Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-01-14
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a Handspring hunufeu kHrMeE
shoots FAis Ncighbor,
A fatal shooting occurred at O'Clock,
Tuesday morning, in Brandywine hundred
about three miles from the city limits,
when Isaac 8. Tslley shot and instantly
killed Wesley Hanby.
II is said that Handy attempted to cross
Talleys field on Sunday morning, but
was warned off by Talley, who threatened
to shoot him if he persisted. A feud has
existed between the two men ever since
the 25th of March last, when, at the
public yendue on Mrs. Beeson's farm, at
s'Penny HILL" Wesley Handy assaulted
and beat Isaac Talley's father and also
thrashed Isaac Talley, when the latter in
terfered. Handy has been, in the past.
quite noted character, fond of fight,
and with a habit of indulging in his
fayorite amusement at every opportunity.
From the best information obtainable,
as unearthed by the investigations of
Chief Dougherty and Deputy Coroner
Smith, the sud occurrence seems to have
been the result Of bloody fight. The
old grudge between the parties, men,
toned above, was about healed, and
they had been on speaking terms for the
past few weeks. Since the storm on
Friday night last, the road leading from
the farms of Handy and Talley to the
Philadelphia turnpike has been so OBJ
structed by snow drifts as to be impassa-
BILE, and cut has been made through
Talley's farm. The cut led through two
pasture lots and wheat field. The two
| farms are within 800 yards of each other
and both are about half mile from the
Philadelphia turnpike. Monday Talley
decided that he would allow no more
travel through his farm, and put up the
bars at the foot of the hill on which his
wheat field was located.
In the evening, Handy started across
Talley's farm, when Talley met him and
told him he could go that way no more.
Handy swore that he would go that way
whenever he wished, and that he would
make trip the next morning.
Tuesday morning Talley got up early and
waited for the approach of his adversary,
building brush fire in the snow for the
purpose of keeping warm until Hanby's
arrival. His eolored boy was with him
for awhile, but was away gathering brush
when the ARRAY occurred. It was about
$50 o'clock when Handy approached,
driving dearborn, in which were several
| calves, which he was taking to Edge
Moor station. His father, who feared
| trouble would ensue from his attempt to
cross Talley's farm, followed ON foot and
caught hold of the tail-board of the wagon
| Just as it neared the fence enclosing Tai
ley's wheat field. Handy jumped from
his wagon and began taking down the
fence-bars, when Talley entered vigor-
GUS protest, and in the struggle that
ensued struck at Handy with club, but
| did not hit him. Handy drew gun from
his wagon and fired at Talley, but the gun
| snapped and failed to discharge. His
father took the gun from him, and Handy
| picked up club and struck Talley sew
eral times over the head. Then Talley
drew revolver and fred twice, one shot
striking Handy in the left breast and pas
sing through the heart, killing him in
stantly. After the shooting Hanby's
father took the dead body of his son
home. Talley's wife came up at this juno
ture and found her husband with his face
covered with the blood that streamed
| from the wounds inflicted by Hanby's
club. He said to her ''they've almost
killed me, "and then she prevailed on him
to accompany her home.
When Chief Dougherty and Sergeant
Whelan arrived at Talley's house. he was
in bed, in dazed, semi-unconscius con-
dition, from the effect of his wounds. He
| had cash on his forehead the end of his
nose was burst open, and there were two
cuts on the left side of his head. As it
was apparent he was too badly hurt to be
removed, the chief did not arrest him,
and it is probable he will surrender him
self to the authorities as soon as he is
able to be about.
The first information in regard to the
shooting was brought to the police station
by brother of Handy, who walked all
the way, for the purpose of lodging in
formation against the slayer and urging
the authorities to take steps to secure his
arrest. He was almost overcome by the
cold when he reached the station.
Wesley Handy, the dead man, is son
of Joseph Handy, who lives on the Marsh
road, just above Penny HILL" He lived
on farm near his fathers, was about 35
years of age and leaves a small family.
Isaac Talley, the slayer, is a son of
John Talley, and lives on a farm on the
line of the b. & P. railroad, near where
the road crosses Shellpot creek. He il
also about So years of age, married arc
has family.
Coroner Smith in the afternoon went
over into Brandywine hundred AND
held an inquest over the body
The jury of inquest being as follows
Isaiah d. Mousley, foreman; Cyrus E
Mousley, Daniel Bradley, Harvey B. Van
degrift, Richard Taylor, Henry Mousley
N. B. Woods, George A. Lee and W. s
3 McNair. The witnesses examined wert
Eliza B. Talley, wife of Isaac $. Talley
: Joseph Handy and B. F. Handy, father
l &c lao 1tai
/. Lockwood, the colored boy who accom-
panied Tailey to the wheat field to avail
Hanby's approach, and DR.. Willard
!, Springer.
! The latter, after examining the body o
,, | Wesley Handy, testified that the bal
entered the left side, about 81 inche
below and back of the nipple, struck
/, rib and glanced upward, rupturing tn,
pericardium, or membranous sac which
; encloses the heart. The heart was lillet
I with clotted blood. The doctor alst
!, found that beyond this wound, the onl.
! marks of the affray visible on Handy
body were few slight abrasions of tn
: skin on the legs, below the knees.
i The Jury rendered the following
9 verdict That John Wesley Handy cam
. to his death from o gunshot wound in
= fiicted by bullet from o revolver in tn
/ hands of Isaac s. Talley, on the Mars
. road, in Brandywine hundred about 6. 3
L o'clock, q. M, on January 18th, 1885,"
. The story of the shooting, as given b
L the witnesses, did not materially vary froI
. the above. Mrs. Talley and the colore
= boy stated that when Handy, accompanie
IL by his father, arrived at the fence, Wesle
Handy jumped from the dearborn, wit
his gun in one hand, and heavy hickor
~ gambrel FUSED by butchers in suspendin
~ slaughtered animals) in the other. b
- made the remark, with an oath, that b
"a was going in the field or kill him. III
J Hanbys then began taking down the bar
"a which Talley kept putting back us fa
of as they were taken down. Wesle
~ Handy then began clubbing Talley, an
to after hitting him several times raised Il
as gun to shoot him, when Mrs. Hant
"s seized the muzzle and forced it towai
~ y the ground. The gun snapped but d
ba not explode. Talloy said to his wife,
N will have to defend myself" and drawn
he his revolver shot at Wesley Handy, b.
nj without any seeming effect. Then Hanl
al again raised his gun, pointing it in Ia
ley's face, when Talley instantly fired
second shot from his revolver. Hanl
staggered back, with his hands to b
1T, breast, saying, my God, I'm shot, aI
II. falling of the over the fence rails, fell
to the snow by the road. Mrs. Talley tn,
IL persuaded her husband to go home wi
re her. B. F. Handy, the brother, arriv
SITS at the scene Immediately after the shot
vs.. ing, and the wounded man died in
Il