The daily gazette., 1881-07-07
rr.- Yesterday. Las. Eaasas..
THE sLAcKBIRD MURDER.
The Murderer Arrested, and q War
rant Issued for his arrest.

~ ~
the Murderer Arrested, and WAR
rant Issued for his arrest.
Coroner Weldin went down to
Townsend, yesterday afternoon. and
personally investigated the case OF
the little negro girl who was wanton,
ly shot in Blackhird Hundred, on
Monday, as stated in yesterdays
GAZETTE. He found that the jury
of inquest had acquitted the muir
derer, on the ground that he did not
believe the weapon was loaded at
the tlme he fred the fatal shot.
The circumstances OF the case, as
developed by the inquest were as
| follows: The victim was c0lored
girl named Mary Francis Draper,
aged about nine years, daughter OF
a woman Irving near Deakyneville,
who had gone to Ocean Grove, n. j.,
some time ago, to wait upon Mrs.
Frank Stidham of this city, and left
her girl with colored family named
kedden, living near Deakyneville,
Mrs. Draper had returned on a visit,
however. and was at home when her
child was murdered. During Monday
the murderer negro man named
Thomas Mason, was stopping. at
Redden's, and noticed the girl play
ing with knife. He said to her,
"bring me that knife, or, l'llshoot
you." u.
son, picking up gun that laid close BY,
fred at the girl, the load penetrating her
breast and killing her inst antly. Mason
Immediately gave himself up, and when
Mr.. w. w. Lyman, in response to tel
egram from Coroner WeldlD, held an
inquest, the Jury rendered verdict that
"the said Mary Frances Draper came 70
her death by gunshot wound at The
hands OF Thomas Masou,t the said Thom
as Mason not believing the gun was
loaded at the time, from the best testi'
mony before u.s."
On this verdict Esquire Deakyne, who
had Mason arrested released him, but af
terwards the girls mother swore out
war ant for Mason's arrest on charge o.
murder, which was placed In the hand'
of Constable Henry Wilson, but mean
time the murderer had fed,and up to th'
latest accounts had not been arrested.
Mason is not unknown to Coroner
Weldin as over twenty-five years ago thu
latter had q warrant for his arrest, on 1
charge Of disturbing religious meeting
In Appoquinimink Hundred and chased
him for whole day. He caught hin
at night, placed him In charge Of faith
full negro, being probably the first negro
ever deputised for police duty In Della
ware, and next day took him TO New
Castle Jail, where he remained until bi
tiial aud subsequent punishment.
ANOTHER CASE.
About 10 o'clock last night, as Coro
ner Weldin was resting his weary
body on the hotel porch at Townsend
he received notice that an old coloret
man had been found dead in hous'
on the Isaac Gibbs farm, on the road
leading from Cold Well to Taylor
Corner. He went at once to the place
and found the body of an old Negro
named Nicholas johnson, who hai
been living in the house for some tint
with his son. There were no ex-
ternal evidences OF violence about til,
body except collection of coagulate'
blood about the mouth and nostrils
which might have been occasioned b.
the rupture of a blood vessel, or |
, hemorrhage, bat as a matter of pre-
caution the Coroner, when he left o
7.05 O'Clock this morning placed In
case in the hands of Deputy Corone
W. W. Lyman, who will hold an in
quest during the day.