Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-06-04

pFOCoou.
cd from this city to Middletown last wednes- |
day afternoon, and on Thursday morning he I
had the body OF Mrs. Caroline Armstrong
(which had been buried at the Forest Presby-
terrain Church), disiaterred. and proceeded TO
hold an inquest, having summoned the follow
ing Jurors: Jonathan L. Eliason, William Vail,
Henry Q. Short, James Money, James Nichol.
son, William e. Webb, Edward r. Boulder,
Isaac W. vsndegrift, James F. Clark, Alfred
Lohsnd, James Dodson, ]. A. Reynolds, J. W.
Lsatherbury, O. e. Anderson, Samuel Pen.
nington, George Derrickson, Jr.
DR.. James VeaEey, sworn.-Was family ply.
sicisn Of Andrew P. Armstrong; was called
upon to examine the dead body of Mrs. Arm
strong, on Monday night, the 2sth of Msy, aud |
made an examination on Tuesday, the 29th;-
death was apparently produced by blow on
| the head, a lacerated wound, which broke the
skull, making compound fracture of the tive
partial bones such as would produce instant
death; was probably made by some heavy
metallic instrument; there was no other wound
on the body; decomposition had taken place.
| DR.. l.. +. Ellison assisted in the examination
| which was made at Mr.. Armstrong; house.
made another examination Of the body to-day
at the Forest Church. and found 1t to be the
same body, andin the same condition as above
described.
The testimony DR.. Lewis F. Ellison was
|
Mrs. Sarah & Houston, sworn Il was riding
past the house of Andrew P. Armstrong on
the evening of the 10th of May, about "a
o'clock, in company with Miss Mary Coffee.
Andrew p Armstrong and his wife were IN
the road, in front of the house; he was drag
ging her by the arms into the house, and she
was resisting all she could by pulling back
Armstrong said she should not go away; she
said she should not stay there that night, for
he WI al raj - Wn ifuh
this was addressed to him; he dragged her
, into the house and shut the door, and then
came out into the yard; she then rau out OF
the back door of the house; he got over the
steps, took hold Of her as before and dragged
} her into the house; heard neither of them say
anything at this time; we were distant from
| them about fifteen yards, and bad stopped the
carriage | called to Mr.. Armstrong twice,
what he was doing, but he gave me no answer;
10 seemed to be angry with his wife; heard
Mrs. A. cry murder before we came in sight of
them; | think she cried murder three times.
Mary Il. Gottee's testimony was similar to
. the above, with the addition that Mrs. Arm
strong cried, o. murder you will kill me if
stay here to-night; he did not etrike her-be
, had nothing in his hand; his only remark was:
This is pretty fuss to be carrying on here over
o othing.
Thomas P. Armstrong, sworn-I am the
Oldest son OF Andrew P, and Caroline Arm
strong on last Saturday night week my
mother was whipping the black girl, Jane;-
about ten minutes afterwards my father came
in from the stack yard; my mother was carry
ing plate of butter up out OF the cellar, aud
when on the pavement father kicked her half
t dozen times, bat he did not strike her with
his hands; he asked her what she was whipping
r Jane about? do not remember her reply
she ran out into the road, aud he went after
her and dragged her into the house; she said
that he would murder her if she stayed there
= that night, and she would go to New Castle
fshe did not get there for month; after gett
a ing her into the house he held her by the VT stI
i. about i've minutes an kept to king to her; sh,
l. then went up to bed; father and mother did
g not sleep in the same room; she slept in one
l. room with the two babes and father in anothe
q, with brother Lambert aud my sister Ella;
slept in the one next TO mothers; mother wen
t. to bed before it was very dark all of the child
h rem went to bed at the same time; | went II
z sleep in about ten minutes, aud was wakenet
b up about one o'clock In the morning, by m
s. father, who was standing 10 the entry; he sal
lie mother had gone away, and told me to get u
ID and help ten the babies; they were cryin
ct and walked with them up and down the en-
- try while father went down and brough
70 them a cup OF water; then went to the be-
IN mother had left with one of the babies; ftthe
took the sher with HIM on Sunday mornir
q
re E.s sons or somewhere else, and he must tr
es and find her; when we went TO bed on Satul
y, | day night the hogs were not In the pen! fatht
D. was hxlng the pigpsn on Tuesday or Wednes
g. day afternoon of last week; he ripped up
3D. plank and said he was looking for rats;
L. had grubblng hoe in his hand it was th
same plank under which mothers body WI
Id afterwards found; be ripped up one end Of tt
Is plank and looked under it; be told me to 2
| N a n lat tn ahn he "a vii
sr after came back with the pistol he naile
uy the plank down with spikes; after mother can
Tut out OF the cellar when he kicked her, he shl
ny her up in the meal room; she Knocked at th
e. door and cried TO let her out, when he let ht
out he asked her if she would stay2 She ha
OIL, before this said she ha been at New Cas.l
90 ami could have him arrested for ABUSING he
St. but all she wanted was peace; on Friday
ly Saturday morning Mrs Houston showed II
blood on the floor of the meal room; iath'
is said it came there from chickens Jane had xii
n ed and laid there; there were spots of bloc
To-. in mothers room, aud OF the stairs, ant
We through the house to the kitchen door.
Ebeneser Eliasou, sworn.--Mrs, Carolina Arm
ny strong my halt sister; she did not live hal
& PLY with her husband; on Saturday night, th
Is 2oth of May, | went to Andrew Armstron
of and asked him if he knew where she went
he said he did not know be had not hear
lite from herr asked him what he thought ha
by become of her; he replied that on Sunday
OF had a presentment that she had gone to ii
canal, ana drowned herself; and If SO his pra,
" ers were answered. said Peterson that
I'LL pretty hard language; think that to moro
apt morning we should make search Tor her, al
as should commence with the canal as you IS
T she Is there; be replied, all folly for the Erri
ties sons boats have taken her into the Delawar
OF river; he said such a thing might be tor ms
nj had been found in the canal, year ago, wi
n. had been washed n there from the Chess
peake; Armstrong said that on Saturday
to had returned from Middletown and his wi
Sl4 beat the black girl, when he told her 8
dry should not do SO; she then called him drum
en- black devil, who would sooner take bla
ard girls part than hers she ran out into the ro
ID crying murder, and he caught her gently
40 the wrist took her into the house, and lock
no. her up in the pantry; he afterwards let her o
= when she went to bed with the i;tle girls, IA
he also went TO bed, an soon after his W
in got up and went to the kitchen chamber do
i'm. and called for Jane, who did not answer, b
n Caroline made pretended answer OF no, a
and then went down stairs; he followed after Il
,hs found her in the back yard; she said yon ha
N little TO do TO be following me out at night
on they then both went up to bed some time
ter he was aroused by the children crying, a
be went in and found their mother gone;
called up John, gave him one OF the bah
ion and took the other himself to get them to sle
eek at that time be looked at the clock and it VT
in- ted quarter OF eleven; the NEXT morning
the tried to track her on the road, but as it "
the Saturday night so many people had been wa
idi- ing by, he lld not track her; asked him
J, she wen way in her night clothes; he said
:, thato examination he missed a brown m