Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-12-06
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.
The Gas Explosion of Yesterday.
Reported DnstardIy Attempt TO Recover Inc
snrance Money.

Reported Dastardly Attempt to Recover Inc
snrance Money.
The gas explosion at Dover, early yesterday
morling, has resolved itself into one of the
aeepest of mysteries. The early hour at which
onr Informant, of yesterday, left Dover, preclu-
'l9d any extended inquiry into the nature OF the
cI-e, but later accounts, if true, reveal one Of
the most diabolcal villainies which have ever
hean perpetrated within the limits of this State,
As stated at the time, the explosion occurred
IA the office Of Prof. West, who formerly was
,lnhected with school at Dover. or late years
! appears from accounts, to have had no spe-
al occupation, but has been experimenting
.t}i the manufacture of new and peculiar kind
of las, the properties of which are not known to
..'S one but the manufacturer. 1t is said, how
ever. that with this gas, the skin may be entire
" removed from body 80 as to prevent all pos
u! Identification, or even to ascertain its com
p'eNlon. This is said to have been the condl-
lInl of the body found lying upon the floor OF
! !c Professors Office, yesterday morning Ihe
bead, feet and hands had been severed not blown
rom the body, and the skin had been removed
from every portion Of it. Underneath the floor and
Immediately beneath the body was found guam
tlty If powder sufficient TO blow 1t to atoms but
ne flames originated by the explosion had not
J acued that spot, and the utter demolition OF
~ building was averted.
OF course Dover is full of rnmors. Specula-
ton is rife as to the nature and meaning OF the
tilnge enactment and every one il busying
th' mselves with proper solution OF it, 1t ls
'urently reported that the Professors life was
l'ured for $25, ,0O0 in behalf of his wife, and
by some it is supposed that this mysterious
agedy was an adroit scheme to recover this
l 'noy. Subsequent circumstances as they are
lrted to us, point in that direction-
he conductor on the South-bound midnight
'et.t train. with passenger car attached, Mr..
,ndler Evans, says that, yesterday morning,
Nt!le his train was stopped at Dover about 4
o'clock, a peculiar bundle was observed
lyi upon the platform, tied with rope. Ite
on side covering was a coat through it the i'm
pr -s OF a pair Of boots was plainly disoernibe
,st as the train was starting, man closely
nltled, with slouch hat drawn over his face
se esF anu % Hs rode ep 'e in '; this condition Sio
al tie way to Delmar, only inquiring OF
TIA conductor. when he called fol
r. ticket, if he could go on to Norfolk without
d sLtion. At Delmar. still closely muffied, this
], son left the cars and at once entered a car
i,tBe and was driven rapidly away.
bis person is supposed to have been Profes
or West, as he has not been seen in Dover
s&ce. His wife, who was staying in the country,
was, yesterday. notified of the supposed disaster
(" her husband, but she received the intelligence
without any signs Of deep emotion.
MOTHER singular circumstance connected Will
Il = aft ,ir, is the disappearance OF the Profes
r' : servant. He has not been seen since Wed
l,'s,l " night. Some part of the clothing fount
! >ide, or on, the disfgured body in the Profes
sn a office was identified by his wife as belong
II 20 her husband, but the body was unrecog
M lie.
n s4e circumstances are construed at Dove
no effort to obtain the 525 600 Insurance.
nleu the Professors life. 1t is supposed ther
that Il Professor has murdered his servant
ien1v' the skin from his body by means o
tl.o gas; cut off the head, feet and hands so a
t. prevent recognition, and decamped, takinI
W Ia him the missing members of the body
Wrapped up in the coat before spoken of. 1t i
Hu FUSED, further, that the powder was place.
n'der the building to blow the ifeess trunk o
t1t servant to atoms that the fragments o
thl, body would bo taken for his own, and tn
lnsni tnoe paid over TO his wife, after which sh
Woul'i join him in another cline, where the
would spend the remainder of their days in bliss
iu ease upon the money thus obtained.
uis story is a marvellous one 1t may b
a'rrate in some particulars, but it is relate
an on reporters have gathered it from the per
., h' on the trains which came up fror
lover, yesterday and this morning. They ar
all reliable gentlemen, and their word will be aC
copied without question in this community.
a, We shall, doubles, have occasion to refer
the matter again,