Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-10-08
The Shooting Of the Nus-H unscrs.
ARREST OF Mr.. wooDwARD-HM BTATHMENT TO
COMMERCIAL REPoRTER.

The Shooting Of the Nus-H 0nsers.
ARREST OF MR.. woopwAnD-HLs STATEMENT ro
COMMERCIAL REPoRTER.
GFrom Wednesdays Commercially
The particulars Of the shooting Of two Of
party Of boys while gathering chestnuta on Il
farm tenanted by Aaron X. Woodward, near Il
city, yesterday, were printed in late edition
last evenings COMMERCIAL, and will be foul
reprinted on our inside pages to-day. Durir
the afternoon warrant was issued by Esq.
Neill, At the instance Of tho father Of youl
Shelley, for the arrest OF Mr.. Woodward, a,
Officers Daniel O'Neill and Brckle went out
his residence late in the evening and broug
him prisoner to town. George Lukens III
also sued out writ against Mr.. Woodward, whit
was served this morning.
| Mr.. wooDwARD's STATEMENT.
AT an early hour this morning, Commercial
| reporter visited Mr.. Woodward in the cells
whom he made the following statement. II
sud about 10 O'Clock in the morning he percci,
cd several boys under his chestnut trees an
started to drive them away. When within fift
| yards Of the trees he ordered them from til
premises, when they told him to $50 to HI,
and ran. As he drew nearer the trees anothe
boy came down from among tho branches an
were still up the trees hiding among tn
branches when he arrived on the ground, bu
came down at his command. As one OF then
was slipping down the tree he picked up dea,
limb which was lying upon the ground AM
struck him over tile shoulder. After they were
down he says he told them to run, when one o
them inquired. you won't shoot, will you 2" :,
which he replied in tho negative and they tler
scanpered away across the field. When the,
had gotten about 30 yards distant and were still
running, one Of tho boys, turning, told lin :,
" Go to HI" lie then raised his gun. which
he had taken with him from the house, to shoot
but endeavored to aim above the heads of the
boys. He says his intention WAS not 10 shoo
them but only to frighten them away.
Mr., Woodward further says that he has beer
greatly annoyed the whole season by trespass
ers in his orchard and truck patches-so muci
80 that he has been compelled to stand guar
over them. Only last Sunday he was compelled
to drive away party of young men, who dis
regarded his notices forbidding trespass which
are posted, he says, conspicuously about Oh the
premises These notices were also on the
chestnut trees which the boys had climbed he
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES COMMITTED FOR
MURDER.
At o'clock, this morning. preliminary ex-
animation was begun before Eco. O'Neill. Dur
ing the brief pause before the beginning OF the
trial the death OF young Lukius WAS announced,
and this case was taken up first, Mr.. Woodward
pleading "not guilty." Geo. C. Gordon, ESQ.,,
had been retained az counsel for defence but
was not present.
Edward Speskmsn was the first witness cal cd,
who, being sworn, deposed that at about $50
yesterday morning, Lukens was one OF o party
OF boys who were going after chestnuts on the
Brsndywine Springs Road; that when they came
trees and Lukens, Shelley and William Green
climbed the trees, the other boys remaining be-
low; had not been there more than 10 minutes
when Mr.. Woodward came out of the woods, and
while yet 100 yards away ordered tho boys to
come down; those below ran, when Woodward
II and afterwards threw up stick;
the boys then came down, Green
running in one direction and skelley and
l.ukens In another had gone but a short dis
lance when Woodward discharged his gun and
Lukens fell saw Woodward run to Lukens and
picking him up tried TO walk him away witness
then advanced to the two and asked for wagon
TO take Lukens home, when he was told to get
wagon from some one else /; Skelley kept on
running. Mr.. Woodward asked the witness
some questions the object of which was to i'm
peach his testimony. but they were unimport-
ant.
VIM. Green. Is years OF age, and Walter Nc.
Elvey, 16 years Of age, both satisfying the mag
lstrate that they were aware Of the conseque,-
ces of swearing falsely, were sworn and testified
without material difference from tho above wit
ness. VIM. Green, however, added that he WAS
the last to leave the tree, and that the shooting
took place before he came down. The witness.
Ds were both cross-examned by Mr.. Woodward
but without any significant results.
William Coyle, 16 years Of age, being sworn,
testified that the party had started for Brandy
wine Springs after chestnuts that when they
came to MIR. Woodwards place they climbed up
on tho fence to look at the chestnut trees and
seeing the burs open started for the trees but
not with the intention of staying McElvey
picked up u bur, the only one on the ground,
which he threw to Speakman, and which Speak
man WAS opening when Mr.. Woodward Che iden-
titled him, came running across the field and
following, 'If you don't get down out of that
lree will blow your brains out y the boys beg
sed that he would not shoot Lukens then
came down first and az he did 30 Woodward
struck him with q stick which broke over his
s1aG' skelley then. then jumped and
arms tapping each other; after they
had got only some six or seven yards from
the tree Woodward put his gun up to his
shoulder, took aim as il he were going TO shoot
a bird and fired Lukens fell from the effects
Of the shot witness was only about 90 yards
away Shelley ran on through another field and
feioined the crowd, his arm all bloody and bleed
ing from the wound.
Being cross-examined by Woodward, witness
said that he (Woodwsrd) was standing still close
"
running only about six or seven yard from the
tree did not hear the boys say anything to him
neither witness nor the boys shot were ever
here before
Mr.. Woodward was then examined oil u charge
Of shooting with intent to kill young shelley to
which he also pleaded not guilty. The same
Witnesses were examined who gave in snbstan-
Tally che same testimony. The room was then
cleared, tho Magistrate reserved his decision for
l short time, but returning after brief absence
committed Mr.. Woodward to Now Castle without
pail. The witnesses were each held in 1900 to
appear and prosecute the case at court.
After the hearing Mr.. Woodward made state
nent which was taken down in writing by Esq
D'Neil. His statement is about the same as that
made to COMMERCIAL reporter, and printed
above. -..
DEATH OF MISUNDERSTANDING CONDITION.
Young Lukens died this morning about half
past nine o'clock, and his death WAS announced
in the office Of Esq O'Neill shortly after the oc-
currence and before the examination was begun.
MIR. Woodward was sitting within the office rail-
ing ut the time His co lnteDance had worn a sad
before this, but the announcement
made no pereeptible change in it. He sat there
quietly, apparently deeply solictious for the re-
suit OF his examination. After the hearing of
the witnesses was concluded, and while waiting
for the decision, Mr.. Woodward leaned forward
and buried his face in his hands upon the table
before him, but was soon composed again.
Shelley passed tolerably comfortable night,
but experienced much pain from his wound. He
is not seriously hurt, and an effort ia being made
to prevent the amputation Of his arm.
THE FEELING OVER THE ssooTISG.
The shooting Of the two boys created deep
feeling of indignation in the vicinity Of their
homes, last evening, which was intensified by
the announcement OF Lukins's death this morn
ing. A vast crowd-larger than could get into
Esq. UNeills office-gathered about the en-
trance, this morning, and after the prisoner was
brought in the apartment was packed in q twink
ling-so much 80 that the Esquire was appre-
hensive for the safety Of the floor. The an
nonncement Of the death WAS made by Lukins's
father, it having been communicated to him by
some one, and then murmur ran throughout
the room, brother Of the deceased max
ing significant threat. The officers, however,
hushed all threats into silence Last evening
several young men in the Western part of the
city were endeayoring to raise crowd to pro-
coed to Mr.. Woodward's residence with the in
tention Of lynching him.
In returning the prisoner to the cells, he was
hurried through the Delaware House to avoid
the crowd who hung about the entrance to the
Esquire's office. The crowd, however, broke,
and running up shipiey to Sixth came around to
Market almost as soon as the prisoner emerged
from the hotel, and as they were running to-
wards him following ''Here he goes" &C., Mr..
Woodward became alarmed and ran into the
cells as rapidly as he could, the officers follow
ing. Many persons mistook this action for a
demonstration against the life of the prisoner.
Mr. Woodward has heretofore enjoyed good
reputation and has been quiet and peaceable
citizen.
Real Estate Transfers.
The following transfers of real estate have
been reported during the past week
d.