Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-12-09
The Horrible Tragedy in Dover,
Further Particulars---The
Coroner's Inquest.
From tho Dover Delawarean. of Saturday.
HORRIBLE AND Mrsrrp,o,s r,.c

from tho Dover Delawarean of Saturday
HORRIBLE AND MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY.
Ihis community was startled on Thursday
morning by the announcement that a BODY of a
man, partially burned. headless and footless had
been found in the office of Or. Isaac {. West
An examination OF the premises, a view of the
remains and attendance on the Corone INQUEST
coupled with the absence Of DR.. West and of a
negro named Cooch Turner, have led us to the
oe.el ina, murder Of the most atrocious de-
scription has been committed, together with an
attempt to burn a row Of houses to CONCEAL The
crime. The facts as far as We have been able 10
gather them, are as follows:
"A young man known as DR.. Isaac g. West.
who processes to treat patients suffering from
pulmonary complaints by the inhalation process.
nae been occupying room in the se eond story
OF new building recently erected bv James NJ.
kerbn, on Loocderman street between Clover
nor's Avenue and New street, in which he had
apparatus tor manufacturing gas called "elec-
tr0 oxygen"
Wednesday night, about half past II O'Clock
west lett the Capital Hotel. where he boarded
stating 10 the clerk, Mr.. Culbreth. that he was
going to his Office for the purpose Of a,tendi, .
to some gas which he said he was preparing
conveying the idea that he had left The lamp'
burning under the retort.
Inc nrst impression was that this was the BODY
OF Dr. West, and that he had been killed by an
explosion OF the gas which lie had bee manutac.
turing. or OF some chemicals he had been using.
This impression, however, was not sustained bv
the condition Of tie body or its surroundings :
The body, when found, was lying on its back.
with parcel Of burnt pine wood, apparently
pieces OF boxes, under and about it. A large
store goods box, which was in light blaze when
'he men entered the room to put out the fire,
W ~ nj nnn nsII do r. bal I,,.1.
thrown NJ as flower the head, and the right was
extended outward and downward. The bowels
were exposed. The ribs were detached from
the breast bone AZ though it had been done with
saw or clever. The flesh on the breast and
back was roast but not thafred; the whole BODY
presented the appearance OF having been skin.
ned. Not a particle of the cuticle was To he
seen. The head was entirely gone, and not n
trace Of il was to be found in the room, the neck
looking AS though the head had been severed
from it with an axe. Both feet were gone taken
III above the ankle joints, and NJ traces Of them
IN the room; there was not particle OF clothing
about the body. Not a single article such as a
knife. watch, or bunch OF keys, usually ear
ried by gentlemen was TO he found on the BODY
Or anywhere in the room. The brim of a silk
hat and pieces OF a coat and waslcoat belonging
to West were found in part Of the room away
from the body. Some pieces OF plaid shirt
like one worn by Cooch Turner before his dis
appearance,a!so piece OF striped panialoon stuff
we're in the room. 1t is conjectured that the
mutilated body had been placed on one end of
The large goods box, from which it fell after the
tire had burnt that side ofthe box away. This
seems probable from the fact tha: the back
which was next to the floor when the body was
found with a few pieces Of burnt wood about, il
was but more than the front, and also from the
fant hat !,
was not burnt.
The situation of the room did 10 encourage
the belief in an explosion. The tank which was
supposed 40 have confirmed the patent gas, all
though empty, gave no evidence of an explosion.
Three glass jars, used fer purifying the gas in
its passage from the retort 10 the tank was unin.
Jured. The glass in the windows, until broken
while putting out the fire, was unn,u.ed. The
plaster was not broken only where necessary TO
put out the fire. The fire, besides partially
burning door and a door casing, did but little
damage. 1t was just getting through the ceiling
when its process was arrested.
We have been thus crcumstantial in our re-
'ation. in order that the reader may be able TO
connect the facts brought out at the inquest,
called to be held on the body Of DR.. West
BY Coroner Casts, assisted by Deputy Coroner
Hawkins, and the following named gentlem en-
were sworn in as jurors:
John 3. Jester, VIM. c. Fountain, Samuel
Chapman, VIM. Il. Thomas, Charles Alloway,
John +. Register, David Harrington; Myers
Cassons, Henry e. Collision, John A. Stevenson,
George b. Dickson, John ID. Burton, VIM. A.
Atkinson, VIM. B. Ennis, A. J. Wright, Chas.
Denny, VIM. II. Roberts. Zadoc L Butler Ne
hemiah Lodand,N. u. Dean aud Harry Krsch.
baum.
David +. Burton was the first witness examined.
He testified that DR.. West called at his drug store
said he was going to his room to make gas. He
loft his eyeglasses with me saying that the gas
might injurs them. DID not sell him anything.
Some days before sold him some alcohol
VIM. McCullum testified that he was coming
out OF Windolph's saloon when he heard cry OF
OF murder or hre Heard George Bean crying
hre. Ran towards him and found tho fire
Was in Vests Office. Tried to burst open the
street door but could not got ladder and
got up in window, found could not get in there.
Went down and some one helped me to burst open
the door; Found door Of Vests room also lock-
cd. Kicked it open. Fire was in corner Of room.
Seemed to be in the box. Threw water on the
TIRE. Mr.. Levy burst open door Of back room aud
helped to put out are. Mr.. Cadmus came in with
. light when tho fre was nearly out and discovered
the body Of 4 man; noticed the body; saw entrails
all exposed; looked around 10 find its feet and
head. Found some clothing and letter in one of
the pockets; (istter cxhibtsd-it was note from
DR.. Shakespeare to Dr. West,]; body Was laying
- it docs now; removed some pieces of board
that were laying on It,
II. 3. Cadmus testified that when ne heard tho
cry OF fire he dressed hastily, and ran around to
Wests ofRce. Ran up stain |; then went and got
Q lamp. The room was full Of smoke, and the
IRE was still burning in lathing advancing into
the room stepped on something which instinc.
lively took to be the leg Of q human being. Felt
around with my hands, and touched the sntrAils
Lamp did not give much light ON account of
smoke. Dscoveredsthatl lthe body had no head;