Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-06-29

half an hour after the tragedy occurred
witnessed heart. rending scene.
The daughter, who was completely
Frustrated by the shock, was propped uI
on a lounge In o room adjoining that
where the body Of her father lay. She
was gasping for breath, and while Ser
peant Hatton and others vigorously
famed her, 1t seemed as though Il
would require but little more TO quench
the vital spark In her. Mrs. Peterson
tried hard to keep up, but would not
admit that her husband was dead. She
urged that the doctors we're mistaken
that he was only unconscious, and
begged those around her to do some
thing to restore him, but when at last
she insisted on going to the room where
the body lay, aud she removed tie
sheet which covered him and gazed on
the deadly wound she fell to the floor az
though she too were dead. Added to
this were the agonizlng cries of other
members of the family, and it made a
heart-rendering scene never to he for.
gotten. Yesterday ,lwhen the Coroner
and his jury visited the house, Mrs.
Peterson and Annie were both confined
to their beds, seriously i'll with nervous
Iprostration.
| THREATS OF LYNCHIEG.
The brutal crime caused the greatest
excitement all over the city, and in the
vicinity of the murdered mans house
crowds of men stood on every street
corner eagerly discussing the matter,
while threats of lynchinR were freely
made. Some asserted that when the
| case came to trial the murderer would
not get more than five years, while
others were confident that he would not
be punished at all. The more mon
talked the mere excited and indignant
they became, until finally one indi-
vidual declared that he would be one of
fifty to help take the prisoner from the
hall, bring him to the spot where he
committed the crime, and lynch him
AS 1t commenced to grow dark, the
crowd around the City Hall. that had
been large from the time Davis was
locked up, continued to increase, until
Market street was almost im passab BILE,
and the square in the rear of the police
station was almost filled with excited
men who were Ia favor OF wreaking
summary Vengeance on the wretch who
was lying in his cell cursing his cap.
tors and all who had anything to do
with the matter
1t WAS evident that 1t only needed a
slight breeze to fan these smoul ldering
| EN- bers into flame, and that II some
one would have volunteered to lead
the crowd, the grated doors and Yale
locks would have been as nothing be-
foro them. In this emergency Senator
Gray, Mayor Wales, Clerk Pennington
and Chief Mcdonnell held consulta.
tion, and it was decided TO remove the
prisoner to New Castle Jail as soon as
possible. A carriage was procured,
which was taken on Sixth street near
Market. when Officer Marques in citi-
zen's clothes slipped ont, and then
around to Market street, up which he
had boy come runni ng and shouting
that man WAS shot at Front and Mar.
ket streets. The ruse succeeded, and
the crowd rushed 10 that spot.
As soon as the crowd was gone, Davis,
who was already bandcuf}ed, was led
out through the Municipal Court room,
cursing the officers, his wife and every
one else, and buried to the carriage,
whare, with Sergeant Tucker and
special officer Lang, he was soon
on his way to New Castle iail. 1t was
| well that this plan was pursued, as a
reporter was informed yesterday by a
| reliable gentleman that a plot had been
| formed 10 take the prisoner out at mid
night aud hang him at all hazards. A
coach had been engaged. a rope procur-
red, and two hundred determined men
| were resolved that in this case at least,
the murderer should receive his just des
| serts.
THE MURDERER.
Lewis l.. Davis is a brother to Annie
Davis, who was drowned one night
about two years ago in the Christiana,
near Harlan 81 Hollingworth 8 wharves,
by the npsetting of boat in which she,
her brother and several others had visi-
ted a foreign vessel to spend the even.
ing. Lewis had been employed by the
Diamond State Iron Company since he
was boy. Since his marriage, he and
his wife have boarded with his brother
at No. 13 Robinson street. He Is said
to have an ugly, Quarrelsome disposi.
tion, especially when under the influ-
ence of liquor, and that he was very
jealous OF his young wife.
THE VICTIM.
The murdered man was about Al
years old, and of genial, kindly dispo
sition, very we'll liked by those who
knew him. He leaves widow and
seven children, two grown sons and q
lgrown daughter, a son aged about II
years, two girls aged about IL and 8
years, and little boy, all of whom
lived at home. He owned the house in
which he lived and adjoining property al
Front aud Searles streets, having built
the hOusea little over u year ago, and
had just about finished furnishing the
same and getting things comfortable
l "A arnunA him nplu laaf yuaalr bia uni 70
at his solicitation, had purchased some
Brussels carpeting which was one OF
the last things needed to finish furnish.
ing his home as he wished to see II
furnished. The front room of their
dwelling was fitted up by Mrs. Peter.
son as a grocery store last summer,
and she has given careful attention
thereto and built up pretty fair trade
there.
He was among the first officers ap-
poiuted by Mayor Wales three years
ago, and was always faithful and ef-
f1cient in the discharge of his duties.
He was member of Fourth Of July
Lodge 1. o. 0. r. of Philadelphia, and
a few weeks since took his degrees in
one of the lodges of this city.
THE INQUEST.
Yesterday afternoon Coroner Smith
summoned jury composed of the fol-
lowing persons William j. Maxwell,
William i. McNair, William R. Long,
Charles Thomas, Harvey B. Vande.
grift, DIR. B. II. Vandever, John G..
Boulden, David McCloskey, and James
A. Magee, ,0who proceeded to the house
at Front and Searles streets, and after
viewing the remains nnd being sworn
organized by electing William j. Max.
we'll foreman, and Wi liam 8. McNair
secretary.
The jury then adjourned to the City
l unn n fau