Smyrna times., 1857-11-11

years ago, was known and talked about two OF
three weeks since among certain parties, bu
publicity was not given it, for fear the mur
derer might get wind of it and escape before
ne could be arrested. 1t is a perfect illustra.
tion of the Bible maxim, "Your sins will fine
you out"
In 1852 man living in Murderkill hundred
Kent county, namsd Jos. Downham, entered Sc.
CURLY for the appearance at court of negro
court time rolled round, but the negro did moi
| appear. Downham was heard by several per.
sons TO say very significantly he would fetch
nm. In day or two Downham appeared in
Court and exhibited hat with hole in it, al
| IeglnS that he had gone after the negio and
mat he fired load Of shot through his, Down
fham's) hat, and made his escape and had gone
OIL This story Was credited and nothing more
was heard Of the negro. Down!..sm's security
was not exacted, but a short time after this &C
currcnce he left Delaware and has since been
living in the State of Indiana.
A gentleman from Delaware, named Carter,
dnrlng the last summer visited Indiana. In
conversation with a gentleman in that State,
he was told that Downham, on one occasion.
when drunk, while talking about Delaware,
was asked why he left there. In reply he said
he got into scrape and had to leave. When
asked what sort ola scrape he replied that it
was only the killing of ID negro. These
remarks were treated as the ebullitions of a
drunken man and Mr.. Carter replied that he
never heard anything about the affair. But
when he returned TO Delaware he told this
story 10 several persons, finally it reached the
eaTs OF robert w. Reynolds, Esq, the Register
OF Aent county. This gentleman related it TO
EIchn yho
Carter. The latter gentleman could give no
further information. A white man who lived
with Downham in 1852, named Andrews or An
derson, was then formally summoned before the
Grand Jury Of the Kent County Court at the
late session. The Attorney General after hav-
ing had number Of witnesses subpGned at the
late term OF the Court in Dover, succeeded in
obtaining evidence of Downham's guilt, and
the Grand Jury found a bill of indictment
against DowHham for murder.
certified copy OF the bill which was found
on the evening of October 30 was at once
transmitted to Governor Causey upon which
nc issued his requsltIon TO the Governor of In- |
diana for the delivery of Downham to JOS Nick |
erson, who with J. q. D. Harrington, started for
Perklnsvle on Saturday week. The Attorney
General then directed the Coroner to find a
certain negro named POmpey Tribbett, residing
near owls nest swamp and order him to 90 |
and show the spot where Downham had buried
his victim five years beiore The Coroner
ooeyed the order and on Tuesday last he was
shown by Pompey the place in the swamp where |
me remains OF Cesar might be found. The |
Coroner then notified the Attorney General Of
me fact and on Wednesday the latter officer
accompanied by number of the citizens OF Do
'er, repaired to the spot, where they met the
coroner and with his Jury and witnesses pre-
'ared 10 dIsInter the remains and hold an in
ueSt over them. The Coroner with the per-
ons Then proceeded to the grave and in few
minutes the bones OF the murdered negro were
emoved from the spot, where five years be-
ore they had been deposited at the dead hour
I the night and where for five years they have
numbered with none but the all seeing eve to
lark their resting place. The skull Of the de-
cased showed plainly that he had come 10 his
cath by violence; several shot were found in &
Is brain and one just sunk in the centre of his
'rehead. lie had been buried in his clothes,
nd his widow who was present exhibited a c
III which had been torn from his coat few a
lys previous to his death which matched pre-
seIy the sleeve of the coat on the remains r
men was without cuff; she also identified B
S mOney-wallet and broken halt dollar found Z
the grave and told who broke it. l
Inc evidence OF the two witnesses who tes- ~
led upon the Goroner's Jury, was much the II
me, and is as follows: That in October. c.
'o2' Downham was security for Cesrr's ap- n
arance at Court, then in session, (where lie h.
d Jailed to appear, according to his own re. b.
gnIzance,) and had attempted to take him II
deliver HIM up TO the Court; that Cgsar had u
capped; whereupon Downham, OH the dav ~
evIous to the murder, declared to one of the "
tnesses, that he would, on the next morning it
The murder, Dcwnham took his gun and ag
mt IN front OF CGsar's house, and concealed mr.
1seH IN the swamp, there being only the or
lth OF road between the house and the a
amp where he lay in wait for his victim ga
nt an hour; that Cesar at length came out an
me mousse which had been deserted by his ca
l.y throngh tear OF Downham, and stopped las
Ihe roadside Immediately facing Downham, SUI SUI
not seeing him that Downham instantly ma
lng from his ambush, leveled his gun and | a
d into the forehead and face of his victim the
Tell dead upon the spot that this occur son son
about ten O'Clock, A. NJ. that he then try
5ged the body across the road into the bush. and
some 30 or 40 yards, where it lay conceal. it a
lntll about ten o'clock, p. NJ, when Down P%e1
compelled the witnesses and woman liv- VIII
about his house, at the time, by threats of nun
% TO go with him and bury the body that und
the burial, he told them all the circum- Gou ,l
ces which are related above, and added is II,
ne who should first divulge the secret coEr
I'D travel the same road with Cesar. He you
with him; when going 10 bury the body BOO 300
"nnhle barreled guns. to prevent the es- bell
OF the witnesses, and to use ifsurprised by trad
'lopers Downham is about 55 years of duct
stout built and about five feet inches sell
, red complexion and his appearance indi- s bms;
him to be a good natured harmless man that
would not be guilty of the perpetration of bryi
lorrIble crime which he is alleged to have ana an
nltted. Much credit is due to Messrs va, Du,'t ,
Ington and Nickerson, for the prompt man. al tn
n n which they executed their arrest, having slider
Dover on Saturday week, proceeding 10 retail
more, thence to Andersontown where thew ~ ~" an =
lred the Sheriff who proceeded in com. SO he
with them to Perkinsville, the place where cent
rlsoner resided. Downham was arrested honor
magistrates office, being at the time ser. nu ,uSi y,
IN the capacity of deputy constable. He into n i
immediately handcuffed, but manifested much
3DOSltlOu N Lo H.