The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-08-15
MURDER.

! of Il man was found floating in Drawer
Creek, near Odessa, Delaware. When first
discovered the body was somewhat decom-
posed, having been in the water several
days. but not beyond recognition. The
| CoroneI's jury failed to find anything on
the person of the deceased by which he
could be recognized. The physicians said
that no marks of violence were discovered
on his body. The remains were placed in
box and buried and the circumstance
almost forgotten. 1t subsequently turned
out that the body found in the water and
disposed of, as above stated, was that of
Robert \. Mackey, resident of Jennerville,
Pa, where his parents reside, and that he
was murdered, it is believed, by Joseph
Taylor, whose home is at Lewisville, Pa.
On the day after the inquest, Deputy
Coroner Stevens was in New Castle, and
while eating lunch at Yarnell's restaurant,
to whom he related the circumstances of
the finding and described the drowned man.
Ithappened that they were both from Ches-
ter county and well acquainted with Mack
ey's father, as well as with the dead man
himself, and upon their return several days
later, they informed the father who, on
Friday last, upon learning these suspicious
circumstances, telegraphed at once to Mr..
William Mcdowell, of Midtown, to inves-
tigate the case. At the same time, James
Mackey, another son, brother of the de-
ceased, started at once to Middletown,
arriving there late on Friday evening. 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 it as the person of his
brother Robert.
A second inquest was now held, on Sat
| urday morning, under direction of Deputy
Coroner Stevens, and a careful examna-
ton of the body was made to discover
marks of violence. The examination, how
ever, showed no wounds or marks Of vio-
| lence sufficient to cause death.
On Monday, 9th of july, Mr. Mackey
had concluded business transaction with
a gentleman from the West, who seemed
anxious to catch the morning south bound
train on the Philadelphia, Wilmington &
Baltimore Railroad, in order to begin his
Journey homewar from Baltimore at noon.
| Mr.. Mackey, therefore, haressed team
| and brought the gentleman +, Newark, and
| after seeing him safely ON TIE train started
| on the return home. He had proceeded no
| farther, however, than Deer Park Hotel, in
| the west end of the town, tlan he was met
| by Taylor, who insisted OF his taking a
| drink, and when one was Iuaffed, drink
followed drink, in quick succession, until
Mr.. Mackey became greatly under the
| influence of liquor. In this condition Tay-
| lor prevailed upon him to drive him to Del
aware City, where he ALLEGED lightning
rod man had promised to pa. him sum of
money that afternoon. The tive started
away from Newark together, and what
| TRANSFERRED on the way no ole knows, but
| when they drove into St. Gorse's, Taylor
| is represented by the citizels of the town
to have had very much his own way of
things, while Mackey was in state of
| intoxication. They stayed il st. Georges
for two or three hours, both parties repre-
senting they had no money in considera-
ton of which fact the hoel keeper fed
their horse and advised then to 90 back
| home.
Soon after o'clock, Taylor was very
anxious to get away, but Mickey declined
| to 60 any farther, when TAILOR, who is a
stout and we'll built man, pfked him up
and threw him violently int the carriage
and jumping in himself, drge off in the
direction of Odessa. This vas the last
time Mackey was seen alive, excepted by
colored woman who represelts to Deputy
| Coroner Stevens, since the scond inquest
was held, that she saw two men on the
afternoon in which Taylor an Mackey left
ST. Georges, nearing Drawyr's Church,
in the vicinity of the creek. They were
riding in buggy, the one eing held in
the lap of the other.
The description which the roman gives
of the two men, corresponds With that of
the murderer and his victim. A colored
man has also said to the Deputy Coroner,
and since the second inquest,that he saw
| a man riding alone in a buggy over the
causeway on the south side o the bridge,
OF towards Odessa, who was loking quite
anxously down into the strefn which he
had Just passed. The colore man also
thinks he heard splash in til water just
before he came to the rise of he hill, but
supposed it was only a dog whsh had been
thrown or jumped into the Geek, and he
passed on over the bridge withat stopping
to ascertain what it was. If It's informa-
ton is trustworthy, we have init a knowl-
edge of the manner of the mrder, viz,
|
creek, Taylor threw Mackey, mo was now
thoroughly drunk. into the waer, and left
him there to drown. Being Immediately
along the public highway, Is idea, no
doubt, was that if the body sEuld soon be
discovered the conclusion woult be reached
that Mr. Mackey was tramIor "peach
pluck " who had suicided, he ling Il per-
feet stranger in those parts, anthis person
having been stripped of all artic:s by which
his identity could be ascertaled. The
sequel plainly shows that if TIL was Tay-
lor's idea it was a correct one, the body
was pulled out of the creek all buried a
week before its personality was:nown.
On the evening of the day Don which
the two left St. Georges, Taylc, with the
team, but without his companin drove to
the Odessa Hotel, and placing light coat
upon the counter desired the clrk to wrap
it up, which was done, Taylor the time
having on pair of pants to match the
coat wrapped up, and blue coat He then
drove off in the direction of liddletown
and after getting drink at Maxwel's
Hotel, drove on to Sassafras, wire he was
seen that night, and early thefolowing
morning came back to Middleton. Here he
| Immediately attracted attention y his bois-
ferrous conduct and his determination to
sell or trade his horse and Wagon
After many unsuccessful attmpts and
much tall talking, he succeed i'll strik-
ing trade with Mr.. Robes for the
wagon, obtaining some differece in the
way of cash, about SEQ. Thu horse he
traded to a Philadelphia drever )r much
inferior animal, obtaining as efore, the
difference in money. He thus continued
swapping until he had obtaine in cash
about 500. when he drove otfn the di-
rection of Warwick, since whichime moth
ing of definite character has len heard
from him.
On morning of the fatal day, Mickey was
dressed as he expected only to Newark,
in his every day clothes, exceptthe coat
which was handsome diagoni such as
Taylor had on, when he got to Odessa
hotel keeper to wrap up the ligt coat for
him. This is an important and wy black
piece of evidence. Taylor connued to
wear the blue coat when ut Milletown,
and it's description was recogized by
Mackey's brother.
1t is ascertained that Mackeytook no
large sum of money with him. S he in
tended going to Newark only, head per-
| hans NOT more than five dollars alut him.