Daily Republican., 1885-11-24
AFiendish Murder.
KIND OLD JOHN sHARPLEss,
NEAR CHESTER. KILLED BYA
BRUTAL FIEND.
THE MURDERER ESCAPES

| On Monday we gave brief telephone
account Of the murder OF John Sharp
less, near Chester, but the followiDs
are the particulars of the murder:
| John Sharpless, one of the most
prominent Orthodox Friends in Della
was county, was most foully murdered
at his farm in Neither Providence Town
slip, about two miles from Chester, on
Sunday nigh. His farm is a part oi
the original tract of the old pioneer,
John Sharpless, of whom he is Inca
descendant and is located in lonely
road.
At 8 O'Clock Sunday night col.
ored man called At the house while 1t
" az raining. He found Mr. Sharpless
sitting with his family, his wife and
two ladies and nurse. He induced
Mr.. Sharpless to 90 TO the barn with
him for some straps, under a pretext
that q carriage, In which were three
ladies, had broken down in the road.
When in the lstable the negro Struck
Mr.. Sharplesa in the back of the head
with hatchet, crushing his skull and
killing him Instantly.
After taking his watch, the negro put
ont the lantern and returned to the
house for the purpose, 1t is thought, of
killing all therein, Mrs. Sharpless and
the three other women. In reply to a
question he said he wanted money and
advanced towards one OF the women, at
the same time asking what had become
of young girl whom he missed from
the company. Upon learning that she
had gone out, and the colored servant
being sent for the villain left. He
went across the fislds in the direction of
John L;ndssy's farm adjoining, and it
| Is supposed fred the barn to distract
attention, for ii was burned down q
short time after the murder, with all the
crops, farming implements and four
head of horses.
The loss on the barn will be about
| five thousand dollars. The body of
John Sharpless was found in the stable
where he had fallen. He was a very
plain, generous, honest man, a well-to-
do farmer, without an enemy in the
world, and his murder Is appalling.
Money is supposed to have been the
object Of the IN 1rder, but Mr.. Sharp
less while ne was wealthy man kept
little about the house. The murdered
man was in his 9th year, and leaves a
wife. He sat at the head of meeting on
Sunday, and was looked upon by every
the country, whose word was as freely
taken as his bond.
He was President of the Sbarpless Bi
Centennial Association, and took an
active part in the affairs of his com
munity and his religious society. No
tidings of the whereabouts of the wretch
who killed him have been received, but
the authorities think he will be appre-
hended before many days. The muir
derer was black man, of medium
height, with pre- eminent nose and teeth,
a peculiar speech, and dressed in dark
clothes, black hat, and handkerchief
about his neck.
The Sharpless family have offered a
reward of $500 for the arrest and con-
viction of the murderer.
The post .mortem examination shows
that the back of Mr.. Sharpless' skull
was fractu red in five places, and that
the wound must have been Inflicted
with some heavy blunt instrument.
The country around is being carefully
searched for the murderer.
Coroner Fairchild began his investi.
CATION Monday afternoon, but no new
evidence was obtained.
The county authorities have offered
$500 reward, in addition 10 a like
amount offered by the family, for the
arrest OF the murderer.
Chief of Police Williams, of Chester,
on Monday telezraphed to Chief Detec-
tive Kelly the following description of
the colored man who committed the
murder of John NJ. Sharpless, Jr., near
Chester, on Sunday night: About 5
feet 10 inches high, weight 160 pounds,
short upper lip, prominent teeth, long,
smooth face, long nose, dark clothes,
dark felt hat, white handkerchief
around the neck.
Chief Detective Kelly received infor-
nation Monday evening that the police
OF the eTwenty-third District had arrest
ed colored man answering.the descrip.
ton of the murderer. He gave the
name CT Isaac Lewis, ana said he had
no home. He was held to await the
arrival of the Delaware County author
tiles, TO see if they can identify him as
the man wan ted.