Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-12-06
A HORRIBLE AFFAIR.

PROBABLE MURDER AT DovER.-THE BODY
MuTILATED BEYOND RECOGNITION.
Last evening, it was reported that fatal
accident had occurred at Dover, by which
Prof. West was instantly killed, by the eX-
plosion of gas retort his head and feet be-
ing entirely blown off. This morning how
ever, the rumor assumed another, and probab-'
among. parties, who have recently passed
through Dover, the following version of the
affair was obtained.
Early, on Thursday morning tremendous
explosion was heard in the Office of Prof.
West which aroused everybody in the neigh
borhood. On repairing to the Office, 1t was
| found to be in flames, which, however, were
eAtngulshed. When the room was entered
| horrible sight was presented to the gaze
On the floor, lay the body of a man, minus
| head, feet, and hands, the extent OF the mutt
lation rendering recognition impossible. This
| was supposed to be the body of Prof West
who had left his room at the Capital Hotel
about IL O'Clock the previous evening, and
had not since been seen.
For few hours, this was the prevailing
| impression, when it became known that a
| colored man, who had been employed by the
Professor, was also missing. The fact excited
suspicion OF foul play. and a close examina-
ton OF the premises were made. Under the
floor where the body lay was large quantity
OF powder, sufficient to have blown the body
| oA'U eiS DuiiuiuS " dtoHlS Ildu IL tAplOucU. ~
was afterwards ascertained, frSm the con-
ductOr and brakeSmen on The freight tram, on
the Delaware Railroad, which leaves Dover at
four O'Clock a. M. that man answering q
description of Prof. West, had got on their
train that morning and gone to Demar. He
wanted to go to Norfolk. lie had bundle
with him, which he laid upon seat near him
One OF the ,brakeSMen picked up the bundle
ana was about to examine it, when the mar
observed him. and hastily took possession ol
u himself. The brakesman says that he coult
feel pair of boots in the the bundle, but tht
nature of the balance Of the contents, he
could not determine
The suppOstion then became general tha
Prof. West had murdered this negro, Muti.at
ed the body, and made arrangements for suci
an explosion as would mutilate the body be
yond recognition and by absenting himself
lead to the belief that he had lost his lif'
by the explosion of gas retort His chic
occupation in Dover, seemed to be IN expert
menting in various kinds Of chemical gas, ant
this fact would tend still further to the sue.
cess OF this plans. The reason assigned fo
his horrible crime is that he has his life insure,
Tor 900, which amount could be obtaine,
by his wife, tn case his 1use was not discOv
cred. 1t is alO stated that shortly after tn
body was discovered, and while 1t was sup
posed TO be that Of Prof. West, some on
went out to where his wife was staying, In tn
country, and informed her that her husban
was dead, but she exhibited not the slightes
emotion.
There now seems to exist no doubt that th
Professor is still living. and that the body dil
covered was that OF the colored man in his en-
, ploy, whose life was sacrificed, in order 10 lea
} to the impression that he, himself had be-
killed, and thus secure, through his vile, Il
insurance ON his life.
The above are the facts Of the terrible alta
as related 10 our reporter BY parties who ha,
passed through Dover since il was discovere
Our informants could not Of course, be positi'
as to the accuracy Of their accounts, ~ they We
9 hurridly obtained while the train was passiI
through the town, but it can reasonably be q
down, ~ nearly entirely correct.