Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1871-11-24
GRIM E.
THE W0OLSEY HOMICIDE.

The trial of Stephen II. Cosicn for the
murder of Charles WoOlsey, at Christiana, in
White Clay Creek Hundred, on the morning
of Sunday, the 9TH day OF November inst,
commenced at New Castle, ycsterday-Thurs-
day The prisoner was brought into Court,
and placed in the dock, having previously
pleaded mot guilty. of the crime charged
upon him.
Amer several challenges, the following jury
was empaneled Jonathan Sapp, George W.
Turner, Henry A. Perkins, William 1aley,
Richard X. Jones, Edward n Moore, Joseph
f.. Carpenter, J. Thomas Price, Charles G.
Bigger, 5. Deputy, r. 5. Frazier, Benjamin
Foot.
Attorney General. Charles b. Lore, EST,
stated the case to the jury substantially as fol
lows
Gentleman Of The JWy Murder is the un.
lawfully killing reasonable being with NAL
| Ice aiOrcthOdgh, implied or expressed. EX
pressed malice is where there is II premedita-
led purpose 10 kill man in the manner stated.
The purpose may be either by old grudges or
| 10y laying IN wait for the victim. There are
two grades OF murder. Murder in the first
degree is that in which this man is indicted
where man kills another with express matice
| or with intent to perpetrate the crime punish
able with death. Murder IN any other man.
ncr, is murder in the second degree. AnOth-
or grade of murder is man-slaughter, which ID
killing q man without malice. The facts OF
the case are these. The prisoner Costen resi-
ded in Christiana Village, he was a Justice OF
the Peace Charles WoOlsey, school teacher
also resided there; November 4th, Saturday
evening, about dusk, Woolsey came to the
house OF COsten, and was in and out of the
house till O'Clock, 7. NJ, when Costen and
Woolsey went to the public house of Mr..
} King and renamed there till about IL O'Clock
at night, and from there they went to the
butcher shop of Mr.. Cam with three or ioul
others; from there they went to the house
where Costen lived in the village here they
cooked supper and here the shooting TOOK
place.
William @. Cam testified Know Costen
f knew Woosey saw them November 4th AT
Kings hotel IN Christana Village; the two
men were there I'll about 10 O'Clock from 10
. O'Clock that night COston was drunk that
: night; saw him take three drinks did
not sec WOolscy drink any; about j.
, O'Clock Mr. Butler, Costen, Woolsey and
started to go TO our respective homes Costen
I SAID he would like to have some meat; h'
I and COsten bought and paid for some meat al
; my slaughter house whcie We went TO get II
7 Butler, Costen, WOOlsey and myself; it wa'
( to be cooked at COstens house il was 81
cooked we four went To where Cosdcn lived
1 Butler first went home and then came back
Butler, Records, Bolton and myself sat at sup
c per; Costen, Woolsey and Butler cooked the
1 supper party wore at table half an hour
= but not Costen and Woolsey, who were cook
. ing they did not sit down TO the table at The
i time they were not in the front room part o
j. the time tho table was spread in the from
j. room cooking was done in the next room
o went to sleep on a lounge in the front room
s Butler Bolton and Records were in the room
1 when went to sleep; went to sleep hetweci
u and > o'clock at night, feel aslcep quickly
h when | awOke, Costcn was moving arOun'
j. the table; and standing close to me Wool
sey was standing about at my head Costel
n picked up butcher knife and said TO Woolsc.
''if he came at him again, he would put tina
r in him " he held the knife up; Moolsey ad
Il yanced toward Costen step or two don
n know what Coslen did with the knife tn
1t knife was on the table when came from tn
+; doctors as Costcn left the room, Woolse.
r. said ''you g. D., | have taken you
le abuse long enough -: in a very short tim
If the gun went of did not see Costen.
=: DR.. George W. lluddcrs testified TO view
ing the dead body while it was warm, Woo
&c sey died from the effect OF the gun wound
ID The Coroner exhibited shot gun and tw