The New York herald., 1878-11-24
THE DELAWARE MYSTERY.
REMARKABLE DENIALs AND REPETITIoNs CON-
cERNING THE DESTRUCTION OF CHILDREN AND
THE SHOOTING OF THE NEGRO JoNEs-A VISIT
TO THE MISSES DoDsON


cERNING THE DESTRUCTION OF CHILDREN AND
| THE SHOOTING OF THE NEGRO JoSEs-A VISIT
TO THE MISSES DoDsoN
from the Baltimore Sun, Nov. 23l
I CHEsrERrowN, Nd Nov. ~. 1873.
After drive this evening through heavy rain and
almost Egyptian darkness the representative of the
Sun ushered into the sitting room of the Dodson
family. where seated Mr.. Dodson's two
daughters quietly engaged in domestic sewing The
young ladies are prepossessing in appearance and
manner. and over an hour was spent very agrccably
in their company awaiting the return of Mr.. Dodson
The sisters have ladyke and gentle department, and
there is nothing either in appearance gen
| erA bearing that would lead any to suspect
them OF being other than the virtuous young ladies
they have been generally esteemed in this commu-
nifty They conversed very pleasantly and readily
every topic introduced, and effort to insure
composure, which occasionally apparent in the
elder one there nothing to indicate the existence
Of such terrible ordeal they going through.
1 The younger daughter, Dora, perfectly self
possessed and looking at her innocent grlish face.
it was impossible to connect her with the fearful
story Of the colored man lying thirty miles off,
Vandyke's station, terribly manged and abused.
The elder sister Alice, stated that she married
/ last August to William Prettyman commission mcr-
chant Of Philadelphia; that she resided in Philadel
/
nonnccd the whole story Of Jones base fabri-
cation, and said that he had most unenviabe char
acter and reputation story teller. The sisters
said that Jones had been living with them two years
next Christmas; that he not Of evil
habits, so far AZ they knew that he drank but not
to excess; that he trusted with the keys
and considered honest. He had given indication
by his conduct of his intention OF leaving and that
when he failed to appear Tuesday morning they
much surprised. Said Mrs. Pretty man :-.Since
that night he has not been the place. and Of
course. the whipping could not have taken place or
any hing else been done to him.
STATEMENT r. popsoN.
Mr. Dodson is abont fifty Of age, Ave feet ten
and half inches in height of why build side whis
kers pale face sharp smile. sort Of draws in talking
of Indifferent education, but sharp and shrewd. He
came into this county some years ago. He and his
wife members Of the Methodist Protestant Church
Mr. Dodson denies that there is the slightest founda
ton for the statements Jones has made in relation
to his daughters having illegitmate children. Jones
had lived with him up to last Monday night; was
a fair hand, of accommodating and obliging dis
position. Never had any trouble with him, and
he the only colore1 person the farm.
Mrs. Dodson and her daughters doing the housework
and cooking. Found Jones missing when he called
him on Tuesday morning. Mrs. Dodson explained
Jones' absence by relating the infamous slander
which Jones had originated and spread about the
burial OF the iegtinate children OF her daughters.
with Jones in which the latter stuck his story and
mt Dodson's request went out on the farm with Dod
to the spots where he said he had buried the
mains. A spade was procured and digging done in
several places. but traces of the babes dis
covered to confirm the statements about their burial
Jones here admitted substantially that the story
fabrication and required to make that explana-
ton to Mrs. Dodson. Then he taken on by the
men, and Mr.. Dodson supposes whipped and or.
neyar
come back again, Mrs. Dodson saying. ''Go where
shall never or hear of you again.
STATEMENT OF THE COLoRED WOMAN ELIZA
This woman, who lives on the land OF Thomas Hin
son. the railroad about thrce-quartcrs Of mile
carriage drive of from Dodson's with Mrs. Dodson,
| Ncwcombe, Vincent and James Jones. and that the
Dodsons had given out their intention of carrying
him OH She also states that Jones told her of his
own intimate relations with the family and much
more in a similar strain. Citizens OF this place, how
| ever, place no credence in her statement.
! s JONES A NOTORIOUS
reply to q question the subject. that Jones was
notorious iar and that his reputation bad in the
neighborhood amoAg his own color. Mr. Matthews
also says that Vincent was at Dodsons Tuesday
| ing. and that Newcombe. who at his house. was
sent for 70 come over 70 podsons Both Vincent and
thews married Newcombe's sister
| MEN.
| Philip Vincent and william Ncwcombc are about
twenty-five years of age. quiet laboring and
teemed good citizens. Vincent grew up in the
family Of Dodson, with whom he came from Della
| ware. Newcombei is Kent county man They have
been instructed by their counsel not to talk on tho
| case, which instructions they rigdly obey They
stouty deny their guilt and that they excul
pate themselves by legal evidence at the proper time.
| The defence will be alibi.
| FLYING REPORTS.
Mrs Dodson has left home. After the Sheriff ar
rested Newcombe and Vincent il is stated Mrs. Dodson
had 2 private interview with them. II is reported
with three farm hands and that she got gun and
fired them. and one Of the men, stumbling he
ran. fell and it was supposed at the time she had
| killed him.
Mr.. Richard Hynson, attorney for the defence says
that he does not purpose asking a writ habeas
corpus the Of Ncweombe and Vincent, because,
though they have right to the writ, the state Del
aware should be allowed time in which to set forth
her grievance, will application be made for
writ II. when the papers shall be produced 1t shall
appear that the proceedings are technically accurate
and the offence sufficiently described.
| CONDITION OF THE WOUNDED MAN.
At early hour this morning the Sun's representa-
fearfuly mangled colored man, James Jones. who
losing his life ut the hands of his
thirty miles from this place found that only
one ball had struck him. This had penetrated to the
skull just il, over the ,sh and had
| aud the scalp. around to the back Of his
neck where il made its exit, giving him the
appearance of having been shot twice, OF
| the two holes. He almost free from fever and
there is why he should not convslescc and
speedily be enabled to resume his daily avocation.
| the marks Of the rope are around his neck His
hands and arms were cut open from the whipping he
received His body and limbs were in sad cJndition
from the effects the blows and his being dragged
| through the woods the night OF the attempted
| murder.
| JONES FURTHER STATEMENTS.
| In describing tho route which they took with him
| in the carriage, he said they through
| New Market Gaena, head of Sassafras &c..
and, in driving in this way. went about ten miles
out OF their Jones stated that Dora and
| Alice both said that the children they had given
birth to were Philip Vinccnts and that Win. ent
had told him the He said that Vincent had
been raised by Dcdson and that whenever Mi. and
| Mrs Dodson went away, which they did at intervals.
aud occasionally stayed some time Philip Vincent al
ways stayed ut the house and that the small children
in the family. two little boys. knew this and
aud told him about ii. Much other dot Ill more re-
| pulsive and incredible character given by the
wounded man. He was preferred domestic for gen
| erzl work, and he in the confidence of the
family they would rather have him about them than
/ any one else. When Alice irst i'll Mrs. Dodson
sent her to Dr. Wright, q prominent ply stefan at
| warwick, about twenty-five miles from Chestertown
who sent her back again. saying what the trouble was