Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-05
LOCAL AND PENINSULAR
THE FOUR UNKNOWN BODIES
BURIED IN POrTERS FIELD.
'rhe Negro, Robinson, IsrOught 10
New Castle by Sheriff Ford on
Friday NIght-Ehrcats of t.ynch-
isrr O, tf,p MAY.

Friday evening Sheriff Ford returned tc
New Castle, having in custody Charles
Robinson, the negro man who was arrested
in Aiillington, Nd, Friday morning, October
23d, on charge Of committing q flendisf
outrage upon Mrs. 0rson Gardner, neal
Casperson's mill, in the lower end Of Black.
bird hundred, this county, few weeks ago
After the crime Robinson fled into Mary
land, and Governor Stockley offered a re.
ward of 5000 for his capture. On the morn
ing Of his arrest he was stopped on the
Crumpton bridge, near Millington, by a
colored man named George Hilyard, who
pointed revolver at his head, and held
him there until Constable Bradley and a
man named Schwatka arrived, when he was
arrested and lodged in the Ceutreville jail.
Sheriff Ford, accompanied by Joseph
Dougherty of New Castle, started Wednes-
day week for Annapolis with q requisition
on the governor of Maryland for Robinson's
arrest. During Thursday tho necessary
papers were procured from the secretary OF
state, and they returned to Wilmington and
proceeded to Centreville the same night.
Friday morning they took Robinson into
custody, and came up to Town
send, where they stopped to give
him a preliminary hearing and OBJ
tain commitment. Mrs. Gardner
and her husband were sent for by telegraph
and on their arrival u hearing was had
before Esquire Wilson. Mrs. Gardner posi-
lively identified Robinson as her assailaEt,
and colored man named Major Iodine
testified to seeing Robinson in the vicinity
of Gardners house on the day OF the occur
renee with piece of meat in his hand.
Mrs, Gardner says that Robinson had u
piece of meat when he called Mt the house
and compelled her to cook it for him Esquire
Wilson committed Robinson to Jail and
Sheriff Ford brought him to New Castle on
the evening train.
During the hearing large crowd assem-
bled in Esquire Wilson's office, and threats
Of lynching were freely indulged in,
although no open demonstrations were
made. At the various stations from Centre
vile to Middletown, crowds of people
gathered around the car in which Robinson
sat, and gazed threateninglyupon him, with
many intimations of what they would do
with him if they had the chance.
ROBINSON PLEADS IGNORANCE.
Saturday morning the accused was seen
in the jail by an GAZETTE reporter. His
cell is on the second tier. He Is about five
feet eight inches in hight, very dark in
color, with perfect set OF cleaning white
teeth and very faint mustache. His
countenance is rather pleasant and has not
the slightest indication Of viciousness. He
is about so years of age. When questioned
concerning his guilt, he said he had no re-
collection OF what happened that day, and
to the best of his knowledge, never
saw Mrs. Gardner until the hearing in the
squires office Friday afternoon. Ae-
cording to his statement he was in Clayton
on the morning Of the alleged outrage,
where he fell in with a negro sailor, and
| both got drunk. The sailor bought piece
of meat and gave 1t to him, but he after
wards gave 1t back. The next thing
he remembered was walking along
| the railroad near Green Spring
utter which he cut across the country tc
| Vandyke's, on the Queen Anne's q Ken
railroad, and took the next train for Centre
Vile. This statement the prisoner adhered
| to persistently, and, though he spoke freel,
/ of all other circumstances connected will
| the affair, he stuck to 1t that he had nj
recollection of seeing Mrs. Gardner or beint
near her house that day, although he mad
no positive denial of guilt.
Robinson says that he formerly WORKED
for Clerk of the Peace Z. II. Cochran am
other parties around Middletown. Il
Queen Anne's county he. bears a bad repu
tation, and is accused of having ASSAULTED
women on more thnn one occasion. Hewi
undoubtedly be tried at the approaching
term of court.
OTHERS AWAITING TRIAL.
Theodore Becker, awaiting trial for kill
ing Horace McGinnis, was also see
by the GAZETTE reporter. He converse
eagerly, and looks hopefully forward to hi
approaching trial. He feels confident {
acquittal, as he thinks he had ample occa
sion for firing the shot that killed McGinnii
though he had no intention of killing hiI
mt the time, and fired aimlessly in the darl
His confinement is irksome to him, and h
is impatient for his trial and the releas
that he feels sure awaits him.
Lewis Dayis, the slayer of Policema
Andrew T. reterson, drew the curtai
across his cell dOc-s as, as the reporte
approached, and showed an evident disir
ciination to see any one.