Daily Republican., 1884-08-20
A TERRIBLE CRIME.
n YOUNE LADY MURDERED
NEAR weODsTOwN. NEW
JERSEY.

Miss Ella Watson, the 16.year-old
daughter of George atson, a farmer,
residing about mile and half from
Yorktown, Salem County, close by the
Salem branch of the West Jersey Rail-
road, was murdered on Monday night.
The facts of the case are as follows
The deceased left her home about half
pas: 8 o'clock to take some poultry to
John Elwell, dealer, at Yorktown.
After disposing OF the poultry and do
ing some shopping she started for home
at about half-past 7 o'clock. The wagon
road, over which she had to pass on her
way home, runs parallel and alongside
of the railroad, She had traversed
about half the distance when she met
Charles Sickler, a neighboring farmer,
and from that time until the finding of
her body nothing is definitely known.
At an early hour in the evening the
father and mother became uneasy over
her absence and started TO hunt her,
but failing in their search, called on
Mr.. Sickler, their neighbor, to assist
them. The party then, aided by the
light of a lantern. again started up the
railroad, and when little below where
Mr.. Sickler met her In the evening,
traces of q struggle were discovered,
II
the railroad and wagon road. The par
ty began a close search and soon traced
footprints into the woods adjoining the
wagon road. After few minutes
search Mr.. Sickler came upon the body
of the dead girl lying few feet from
the wagon road in the bushes.
When the parents of the young lady
found that she was dead, and had been
murdered their grief was almost uncon-
Itrolable. The body was removed to
her late home, the searching party ar
irving at the house at about one O'Clock
In the morning.
At an early hour yesterday, Sheriff
Coles, Of Salem county, Constable Coles
and Detective Carney were notified,
and the scene of tho murder carefully
examined. Foot prints we're found lead
ing from Yorktown to point just be-
, low the place where the body was found
and then in another direction back to
8 Yorktown. The Impressions made in
the sand were of a peculiar nature, each
step making an indentation as though
one portion of the sole was higher than
} than the other. a long chestnut oak
club was found close by, spotted with
| was supposed to be blood. The stump
from which the club had been cut was
4 also found, and this, together with the
club, was taken possession of by JUS
tice John w. Goforth, of Woodstown,
. acting Coroner in the case.
As early as o'clock yesterday
morning posse OF citizens numbering
about 100, were at the scene of the mur-
a der, and soon after o'clock. William
Jones, colored, residing at Yorktown,
i and George III, Peterson, also colored,
were arrested on suspicion of being her
/ fol on IN u
= town and placed in the lookup, where
they will be kept until the inquest +
J. concluded. -
ell Peterson, when interviewed, AND
THAT he resided at 804 Leonard
a IPhiladelphIa, and had been er
y for several years in the barberH
the Bingham House in Philiate sta-
'. he further stated that he w '.Ao's'ss
~ visit to Yorktown, having psso. IN
"a last Saturday, and at the tir2.4l, ,l2.lG,
d. arrest was On his way to the
send some fruit and vegetat, u 7Vo, a, s;1S
TX fellow workmen at the
le Honse." He is nephew q, $40 and
!. other prisoner, but was nc
q his house. 'auons i.os
y Public feeling, said or,
stables yesterday, is yerya42. I.48 sok.
IA Jones, az no has been in -,o0 II .09 D, nj
1t the authorities being comp
o. him up for misdemeanor. or:
Justice Goforth commenced All
Icuest yesterday. DIR. Allen, Of Woods.
town, was mined, and testified tc
, making an examination of the deceased,
= and finding fracture Of the skull oven
the right eye, a cut on the back Of the
lhead, and evidences that felonious as.
Isault had been attempted.
The inquest will be resumed this
jmorning at 10 o'clock. Last evening 8
, man named Thomas Lenney, who was
Il observed lurking in the vicinity OF tht
murder was arrested.