Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-09-30
Wilmington. THURSDAY, Sep. 80, 1886
rl,n Mnraercr ID r.etor.on.

life, probably 70 be phrdonsd and set Tree =
when tie memory Of his dire deed of 4
blood has grown cold
Il would have been fir hetter--and we I
sdy this without amy desire TO paliate
lynoh law--had Hewsou II, Lannan, when s
le and those with him had run this assas-
mn down put force enough IN that blow
with brick that reduced Davis to sub
lection to have crushed the murderer's
slnll on the spot.
Other murderers who unquestionably
deserved death have gotten off with YER
diets Of manslaughter and murder in the
second degreotA this county within the
past few years, but Davis crime was oven
more atroeious than any of theirs. He
had been at what was called a picnic held
at resort which should never have been
licensed. There he had drank eight or
ten glasses Of beer extending over pc
Rod Of three or four hours. This was
ali that his counsel could find to stand on
in his plea-not for his clients acquittal
but to reduce the grade of malice from
that which forms an ingredient of muir
dor in the first degree to that of murder
in the second degree. The dssperateness |
of the case could not have had a more
complete confession than the narrowness
Of the ground or which the defence
stood, MIR. Bird bending all his eloquence
and sophistry to tho sole end of saving
his clients neck and securing for him, as
the greatest boon he could ask, corsign-
mont to jail for life.
II is hardly necessary to recall how
-avery difficult MIR. Bird found it to show
that Davis was even slightly intoxicated
when he left Specht u SpAhn's beer
garden. The State WINS able to show with
more clearness that he did not show any
intoxication Immediately before and after
the shooting. The way Davis fed before
his pursuers, showed clearly that his legs
at least were not drunk.
He left the picnic grounds quarreling
with his young wife, at times striking her
withhis fist and flually attempting her life
with the pistol which the very carrying of
to a reunion OF his shopmates constituted
in itself Illegal presumption of murderous
malice. Had that pistol gone of, instead
OF swapping and sent bullet through
his wite's heart when leyeled at her what
would have been the grade Of his crime
Still threatening the life Of her whom
l. a 4.
love, cherish and protect till death SHOULD
them part, he reached Policeman Peter
sons dwelling. Iu the pursuit of his dut!
as conserYatOr Of the public peace tina
officer arose from his supper table ant
went out fron tic presence Of his famil
10 persuade the dastardly wife beaten an
would he wife murderer to put up hi
weapon and 60 quietly home. The police
man went about that duty persuasively
caXiugly Il might have been better TO
him had lie taken his own revolver il
hand snd put bullet through the brute
asUl Al the first movement of Davis arr
e. tul lis deathdealing bullet throug
tt,3 worthy husband and fathers heart
is 4teuiess Is dwtH u tag scene. I
Gse mirnta po!ir.juan pater7op IL
ufbE 81 gtcguA Amust ii Aia ga
enc eAe- sla r. @ at
y,tps, 4o,.au u,stcl, a psssti..t, ;tok. i
angry word LQd been spoken by tho nu
dertd Esl; ht had been shot down d
lbortel, deyiiisl.ly, Immediately aft
telling bis assassin tbat Il would bo Ii
daty d arrest hin If he Aid not put /
Ids weapon igiia behave himself.
A stop.son IF the dying officer com
up fhe murderer, turning upon hi1
says; ~ have one for you, too, al
iir.s Lis pistol at him. Others cole
and pursuit begins. The murderer fle
down the street, firing at those that won
intercept him. After firing at the fir
man who shows disposition to block b
way, lie meets another WHO, hurried
snatching pistol from bar-room, stan,
and disputes his flight Two shots a
exchanged but unfortunately Tho bra,
McBtiae's bullets 90 as wide Of the
mark % 10 those of tile murderer
Peterson.
Cornercd al last IN an alley, Davis Ii
on his back and ronoealing his weapt
uhdcr his Int, waits with deliberate i
tent 70 take another hfe--tAe life of u
first man who comes mp with him. III
man il lIe@son T. Lannan. lie Ii
Joined in the chase without having til