Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1872-12-13
WILMINGTON, DEL. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1s, 1879


sTILL FURTHER RPARTICULARs-How WEST SELECTED
HIs VICTIM -wHYHE RETURNED DToDovER-JrwIoE
MARRIED, sEPARATIoN FROM HIS FIRST WIFE
HAVING BEEN SECURED BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT.
The Dover correspondent of the Smyrna Times
furnishes still further particulars concerning
West and the revolving horror which he perpe-
trated. He says:
Another thread in the curious web that is spin
ming is that West, though not drinking man,
has for some time past been in the habit OF Wis
iting beer saloon on Lockerman street, and in
. jocular way would compare stature with the
proprietor; was Interested in the saloon keepers
weight, which he said was about his own would
make measurements OF the mans chest etc.,
and used to invite the man to his office. West
acted In this way with the same man four dif-
ferent times.
He also extended frequent invitations to a
mulatto barber, whose shop is near his Office to
visit him. The barber, however, never visited
West in his ofiice-of course not from a euspi-
cion Of anything wrong, but from not having the
time.
He also desired others to visit him, only day
or 80 before Turner's unfortunate visit, but
none Of them from one circumstance or another
entered his place, to meet Turner's fate as 10
generally believed would have been the case had
any one Of the persons lie invited fallen into his
clutches.
From all that can be gathered the belief is
that West has been planning for some time how
to get hold Of the insu Ance money, and having
hit on plan, the next thing was how to get his
victim, and having failed to get one to suit him in
dimensions, as last resort he seized upon Turner.
The BalOon-keeper feels satisfied that had he
went 10 Vests office, he would never have got
out again.
Turner was slain on Monday evening, it will be
remembered. On Tuesday West used many per
suasiona TO induce his father-in-law to endorse
for him on one Of the Dover banks for 5000 but
he was refused. 1t is stated that ne represented
that thousand dollars was due him in Washing
ton from some source hem his need Of the two
hundI ed dollars II West had secured this money
it is not likely he would have returned to Dover
so soon in fact 1t is reported that he said at
Harrington, on Friday, that it was the lack of
money that urged him back.
West has been twice married. He was married
some years ago to girl in Sussex County but
finding soon after his marriage, that he was very
closely related to his wife, mutual separation
was agreed upon, and they parted
WEST HIMSELF AGAIN-PREPARINa FOR HIS TRIAL.
Professor West has suddenly regained his right
mind, we are informed by persons who came up
from Dover this morning. Yesterday he was in
consultation with Messrs Smithers and Ridgely,
of the Dover bar, and the presumption is that
he has employed them as counsel to defend
him. inst what line Of defence will be set
up cannot, OF course, now be foreshadowed,
but II is believed that the plea OF insanity will
be abandoned. West himself remalkedto friend
when speaking on the subject, that he certainly
should not seek acquittal on any such plea, and
that only that Of self-defence should "a MezaEed.
The report that he had made AZ . bn-
fessionr is not true. He has simply NzaH Come
statements to the sheriff, which were com
municated TO the Attorney General in which he
said that he had killed other parties before Tur-
ner, naming among them John II. Way, OF Bal
timore. A communication elsewhere dsposes
of this statement We may add, that his sub
sequent statements an no more believed
than his confession, but the sentiment of the
community adjudges him guilty Of a foul muir
der. This opinion is based upon facts antece-
dent to the commission Of the crime.