Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-08-10
THE ODESSA MURDER.
MYSTERIOUS MURDER.

| M4SIEHlOUSs ~ RIDER. ~,
\ A nRowxap uAN FOUND NEAR Cd sssAAIH-
auEhT AND BuRtALr-ARRltAL ofTHE
FRIENDS OF THE DECEAsHD-THE BoDf "
| ExHUMED AND ExAMtNKD-AMUR
| DER sUsPIcIoNED-THE sUsPI
1 oIoN CONFERENCE.-The MUIR
Il DRRRR AND HIS VICTIM
i ( i r. THE cIeouMs1fNo OF
t~Thiss community has already rtoeive an -iati.
nation Of a horrible case of murder and robbery
which recently occdrred near Odessa, in thus
county, the full particulars of which we will now
proceed to lay before our readers. SO cunniLgly
had The iates favored the murderer, that even the
discovery of his victims body fniled 10 arouse
suspicious OF foul play, ind only The arrival OF
the friends of the deceased and their knowledge
fof the circumstances Of his departure from ZONE,
Igave rise to suspicion of murder, and confirmed
the existence OF the crime. .'.'.- ...-.---.r
| THE BODY OF THE MURDERED MAN
was found floating in Drawycrs creek, about one
mile north Of Odessa. on the evening" Of Friday,
July 3lst. 1t was found short distance west OF
the bridge close 10 the old Drawers Presbyterian
Church. The body was taken out and examined
but no one in the vicinity able 10 identity It,
| A pocket tablet was found III tho coat pocket
from the entries In which it was learned that the
| deceased was drOver, but his name, or any
other evidence OF his personal identity could not
he found upon his person. Deputy Coroner
Stephens held an Inquest, and as there were no
marks OF violence upon the body, or no suspicious
circumstances then connected 18th the affair." The
| Jury rendered q verdict OF
DKATu BY DROWNING,
and the remains of the deceased were very soon
after inferred close the place where they were
found.
Thus, the circumstances OF horrible murder
came near being forever hidden from public view,
and base murderer was allowed ample time to
asc IA Law We
will now proceed to detail the manner in which
the remains of The deceased were identified, and
THE MURDER BROUGHT TO LIGHT.
On or about Wednesday, July 29th, Robert A.
Mackey young drover, LETT his home at Jen-
nersyllle, Chester county, Pa, on a tour around
New Castle county, for tho purpose Of buying
cattle. He was accompanied by young man
from his neighborhood The two drove off in a
buggy, and arrived that evening at Newark Del,
where they fell in with Joseph Taylor, young
man from LrwsviIle, Chester county, who was
visiting some relatiYes in Newark rha next
morning, Mackcy aud Taylor got into the buggy |
and proceeded 10 st. Georges. where they re- |
NAMED until evening. Wiuie here, they drank
n considerable amount OF whiskey, Maekey pay
ing for ali drinks, aud settling The hotel bill.
apparently having plenty cf money with him. |
Taylor, 10 all Appearances,
DID NOT HAVE A CENT.
About seven o clock in the evening they left |
St. Georges and started off on the road to Odes-
sa. Both men We're intoxicated, Mackey much |
more than his companion. Odessa, is about |
eight miles from st. Georges, and the road be |
tween the two towns crosses Drawer Creek |
by means of "a small bridge, at place
ONLY A SHORT DEFIANCE FROM WHERE THE
DROWNED MAN WAS FOUND.
It then proceeds to Odessa, about one mile |
further on. As we stated above the two men
left st. Georges together and drove out upon
the Odessa road. They were not seen togeth- |
Ell again, and later in the evening, Taylor
DROVE INTO ODESSA ALONE,
and put up at the hotel, where he spent the |
night. His pecnniary condition seemed to !
have been greatly improved since his depar-
ture from st. George, as he had
PLENTY OF MuAty WITH HIM,
and carlessly exhibited usrr ne hundred dol |
lars. The next day / IL, lor drove around the |
country, as far as Mass1y's X Roads, but in
the afternoon he came 20 Middletown Here
he bargained until lac found Il purchaser for
the horse and ',llggy, at.about half their value
after which H. llsapp jared from the town and
probably
CAME NORTH ON THE EVENING TRAIN,
His manner of departure however is unknown
and he has not been or heard of since.
Meanwhile Mackeys friends, hearing moth
ing from him, became alarmed at his protrac-
ted absence, and determined to search for him.
Ills brother in company with mutual friend.
followed Mackey to the neigborhood Of Odessa
where on Friday evening last, he heard of the
drowning case which had been discovered the
week previous. Their fears We're then aroused
and summoning the Deputy Coroner, they had
the remains exhumed for he purpose Of illay-
ing their fears on confirming their worst suspi-
clons. The body was taken up and examined
when, to their horror, they recognized at once
that the
DROWNED MAN WAS RoBr. A. MAcKEY,
who had left his home alive and well ten DAYS
Previous
Their Inquiries were then drected 10 the circum-
stances Of the drowned pan's VISIT to the neigh
borhood, and soon they were IN posse ssion of the
facts narrated above. All thoughts of a suicide
or a case Of accidental drowning were instantly
driven from their minds, and they instantly be-
came convinced that
TAYLOR HAD COMMITTED A MURDER
and thrown his victim into Drawyers Creek,
while driving across The bridge on the road to
Odessa.
There were no marks OF violence on The body
OF the deceased, and it is supposed that after his
pockets were rlhed he was simply thrown from
the buggy into the water, his intoxicated con-
dltlon rendering this q very easy matter Tor Tay-
Tor, who was not SO drunk. Being helpless, he
OF course, instantly drowned.
Alter getting the facts Of the case as far as DOS
sible IN their possession, the friends OF the de-
ceased had the body properly prepared for re-
movaI, and took it In with them to his late home
THE MURDERED MAN.
Robert A. Mackey, the deceased, was about 38
years OF age, and resided in the vicinity of Jen-
nerville, Chester county, Pa, where his father
owns large farm A few years ago, in partner
ship with his brother, he kept q livery stable al
Parkesbur0 but lattprlv he has r.a,dad ~, -,