Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-10


as to the residences Of the two men. Mackey
lived near Jennersville, and Taylor at Lewisville
both in Chester county.
| We now present mass of further interesting
details in this shocking case, which in some of
its features resembles the Undertook murder.
FULL DETAILS OF THE PROBABLE MURDEn-M-
PoRTANT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. EVIDENCE
POINTING TO THE GUILT OF TAYLOR.
Especial TO the Commercially
MrDDLErowN, Aug. 10.
Your correspondent arrived here on Saturday
evening, and found the town fairly in fever
over the presumed murder.
Every one seemed full of the affair, and little
knots Of people gathered upon the corners dis
| cussing the latest developments. After careful
inquiry into all the details thus far brought to
| light there can be no doubt but that a most de-
liberate and diabollcal murder has been commit
ted.
THE FATAL TRIP OF THE TWO MEN.
On Monday, July 27th gentleman from the
West with whom Mr.. Mackey had been complet-
ing some business operations, at Jennerville,
wished TO catch the morning western bound
train on the P. W. 4 b. II. r., at Newark, and
in order to do this, Robert A. Mackey hitched up
the team and in company with the dealer from
the West
STARTED ON HIS JouINEY.
The train was made in due time, and Mackey
was returning home, through the town. and had
gone as far as the Deer Park hotel when he met
there an old acquaintance, who had lived in
| Lewisvlle, and the two concluded to take
| drink, which was quickly followed by several
more, until Mackey becoming somewhat under
| the influence Of the liquor, was persuaded by his
companion, who was no other than Joseph Tay-
| lor, to take him to Delaware City, where he rep
resented lightning rod man in that place had
promised to pay him some money. In an un-
| lucky moment Mackey consented, and the two
drove off in the direction indicated by Taylor.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE WAY
10 one can tell, but when the team arrived at
| st. Georges, the control of affairs seemed to be
altogether in the hands Of Taylor and MackeY
in a state of intoxication. At st. Georges, both
parties claimed that they had no money, and the
| proprietor of the hotel after feeding the horse
| informed the two that they had better return
home. They remained at this hotel several
| hours. Shortly after o'clock Taylor became
| very anxious to get away, but Mackey, though
thoroughly drunk, resisted, until Taylor, who it
appears is very well built man, picked him up
| and after several unsuccessful attempts threw
him violently into the carriage, and jumping in
drove off on the road towards Odessa. This was
| the last time Mackey was seen alive.
or the finding of the body, and the holding of
an inquest, you are already informed. On the
day after those events Deputy Coroner Stevens
was in New Castle, and while eating lunch at
Yarnels restaurant. met with two droyers from
up the country, to whom he related the circum-
stances of the finding and described the browne |
man. 1t happened that they were both from Chez
ter county and well acquainted with Mackey's +; :
ther, as well US with the dead man himself ana
upon their return several days later,
they informed the father who on
Friday last, upon learning these suspicious
circumstances, telegraphed at once to MIR. Viii
liam Mcdowell, of this town; to investigate the
case. At the same time James Mackey, another
son, brother of the deceased, started at once to
Middletown, arriving here late on Friday even
ing He at once had
THE BODY ExHuMED
from the spot where it had been buried, near the
old church, and near the place of the finding,
and recognized ii az the person OF his brother
Robert.
SECOND INQUEST
was now held, on Saturday morning, under
direction of Deputy Coroner Stevens, and care
full examination of the body WAS made to discover
marks of violence. Two physicians one OF
them DIR. William Ashcraft Odessa, and the
other Doctor Stroud, who accompanied
the friends of the deceased from Chester coun-
: ty, conducted this examination, and dissected
the head and arms, removing the scalp from the
skull, in order to detect injuries upon that part
! The result, however, showed no injuries OIL
\ wounds of any kind sufficient to cause death
this being the same conclusion arrived al
on the first inquest, (when DIR. ABhcraft was also
present, and which was, under the circumstances
as careful an inquest AZ could be expected The
Jury therefore rendered verdict that the de
N"N'N' 'A%~%~
unknown.
q WE HAVE NOW BRIEFLY TRACED MAoKEY
to his untimely fate and the team to st. Georges
on the road to Odessa, but what had become O
Taylor and the horse and carriage, and wher'
l., | were they? On the evening OF the day upol
/. which the two left 81, Georges, Taylor, witt
: the team, but without his companion drove II
the Odessa Hotel, and placing a light coat upoi
o the counter desired the clerk to wrap IL up
which was done. Taylor at the time having OIL
h a pair OF pants to match the coat wrapped up
" and blue coat. He then drove of in the drec
n ton of Middletown and after getting drink a
Maxwell's Hotel, drove on to Sassafras, wher
Ia he was seen that night, and early the following
J. morning came back again to this place. Her
he immediately attracted attention by
!. HIS BoIsrERoUs CONDUCT
Or and his determination to sell or trade his hors
X and wagon.
After many unsuccessful attempts and mucl
m atall" talking, he succeeded in striking a trad
is with a Mr.. Roberts for the wagon, obtainln
some difference in'the way of cash, about $2t
n The horse he traded to a Philadelphia drove
T for much inferior animal, obtaining as be
fore the difference IN money. He thus contin
70 ued swapping, until he had obtained in cas-
in about S100, when he drove off in the directio
of Warwick, since which time nothing oil den
mite character has been heard from him.
THE BODY OF MAcKEY,
after the inquest, was removed by his brothe
G. to be inferred at the home of the family Il
p Chester county, going by private conveyance
NJ [The party reached Newark in the afternoon .
Ii we are informed by the correspondent OF th
COMMERCIAL at that place, stopping at the Dee
Park Hotel, and causing great excitement,
large number Of people there knowing one
,e both the parties. ED. COMMERCIAL
n DESCRIPTION OF MAcKEY.
or arrived in Middetown, after the body ha'
st been removed, but Mr.. Mcdowell gives me tn
in following description Of Mackey; He was OF mt
at dum hight, with very thin face, weighing fro
t3O to 1856 pounds, of delicate build, and VII
whiskers and moustache.
,o His character was generally good, and excel
Or when led off upon spree, he would attend
a;e his business affairs promptly and satlsfactor
no and was looked upon as most respectable your
ui man Being of delicate health, the light woi
of his fathers business fell to his share, and
70, was his business to pay all bills.
~, WHEN HE LEFT HOME,
On the morning of the fatal day, he was dresst
n as he expected only to go to Newark, IN n
~ every day clothes, except TIE coat which was
'' handsome blue diagonal, such as Taylor hdd o
when he got the Odessa hotel-keeper to wrap
or the light coat for him. This is an important al
very black piece of evidence. Taylor continue
[r to wear the blue coat, when at Middletown al
to its description was recognized by MackeS
ara brother. -,
to It is ascertained that Mackey took no larl
sum of money with him. AS he intended goir
- to Newark, only, he had perhaps not more th'
| I lollo