Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-07-24

ing q hearing this evening.
EvERr KvENISa's correspondent has
interviewed four eye witnesses to the
affair, all of which give damaging testi-
money against the accused, and should
they repeat the came bsfors the makis.
trate, Johnson will surely be committed
for court,
II Ia believed to have been q
conspiracy among several negro
roughs TO kill the man Warrington.
The affair is the outgrowth OF difficulty
occurring yesterday week. A negro girl
gang gave most Of her attention to the
stranger Warrington, who bears 9 good
name. He has besn employed for the last
sig weeks by W. r. Cochran. Mr.. Cooh-
ran says he was good, quiet and indus
trious man, never seeming noisy.
Warrington came from Poeomoks City,
Nd, and was given the beat recommends
tions by the Rev. Mr.. Lee, former resi-
dent OF that place.
The negroes are much excited over the
affair, and show no disposition 10 shield
Johnson from law.
WARRINGTON DIES.
IL o. m.-WarriDgton died at 10.47.
Coroner Smith has been notified and will
hold an inquest this afternoon.
Monday afternoon Coroner Smith went
to Middletown and held an inquest
upon the body. Arriving at the house
where the body lay Jury composed Of
seven oolofed men was summoned and the
testimony Of four eye-witnesses 10 the
killing heard. The testimony WAS 30
direct that the Jury with but moments
ton came to his death from blows on the
head inflicted by Lewis Johnson.
The murderer, who had been arrested
In the morning charged with the crime,
was taken to New Castle and committed
to jail Tor court.
Coroner Smith brought the prisoner to
New Castle where the latter was taken in
custody by Jail Warden Hsnos and
lodged In prison.
The faois as given Monday concern
ing the killing did not vary materially
from those brought ont by the witnesses
before the jury. II appears that War
rington, the deceased, had attended the
A. N. 3. Church at Browntown during
tho evening, but before the congregation
had been dismissed he went TO the M. &.
Church at HAmtown, short distance
away, and remained there until the
services were concluded. He then
returned TO the Browntown church,
aud was leaning on low fence
speaking to his acquaintance rs they
came out OF the house of worship. He
was alone and had Just bowed to one Of
the young women when Lewis johnson,
rose up from orouching position In the
paling ia his hands, struck q powerful
bloR At Warrington. The latter saw the
pale descending In time to break the
force of the blow with his arm, but II
struck him on the head with sufficient force
to stsgger him. Johneon followed the first
stroke with two powerful blows in rapid
succession, which struck the deceased
upon the crown Of the head and knocked
him PROSTATE. Warrington by great
effort succeeded in raising his body In .
partially upright position on his LETT arm,
and with his right hand drew small re-
volver from his pocket and fred
three shots at his fleeing assailant,
with the evident intention Of shoot
ing him. 1t IL believed shat Warrington
was then only partly conscious, and the
bullets went wide OF their mark, and
few promiscuously among the oongregA-
ton. One found Judgment in the thigh
Of Frank Warner, q young oolored man,
who watched the atfrsy until the leaden
missile punotured his flesh, when he
beat . hasty retreat, and In his excited
dash jumped over . high thorn hedge
aud took refuge on the other side.
Another ball clipped q small particle Of
trimming from the bonnet OF one Of the
women, while the third bullet sang
threAteningly above the heads OF the
crowd.
After Warrington's vain, thrice repeated
effort to kill his brutal asssilsnt, he sank
to the ground unconscious. He was oar
ried to neighboring house where DR.. e.
F. Nowlan was summoned, and did every.
thing to try and effect q reaction from the
severe nervous shock. kvery application
failed Of its purpose. The wounded
man was completely paralyzsd, and
never moved q muscle after firing
hia pistol. He died Monday
morning about IL hours after the assault.
The news of his death spread rapidly and
threats Of lynohing were made by the
excited oolored people against Johnson,
who had been arrested q short time
before and looked up. The feeling, how.
ever, subsidized when the coroner arrived
and expressions of satisfaction were
heard on all sides at the verdict, which
implied probability that the murderer
would hang for his terrible deed.
An examination OF WarrinRton's body
did not disclose any external marks Of
violence, and the attendant physician
testified that death had resulted from
conoussion Of the brain. Warrington waf
about 10 years Of age, and lived in POGO
meke City before coming to work on W,
| r. CoohrAn's farm about seven weeks
ago. Johnson, the murderer, is about Il
years OF age, and like the rest Of his family
| is r garded az desperate character. Ht
numerous disrsputable fights, and tn,
male portion OF the population Of Middle
town has unwholesome dread OF any con
tact with any Of them. Fanny Johnson
who early this year robbed her mistresi
Of several hundred dollars worth OF silk
and diamonds and fed from Philadel
phia 10 Middletown, where she was ar
rested and who is now doing i've years
sentence In the penitentiary for the theft
is sister Of the murderer.
No direct motive could be assigned fo
the killing as the murdered man did no
know his Assailant and had never seer
him. II appears, however, according {,
rumor, that Warrington had formed tn,
acquaintance OF young woman to whom
Johnson formerly paid his addresses
Since the formers acquaintance with tn
girl, johnson has been snubbed by her
This ia believed to have been the provo
cation for the killing.
Samuel Miles, who came from MarylAn,
with Warrington, testified that strange
always has difficulty with the colore,
people Of. Middletown II he goes there +
work, the native negroes looking upoi
him as sort Of intsrloper. He believe,
that there was no other motive for tn
murder than yohnson's desire to get tn
slain man ont Of the way.
The implement Of murder, q heav'
paling, was found near the scene. II ha,
broken In two by the force Of the blow
upon the victims head. There were svi
denoes to indicate that II had been tskei
from fence, recently, perhaps just be
fore Il Was put to its murderous use.
The ooroner's inquest brought To Agh
some Of the amusing rivalry which exist
between the denixsns Of Hamtown and Q
Browntown. Nothing more ridioulou
can be conceived. Geographically the tw
suburbs are separated only by q narroy
field, but socially, by 3 barrier Of con
tempt and disdAin one for the other
/ | whioh IA an markad that n habft.uA .