Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-12-09
THE MURDER AT DOVER.
Further Interesting Detalls---A TWO
Hours Interview with West.
Is the Man 8 0'se ?--- Vests "RGs"
and its Properties.

The excitement at Dover, over the murder OF
Cooch Turner, is somewhat abated, but the affair
remains the chief subject of conversation. There
is no sympathy for the prisoner; on the contrary
public opinion is against him, and generally in.
clines to the belief that he murdered Turner to
get the $25, 900 life insurance money, and skinned
the dead body and cut off the head and feet, in
order that it's complexion should not be recog-
nized.
The reports in Saturdays COMMERCIAL covered
all the facts made known up to that time, but
without presenting the full text of the confess
sion. We gave, however, his statement in excuse
of the murder, and his explanation OF how 1t oo-
CURED. These are the chief points in the Con
fession. To these we add, to-day, mass OF
interesting details.
THE HEAD, HANDS, AND FEET
OF Turner's body were found on Friday night AZ
the different places designated by West, and re-
turned to the room where the murder, was com
mited, and where the body remained up to yester-
day when they were buried.
INTERVIEW WITH WEST IN THE JAIL.
Through the courtesy of Deputy Sheriff Titus
II. Irons, the UoMnERoIALs representative was
shown through the new Jail, and admitted to one
of the two "murderers cells in which West Is
now confined No one uuacqaainted with the
prisoner could help being astonished to look at
his face and features and couple him with the
terrible crime he has committed and the hendish
manner in which he butchered the body, after
taking the mans life. With calm, clear, blue
eve, an intelligent-looking face, and entirely
void OF anything like brutality, or hendishness,
| he would readily be taken for man Of about 23
or "a years. yet he is nearly 80.
HOW HE APPEARED AND TALKED.
About two hours we spent in the cell with
| West who was apparently calm and composed, ,
and talked easily and freely of the sad affair
/ with which he is so closely connected. A copy
| of his confession" was handed him with the re-
| quest that he would look over it and seeif there
were any omissions or errors which he would
\ like to correct. He took the copy, and slowly
| calmly and deliberately, read the article over,
1 correcting few slight errors, and then signed
| his name to it, as true statement. The re-
hearsing OF all the tiendishness contained in the
| statement seemed to produce not the slightest
| emotion or uneasiness.
| REVELATIONS NOT IN CONFESSION,
made to our representative, are not only of a
| strange and peculiar nature bnt may yet take
| an active part in the affair before its close. OF
the peculiar sort Of gas, for which he claimed a
secret, and which he has not only used himself,
| but has been dispensing to others under the
pretext OF it's wonderful curative properties
for certain diseases, but in reality for the
exceedingly exhilerating and intoxicating
influences, there is no special secret. 1t is
simply nitrous oxide gas Ard in order TO give
ii different appearance, II is disguised by a
solution of sesquioxide or sub-carbonate OF IRON
which changes the color. The effect Of an ex-
cessve use of this gas, it is declared by medical
men, cannot, in time, do otherwise than produce
| temporary and in some cases. permanent IN
| sanity The prisoner admitted that he had
| been in the habit of using it for more than a
| year. and aside from this had been using gun
powder, for a disease OF the kidneys
Some time ago, West had an office in
Baltimore where he manufactured and
used this gas. RHe subsequently sold the right to
manufacture to man named Walton H. Way
| on Baltimore street, near Broadway. West fur
ther states that this man, by use OF this gas, IL
| now an inmate of an insane asylum, hopelessly
insane. Another instance of its fearful effects
is at Newtown, Pa, where it has produced VIC
, lent hemorrhages on a lady, and that now hel
life is despaired OF, and with peculiar and sig
nifcant expression, he said "and has done otte,
mischief" He stated that on Monday, previous
to committing the foul deed, he had two GALLON
of gas left and not wanting to waste it, nhalet
D the whole amount during the day.
: WEST CERTAINLY INSANE.
The prisoner declares the affair now seems Il
| him "a fearful nightmare" and says he can as
I sign no reason for his fight and sudden reap
pearance. DIR. W. @. Davidson, of Milford, VIII
I has known him from boyhood, had an interview
Also with him, on Saturday, and admits that hi
| previous convictions of the mans insanity ar
Q confirmed. His excessive use Of the gas" h
. thinks has done the work.
WEST SAYS HE FEELS
Q 'As well as could be expected !" that he has
@ good appetite, but sleeps but little, on accoun
II Of anxiety caused not for himself but for hi
y family and friends and that he is confident h
] will be acquitted.
Is CooCH TURNER,
l. The victim of this terrible affair, was .welI
y known colored man. who in his boyhoot
~ was a favorite companion OF some G
y our prominent citizens Samuel M. Harrington
~ ESQ. remembers him as good-naturet
y cheerful lad He was abeut 80 years OF ag'
y There is general refusal to accept Vests ALT
n cation that he killed Turner in self'defence, br
u | for the present, nothing further can be know
~ as to the real facts of the terrible affair, and
a. is likely that only the careful collection an
y grouping of all the circumstances will evolve tn
truth.