Evening journal., 1888-08-20
STRIKING A. Fatal BLOW.
captain Richards Accidentally Kills Cap
tain ellison II Delaware City -Coroner's
FnoueSt

mnptain Richards Accidentally Kills Zap
tain ellison Al Delaware City -Coroner's
inquest.
Captain James ellison of Manayunk
was struck and killed by Captain Mark
Richards OF Port Elizabeth, n. j., on
board Captain George X. Thompson's
canal boat at the wharf at Delaware City,
YESTERDAY. Gillsons. Thompson's and
Richardss boats were lying at the wharf
in the order Of their names. About
o'clock in the morning ellison who had
been ont all night with a camp
ing party came to Richards boat very
much intoxicated Richards was
pumping his boat out and was assisted by
Jacob Lang. ellison at once became
shusive and Threatened to whip the
whole crew, and addressing himself to
Richards said II viii wipe up the deck
with You" Richards paid no at
BENTON to Gillsons abuse until the
latter stepped aboard Of the boat and
squared hiIaself, when he hit him and
Knocked him down. ellison raised him
self and crossing to his own boat, picked
mp hand full Of coal and q club. Cap
tain Thompson begged him TO lay the
fhinrs down. He did so, saying that he
would click Richards anyway. He
then took off his shirt, stepped on
Thompson's boat where Richards was and
hit him on both sides Of the head before
Richards coHld retaliate Richards then
struck him in the forehead with his fist,
knocking him down. In falling he struck
his right temple against the corner Of the
hatchway and in few minutes he ex-
pired from the conclusion. DIR. Frank p.
Belleville was at once summoned and
found blood oozing out of the mans nose
and mouth and from a wound in the
femple. Life was extinct.
When the news Of the killing spread
ever the little town, the excitement
was intense. Although early in the
morning, nearly the entire population
gathered at the wharf 10 discuss the
matter When the facts became known,
the sympathy Of the community turned
towards Richards, who had given him
xelf up to the authorities as soon as he
ascertained the mans death. He was
placed IN the town lookup and kept there
until released by the coroner.
DR.. Belleville telegraphed to Coroner
Barnhill and the latter left at 30 p. m.
for Delaware City, arriving there at 3
o'clock When the coroner arrived he
found the body lying on Thompsons boat,
sion that il could not be touched until his
arrival. He at once had it placed on
Gillson's boat, where the following jury
viewed it w A. Jester, A. j. Swan,
John c. Huss, George NJ Bright, II. r,
Householder, r. Mitre s. r. Hines. Alex
ander Kelley and William Hutchinson.
w. A. Jester was made foreman and
William Hutchinson secretary. Bernard
Gillson son of the dead man, Captain
Heorge r. Thompson Terence b. Amer,
Joseph w. Field, Jacob Lang and DIR,
Frank Belleville were examined and tes-
titled to the facts as stated above. Ber-
nardsGillHoR's testimony and that Of the
boat hands was TO the effect that ellison
was frequently drunk, and that
when in that condition he was
very quarrelsome, taking ad-
vantage Of every opportunity for quar-
rel On The other hand Richards was
represented as a sober, industrious man.
and very peaceful The jury after hear
lug the evidence rendered verdict that
tho deceased came to his death by blow
struck by Mark Richards in self
defense The release Of Richards
was at once ordered When the
coroner started toward the lookup a
large crowd preceded him. Richards
seeing them became very much scared,
linking he was going to be lynched
Nhen he was told that he was to be re-
leased, he broke down and was unable to
noye He thanked the coroner and the
jury again and again between his sears
The body was removed to Manayunk
Pa. To-day