Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-12-11

Discovery OF Gilbert hurley
MendIesn Corpse I'm HIS EurnlnR

DOROH sSTER's LATEST MYSTERY.
Discovery OF Gilbert HuFley's
Meadless Corpse I'm Hts Burn1zg
House,
Baltimore Sun Special.
CAMBRIDGE, M, Dsc. 8 Following
close upon the mysterious shooting Of
James H. Willin In the upper part OF
Dorchester county on Saturday lRst, comes
the announcement OF another singular
and, so far, inexplioable tragedy in the
Buckstown district Of the same county.
Early this morning the residents OF the
neighbOrhood known ~ Ksene's Ditch,
about 10 miles from Cambridge, were
| startled by the discovery that during the
night previous the dwelling occupied by
Gilbert Hurley, q young farmer living In
the same neigh borbood, had been burned
and that HUXLEY was missing. Hurley
was a widower with several small
| children, all Of whom were boarded at
reighbors by their father.
No ona seems TO have observed the FIRE
during the night, but Mr.. William
Abbott a. an early hsur this IN yrniDe
noticed smoke in the direction Of Hurley's
and on going over found the house en-.
| tirely consumed, with the exception of
several rafterB, which fell In after his
arrival. After the heat and smoke had
somewhat subsidized q search was made
snopg the ruins and Hurley's oharred
remains were taken ont. The remains
were found in the locality where his bed
was known to have stood and near by
was q pipe.
A strange feature, however, Ia that
only the trunk OF the body was found,
the skull being entirely severed and
nowhere TO be seen. II has not yet bseu
discovered. The house being Of a single
story and Hurley occupying the ground
floor, 1t Ia thought strange that he could
not make his escape II the FIRE was 40 1
dental, unless the roof caught first and
fell in upon him while asleep.
The fact Of not finding the skull alst
seems inconsistent with the theory that tn,
fire was accidental, as the bones generally
were found intact excepting ths skull
Hurley, who was Q sober man, was eeeI
as late as IL o'clock last night, q. 8 ftor,
In the neighborhood kept by Mr.
Shorter, where he purchased some groee
ries. In paying for the goods he ex
hibited some silver, which he did no
spend, aud thus far none Of the silve
has been taken from the ruins, notwith
standing diligent search has been made
i Justios Samuel P. Smith will hold al
> irquest TO morrow. Hurley was the Sol
| of Caleb Hurley, . we'll known teamster
I who died in Back water district SON
years ago, aud who WAS true type Q
. Scion Single
: THE ooRosRR's JURY.
,, Baltimore Sun special.
CAMBRIDGE, MD, Dec. Am irques
= over the remains Of Gilbert Hurley who's
: body was taken from the ruins Of hi
burned dwelling, near Keene's Ditch
: Dorchester county, on Wednesday morn
!, ing, WAS held by Justice Samuel p. Smit
|. Of Buoktown district, TO day. The inquei
: was held where the body WAS found, an
Z the remains were examined by the jury
A closer examination by DR. B. "
. Goldsborough revealed the fact that III
!, head had not been severed, as at fri
= supposed, but that 1t had bsen entirel
y consumed The chsrred appearance
y the body rendered 1t impossible, 10 Il
y opinion of DR.. Goldsborough, to So
iS whether any wounds had been inflicte
or not.
a NUMBER OF witnessed were examine
as to the whereabouts OF Hurley on Il
= night OF this occurrence, and as alread
~ reported the last that appears to ha'
been seen Of him was by Mrs. Short
- a. a ate houY thu evening batore. Nr
Y Shorter testifisd that he wss sober at 81
le tine.
!. Suspicion of foul play at first point
70 to young man who leads rowing lii
! ald who had been heard By the witness
= 10 threaten Hurley's life, but compile
~ alibi was proved. There Ia nothing
~ show that Hurley WAS not suffooated
~ No the smoke and afterwards burned, or th
IN the roof did not fall In upon him bsfc
u he awoke. Since the superstition til
, the head had been severed from the bo
no has been contradioted, and ss the bo
was found where Hurley's bsd had etot
the general belief is that the burnt
TX Was accidental.
I'd The jury rendered verdict that sc
to bert Hurley was murdered in his hou
,al near Keene's Ditch, on Tuesday nigl
er December 81, between the hours Of IL
IRE and an, by the hand Of soma Q
ir. unknown to the jury, and his hor
he afterwards set on FIRE and destroyed, a
Ia aud that his body was 80 charred by /
he fire as to destroy any traces of murder