Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-07-02

the house few moments aftel
the officer had breathed his last, ant
made an examination of the wound witt
view of locating the ball. The bullet
plowed it's way through it's victims vest
shirt and undershirt and punctured The
flesh about two inches from the left
nipple. It took an inward and downward
course to the fifth rib and in and through
the lung to the left ventricle of the heart
where il probably found lodgment.
The weapon of death which was found
UPON the murderer is 80 calibre "Old
Defender revolver, nickel plated. II
was empty when captured and three
loose cartridges were found in the
prisoners pockets together with some
keys and about $5 in cash.
THE ooRoNER's NoUEsT-DEATH FROM A
WOUND INFLICTED ny LEWIS DAVIS, THf
VERDICT.
A Jury consisting of William j. Max.
we'll, b. +. Vandever, Charles Thomas,
David McCloskey, John @, Boulden,
James A. Magee, Harvey b. Yandegrift,
William II. Long and W. s. McNair was
impaneled Sunday morning by Deputy
Coroner Smith. In the afternoon the
jury proceeded to the Peterson residence,
chose William J. MAXWELL foreman and
W. s. McNair secretary, was sworn and,
after viewing the deceased, adjourned
to the city hall to hear the testimony OF
those who had witnessed the tragedy.
Seven tnesses-Bernard Nugent,
Cecil w. Willard. Mrs. Elizabeth Hayden,
Dr. Howard Ogle, James Mcbride, j.
Alfred Collins and Edward McGaughey-
were examined. ......
Mr.. Nugent gave graphic account OF
Davis flight and the pursuit of those who
tried to capture him. After running
several blocks Davis entered an alley, and
subsequently was found lying in the yard
Of the house No. 1109 West Front street,
evidently having been stunned by falling
from fence over which he had attempted
TO climb. When Nugent approached
Davis shot at him but failed to hit him.
Nugent then disarmed the murderer, got
him upon his feet and, assisted by others,
took him to Front and West streets and
Subsequently Nugent gave
the revolver to the chief of police. AT
the request of the jury the weapon, 32-
calibre common shooter, was produced.
BY mark which he had put upon il
Nugent readily identified the revolver as
the one which he had taken from Davis.
Cecil W. Willard, the murdered mans
step-son, testified that when Mr.. Peterson
was going towards Davis the woman who
was with the Inter yelled 'don't arrest
him, he's my husband" While Peterson
and Davis were within q few feet of each
other and apparently talking, Willard
heard the report of revolver and saw
his step-father reel and fall. The witness
ran to the wounded mans
side and spoke TO him but no reply was
made. Willard then pursued the mur-
derer and, rs he drew near, the fleeing
man turned about and yelled, "I'll give
you one, and fired once, but the shot did
not strike anybody. This occurred on
Front street east Of Broome. Continu.
ng, Willard described the murderer's flight
and said he thought Davis was the man
who killed his step-father. The shooting
occurred about 5.45 o'clock, and the
murderer did not stagger while running.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hayden stated that she
saw Peterson and his slayer standing on
Front street near Broome, but she could
not hear what they were talking about. She
witnessed the shooting, but did not thinl
she could recognize the murderer. Aftei
the shooting the murderer and the woman
with him wrestled on Broome street q
short distance above Front and to the
woman's inquiry ''arent you my hus
band 7" the man replied eyes; and il
you don't go away III kill you too"
DIR. Ogle testified that he llid seen the
deceased and had made an examination
but not n post-mortem, because it wal
perfectly clear fhat the man had beer
shot and the wound which he examined
was sufficient to have caused death. II,
probed the wound and discovered that /
pistol ball went through the deceased'i
vest, two shirts, struck the chest below
the left nipple and passed through th'
fifth rib to the lower part of the heart
Three cartridges which had been found il
Davis pockets were exhibited and tn,
doctor stated that the wound was about a
large as one of the leaden missiles.
james Mcbride said he was standing a
the corner of Front and Franklin streets
and MS the murderer approached he callet
to the bartender at Sharkey's saloon tt
bring him revolver, which he did
Mcbride then stepped across the stree
and the fugitive, before Mcbride coult
take aim, fired twice. Mcbride discharged
his weapon at the fugitive, but none o
the shots did any harm. The witness die
not think the murderer was so mucl
under the influence of liquor that he dit
not know what he was doing.
Mr.. Collins described the flight and tn
pursuit and testified that the fugitive sai'
to him 'pve shot tho of a and i
you stop me I'll shoot you too" The maj
snapped the weapon aud Mr.. Collins go
out of harms way by jumping into al
uncompleted cellar. Immediately afteI
wards Mr.. Collins yelled to crowd O
men ON the corner of Front and Franklii
streets to stop the fugitive. After til
man had been captured Mr.. Collins sc
cured carriage, drove 10 police STATIC
and notified the police authorities nm
then went after DIR. Ogle, to take him +
the wounded mans home.
Next to the colored man who saw tn
tragedy Edward McGaughey is probabl
the most important witness. He firs
saw the murderer and his wife as the
were passing through the old brick yard
between Front and Second streets. Th
mnn shook his fist Mt the woman and sai
"Pye lost finger on your account" Sh
replied ''it's all your own fault; l tol
you to leave that (meaning the pistoD {
home" Said he YOU'RE a liar /; Ill XII
you" Reaching Front street he aske
''Whyin didn't You dance with meg" Sl
replied Il couldn't dance. He said you're
ant4lI lnnRn with M IN
fellows" When they We're near Broom
street he drew pistol and she threw II
hor hands and started to run. He aime
and pulled the trigger, but the weapu
did not explode. AS Peterson apl roache
| and while lie was between Rodney an
Searles streets he was grabbed by I'll
woman, who said, she won't shoot me
he only wnnts to frighten me-" Escapir
from the woman Peterson went
within n few feet of the MAJ, probably
feet, whereupon the latter took aim IN
shot. Peterson then stepped back five I
six yards and fell. The witness heal
the woman call the murderer Lew Dav
and also heard her cry, "Oh, Lew, yC
have shot the man !" 1t was the opinic
of the witness that the murderer was ha
intoxicated and knew what he was doin
| Without retiring for private consult
ton the jury unanimously adopted Il
following:
Resolpei, ThatAndrcw J. Peterson came
his death about 5.45 o'clock on Saturdi
afternoon, June 9th, 1885, by a gunsh
wound in the left broast, inflicted by
pistol In the hands OF Lewis Davis.
DAVIS, THE MURDERER.
In dingy old cell, No. @, in city poll
station the dread of vagrants, drunkar
and tramps, and of which the slain m,
used TO jest, stood his half drunk
murderer. He had been under ARE
about one hour when GAZETTE /
porter was escorted TO the corridor
Officer John b. Moore. The dim gaslig
showed Sergeant Tucker close by the c.