Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-07-08
rHE EArnsr osorL HoMrorDs.
Particulars OF the Fatal shooting
CRse Near siae Nkoath of sassaEras
Rtver.-Sad Result of ma Overdose
a.g sim N suRad whisky.

=
Case Near sise menth Of sasssaEras
River.-sad Result OF ma overdose
OF snauxgfed whisky.
Special Correspondence Of Gazette and journal
EI.KTos, July William Henry Web
ster, colored, and his wife Florence, were
brought to Elkton jail about II o'clock
this morning by Constable j. H. Benson.
The man is charged with the murder Of
Edward McNelly young white man, on
Wednesday afternoon. What the woman
was held for is rather hard to understand,
when acquainted with the facts of the
matter. 1t must be, however, as an accea.
sary.
Webster aud McNelly, both worked on
the farm of Isnac Richards az Grove Point
at the mouth Of the Sassafras river. Web
ster inhabits half of long narrow fish
house; it is but one story high, and he
has but one room.
A GAZETTE a JOURNAL reporter saw
Webster to-day at the Jail. He is = very
dark negro of medium hight and build,
and gives his age as SO. He is native of
Virginia but has lived in Maryland and
Delaware since the war, His wife is II
young woman, che was attired in loud
colored dress and was smoking stone
pipe. She has with her IO,months-old
child and left 6-year-old one behind.
Webster's story is as follows I: On
Tuesdayea man came from Hayre de
Grace to Grove Point in sloop, having
on board several gallons Of whisky. A
party of young white men employed on
the farm consisting of Robert Craig,
Washington Nabb and Edward MeNelly,
bought several gallons on Tuesday night
and brought it up TO my house. They
stayed nearly all night. After they had
drank and wasted the whisky they sent
for another gallon to take home with
them. Edward McNelly went into an
adjoining room occupied by William
Thompson, colored, and commenced to
abuse his step daughter. She told me OF
| ii and protected her. Ed. swore at me
and said he would whip me and my
wife too. They then went away
Ed McNelly and his brother
Daniel came to my house Wednes-
day morning. | was sitting down
eating my breakfast, when, Dan, without
provocation, struck me on my left eye.
They then assaulted 1hompson's step
daughter. They were both under the in
tiuenee of liquor They went away md
returned in the afternoon between and 8
o'clock. John McGlory, n boatmau, was
with them, John called me to open the
door. had fastened it, being afraid of
them. One of them said you do not pay
any rent and I'm going TO lynch you, nj
the same time calling me a s. of b..
l said please don't open the door you go
up to Mr.. Richards md you will
feel better. Dan. McNelly said by God
I'll go in. | said Don't come in here ,
don't do it please The two McNelly's
grabbed the door and burst it open. They
stepped into the doorway. Dan had Il
chunk of wood in his hand and struck al
my wife. l then fired load from Il
double barreled muzzle loading gun
which had. The load struck Ed. i'll the
breast. His brother showed him aside
saying 81 will go in" He struck at my
wife again with the chunk of wood and
she struck at him with corn knife Ht
then left My wife and went to Con
stable Benson's to give ourselves up. The
, constable did not return until late and VIC
spent the night at his place.
Magistrate George II. Vansant held IL
inquest over the remains. John Mctilory
the step daughter of Thompson and
years-old son of the same testified regard
ing the shooting in confederation Of Web.
ster's story. II was in evidence tina
Webster had told the McEellys that i
they entered he would shoot.
Daniel McNelly testified that he wa
three strides from the door when the sho
was fired and his brother was rs far bc
hind him. DIR. Hardcastle who examiner
the remains testified that the shot entere
the left breast cutting the cords Of til
heart, and causing inward hemorrhages
The body was found within foot or ~
of the door. The coroner's Jury foun
that the deceased came to his death BY
wound inflicted by gun in the hands {
Webster. II will be noticed that this
another Cecil county tragedy at whir
whisky was at the bottom Of the matter