading a portion of the court's instructions, Mr. Dry-
den started in to explain what part the newspapers have
played in the case, and then naturally, got to Mike
DeYoung, of San Francisco, proprietor of the Chron-
icle, which paper Dr. Hearne sued for libel. He
announced that he would show the mercenary hand and
mind of Mike DeYoung, eager to avoid the payment
of money and eager to make a sensation, running
through the case. He called attention to the unrelia-
bility of testimony concerning alleged allegations made
by Dr. Hearne and Mrs. Hearne to others years ago,
and to the blighting influence of gossip, to the vagaries
of memory. Then he asserted that the one and only

148 THE STILL WELL MURDER
point the jury had to consider was the fact that it rested
with the state to prove that Dr. Hearne was present at
the time the murder was committed, and unless this
was done without leaving a reasonable doubt an
acquittal must follow. He then brought in a little bit
of pathos that filled the room with sobs. It was a sim-
ple, chaste description of the retirement of little Vir-
ginia Hearne the night she came home from the Munger
party. With his voice trembling he described how the
father unbuttoned the dress of the child, how she dis-
robed and put on her white night-gown, how her poor
little head throbbed and ached and how she asked her
father to please stop talking. He went on and
described home ties. He appealed to fathers and
mothers with sentiments full of heart interest and family
love, using Virginia Hearne and Kittie Hearne and Dr.
Hearne as illustrations. Quickly he shifted to the awful
responsibility resting on the jury in determining not
only the guilt of Dr. Hearne, but the future of his
children. “Think,” he said, “of the blighting, with-
ering shame that will follow these children, these lovely
girls, wherever they go, even to the fastnesses of the
Rockies, if you say their father is a murderer. Think
of the curse that will bar them from the doors of good
people and crush them under this awful weight. Think
of the mountain of responsibility that rested on this
child Virginia when she went on the stand, the life of
her father and her own future. Think of what she
might have gained by lying. But she did not lie. She
told the truth. Then he talked again of the home of
Dr. Hearne on the awful night, of Grandma Brown and
little Kittie, then a baby, until Dr. Hearne, Mrs.
Hearne, Kittie and every mother and father and nearly
everybody in the room was crying with more or less
feeling. The stoicism of Virginia Hearne was illus-
trated in this incident. While hundreds of handker-
chiefs were out in the room, rubbing and hiding hun-
dreds of eyes, she sat with her head bowed in the same
position she had maintained all morning. She did not
sob nor moan nor use her handkerchief, but down her
cheeks coursed teardrop after teardrop and off onto

THE STILL WELL MURDER 149
her black wrap, where they glistened. She made no
effort to remove them and long after the others had
dried their eyes the tears continued to flow. Following
the exposition of the alibi, Col. Dryden devoted some
time to Dr. Vernette, John Stillwell, Mrs. Hayward and
other witnesses, pointing out impossibilities. He went
extensively into the impeachment of Vernette's testi-
mony, showing how much dependence the defense is
placing on the alibi. He appealed to the jury to act as
a sympathetic body, not with a sickly sympathy, but
with that broad sympathy that would enable them to
suffer with Dr. Hearne and his dear ones every pang
of body and soul a verdict of guilty might entail. He
went back to the time of Christ and painted a picture
of the character of the Savior, using it as an illustration
of an ideal life. He asked the jurors to do as Christ
would do, to be merciful, to be kind. Then he talked
of home and mother and babies, and pathetically
described the troubles of Mrs. Hearne. “He’s yours
now,” he concluded: “you can tell him to kiss his little
ones good bye, to have his hands bound and his neck
bared to the loathsome fingers of the hangman. You
can tell those children their father will be hung, a black
mass between the earth and sky. You can disgrace
and curse those children by your verdict. But I will
not entertain such a thought. I know you will deliver
your verdict in accordance with the evidence. I know
you will not give to Mike DeYoung as a Christmas gift
the life of a man he has hounded to this court room. I
know you will rather give that life to his wife and his
sweet little girls.” When the speech was completed the
sound of muffled sobs was heard on every hand. Col.
Dryden carried the audience and the prisoner and his
wife and family from the depths of horrible fear to the
heights of hope. As he bowed to the jury, Dr. Hearne,
with streaming eyes, had his arms around the swaying
form of his wife, and his daughters sobbed as though
their hearts would break. Two of the jurymen were
powerfully affected. Court adjourned for an hour.
Mr. Clark made a great speech. It was not the
same sort as that of Col. Dryden. It was forcible, bit-

150 THE STILLWELL MURDER
ter, denunciatory, strong. He scored Hearne most
unmercifully and Rufus Anderson, if possible, more
unmercifully. It was said to be the strongest prose-
cuting speech ever made in Pike county. After an
extended introduction, he cried down the theory of the
defense that the prosecution of Dr. Hearne and his wife
was due to the Hearne-DeYoung libel suit. He
wanted to know why Dr. Hearne, if he was so sensitive
to slander, did not sue the Chicago Herald for slander
in January, 1889, when it printed the same story that
appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. He
answered himself, “Because he was afraid it was too
close to the murder—it was too fresh in the public
mind.” “They ask us,” said Mr. Clark, “why the pros-
ecution has been delayed for nearly seven years. I'll
tell you why, and the reason is a disgrace to the noble
profession of the law. Suppose while you were in the
army, down in the forest swamps of Tennessee some-
where one of your pickets gave your enemy the coun-
tersign and they were allowed to sneak in and slaughter
you? What would you think of that sentinel? That's
what Rufus Anderson did, though sworn to maintain
the law in the high office of Prosecuting Attorney—
Rufus Anderson, the son of an illustrious sire and an
illustrious grandsire. If the shades of his ancestors
take any interest in earthly affairs what must be their
feeling today when they see the degradation of their
descendant? Judas Iscariot betrayed his Savior for
thirty pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold endeavored to
betray the American army. Their place and the place
of Rufus Anderson in history is side by side. Take the
day when Mrs. Hayward sat in the park at Hanni-
bal and watched Dr. Hearne's door for two hours, wait-
ing for the appearance of Mrs. Stillwell. Who was it
came and spoke to her for ten minutes? Rufus Ander-
son, and he had never spoken to her before in his life.
Why? Because he wanted to detract her attention
from Dr. Hearne's door long enough to allow Mrs.
Stillwell to escape. That’s why. They have made
a combined attack on Vernette. They attacked him
front and rear. Dryden attacked him with mortars.
THE STLL WELL MURDER 151
Ball attacked him with his rifled cannon and Harrison
brought up the band of guerrilla Hawkinses from the
Ozarks. Ball nearly burst his throat yelping and howl-
ing at me to know the reason why I didn't impeach the
Hawkinses. I didn’t have to impeach 'em. Old man
Hawkins impeached 'em both.” Following this came
a scorching denunciation of Dr. Hearne, lasting over
an hour. The speaker then started in on a defense of
all the witnesses contradicted by Dr. Hearne, and in
this defense he handled the evidence, now and then
taking a good hard jab at Nat Dryden. The Colonel
sat in the court room awhile and then went out with a
disgusted expression on his face to the clerk's office,
where he smoked his pipe all the rest of the afternoon.
“If you hang Dr. Hearne,” said Mr. Clark, “you will do
more in the interest of law and order than if you hanged
all the poor devils in Pike county. If he had been a
poor man without money or friends, he would have died
the death of a felon six years ago. If you acquit him
you give the well-dressed scoundrels of this country
assurance. Dr. Hearne is not alone on trial, the petit
jury is on trial. I demand at your hands under the
evidence and law in the case a verdict of conviction.”
The jury retired at 4:20 p. m.
(CVOX)

CHAPTER XI
THE HEARNES ACQUITTED BY THE JURY
=\|HE jury in the Hearne case, headed by the
ºf sheriff, came down the aisle at 5:40 o'clock
Saturday evening. People were standing
on chairs and benches. “Poll the jury, Mr.
Clerk,” said the judge. The clerk came
running up to the front and called each juryman by
name. Dr. Hearne sat with his back to the jury. Vir-
ginia Hearne, with her modest manner, had won the
pity of all. She looked with wide-open eyes up and
down the line of faces and then at the folded paper in
the hand of the foreman. Katherine put her face in
her sister's lap and lay there. Every one of the jury-
men looked as solemn as though he had voted to hang
a dozen men. “Have you found a verdict?” queried
Judge Roy. “We have,” replied the foreman. The
folded paper was passed up to the judge and it rattled
loud as he opened it. Judge Roy, looking the paper
over slowly amid a death-like stillness, announced: “We
the jury, find the defendant not guilty.” Dr. Hearne's
head fell forward between his two hands, almost to his
knees, and a great sob came from him. The next
moment Virginia, his oldest daughter, was on her knees
before him, her arms reached up around his neck and
her father's tears fell on her upturned face as he kissed
her again and again. His little daughter Katie,
a sweet child, sprang to him and clasped him with her
arms, and laughing and crying, kissed him again and
again. Mrs. Hearne was apparently unmoved. She
sat as she had while waiting for the verdict, straight in
her chair, the handkerchief still at her mouth, her eyes
looking down at the floor. “Gentlemen, I thank you.
You are discharged,” said the judge to the jury. Dr.
Hearne arose, turned and faced the jury. His arms
were raised above his head and the tears were streaming
down his cheeks. His daughter still knelt upon the
floor, her face buried in her hands and her form shaking
with sobs. “Gentlemen, for God’s sake,” Dr. Hearne
-


THE STLL WELL MURDER 153
said, “I thank you, because I am an innocent man. I'll
remember this the longest day I live, and so will my
children. Thank you, Oh, thank you, gentlemen.” A
sob choked the acquitted man and he fell into his chair
again. Then his lawyers crowded around him and
hugged him. His daughter was raised from the floor
and he clasped the younger one in his arms and sat with
her on his knee, fondling her face with one hand and
wiping the tears from his eyes with the other.
Mr. Ball announced that Mrs. Hearne was ready
for trial and demanded that an early day be set. The
court could see no way by which he could be accom-
modated, and then he offered bail in any sum the court
might demand. Prosecuting Attorney Heather making
no objection, the bond was fixed at $5,000, made out
and signed at once. Mrs. Hearne was sworn not to
leave the jurisdiction of the court without permission
of the court and then Judge Roy said: “I order the
peremptory discharge of Dr. J. C. Hearne from cus-
tody.” The women in the court room came up, shook
hands with Dr. Hearne and said they were glad he was
cleared, kissed Mrs. Hearne and the two Misses Hearne
and said, “They knew all the time,” and were so glad.
Dr. Hearne, his wife and daughters and Mr. Hearne,
of Independence, went to supper at the sheriff's house.
Dr. Hearne then went to the telegraph office and sent
telegrams to friends. He said he could not say what
he would do in the future. His wife wished to return
to San Diego, Cal., where her married daughter Mollie
lives. The doctor will probably go with her.
The jurymen took but one ballot. When they
first retired it was found that Curt Smith was the only
member who was in favor of conviction. The matter
was talked over before a ballot was taken and when the
votes were counted, Smith was in line. The jury was
of the opinion that the State failed materially in making
out a case. The chain of circumstantial evidence was
strong, but a few links in it snapped when it was
stretched by the defense. Dr. Hearne can never be
tried for the crime again. Whether in this case “mur-
der will out” remains to be seen. The result of the

154 THE STLL WELL MURDER
Hearne trial is far from satisfactory. Not merely be-
cause the jury did not bring in a verdict of guilty, for
under the evidence and instructions that would have
been a surprise. The trial has thrown no new light on
the Stillwell murder. The defense has found no proof
to relieve Dr. and Mrs. Hearne of the unfortunate sus-
picion of being the only persons known to have a
motive. The Stillwell mystery is no nearer solution
than it was the night of the horrible murder. It is well
understood that Mrs. Hearne will never be tried.
There is the same evidence against her that there was
against her husband. The verdict has not changed the
opinion of the people and they accept it as the final
decision, and it leaves the Stillwell murder still unsolved
and the criminals unpunished.
THE LIBEL SUIT WON
After six years of litigation in one of the hardest-
fought libel suits, the Chronicle was compelled to pro-
pose a compromise. The first trial resulted in a dis-
agreement of the jury. They could not agree upon the
amount of damages. The second trial resulted in a
verdict of $10,000 in favor of Dr. Hearne. Defendant
took an appeal. The third trial awarded Dr. Hearne
$1.00 damages. The trial court set aside this verdict
and granted a new trial. Several days before the time
appointed for the fourth trial, defendant's attorneys
submitted to the doctor a proposition to compromise.
The first proposition was rejected. A second proposi-
tion was accepted. DeYoung paid $2,000 in gold coin
and the costs they had incurred by the two appeals
made by the defendant to the Supreme Court and also
the publication in the Chronicle of an article exonerat-
ing the doctor from any connection with the matter
referred to in the publication complained of. All ex-
hibits and all depositions and papers were removed
from the files of the court, and turned over to Dr.
Hearne. -



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