Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-07-17

the Ford Bedwell tragedy, one OF the
strongest In the history of the state, is
being enacted. Caleb Ford, the young
master of the farm, victim Of assSssiuR-
ton, is dying. Around his bed are
grouped his aged mother, csazed with
grief, and pale.faced sister. Orouohing
At the side OF the couch ia Oaleb's favorite
dog, magnificent English setter. Out
side on the lawn the neighbors are gath
cred in an armed posse, while not hun
bred yards away, in O grove OF silver
maples, ''Jimn Bedwell, the assassin, IL
supposed to be secreted. Jim has gun
and two revolvers. He 10 plentifully
supplied with ammunition, and will
desperately resist any attempt made to
capture him.
Thus far, however, no effort has been
made to arreat the outlaw. The farmers
In the vicinity are in a state Of alarm,
while the women are fairly frantic with
fear. TIE story of the tragedy is re-
pleted with startling incidents and en-
shrouded in tho gloom of mystery. Last
Thursday morning, at little before 10
O'Clock, Caleb Ford made his way to
corn field situated on the farm of his
neighbor, James Ourlett, and about half
@ mile from Green Meadow farm.
This field ia girdled by n wide jungle of
dense underbrush and half green trees.
The nearest road is 200 yards away, and
to all practical purposes the place is iso.
lated. Ford worked hie team OF iron gray
mares to the oultivator and started to
turn over the first fnrrow. He was close
TO the edge OF the fed and not more than
q dozen feet from the uuderbrush. Half
way down the furrow the horses gave a
a.. .ka - Nlawa Aagk NJ
fame, followed by loud report. Ford
fell headlong to the ground, MORALLY
wounded. He raised himself aud shouted
for help. Then from loss of blood he
fninted. In another field on the other
side Of TIE wood were Farmer Alexander
Richardson, his son and their two hired
men, Frank Grinnsge and Pat Hsrkins.
They heard Ford cry and found him ly-
ing face downward on the edge Of tine
cornheld.
He was literally saturated with blood,
which trickled from countless wounds in
the breast and face. Ford was lifted and
carried to the grove. When he opened
his eyes he exclaimed: "The shot came
from the undsrbrush, and don't know
who fired it For Gods sake take me
home to mother, 1 am dying !"
immediately afterward he tainted, and
was carried home. Mrs. Ford met the
party OF the door. She gained aseting
glimpse Of her bloodBtained boy, and
then tainted. Ford was laid upon an
improvised bed in the front room.
After DR.. Wallis, who was summoned,
made brief examination he turned to
MIR. Ourlett and whispered. "This looks
like murder. The man has at least 200 or
more buokshot in his body, and am
, afraid if the lead doesn't kill him, blood
poisoning will"
s'Who fred the shot ?" Before any one
could answer the question Ford was at
tackled with q severe hemorrhage, spit
out four or five shot and then fell to the
foo. Then be finally whispered "ask
motiaer where my gun is and how long
Jim Bedwell has been out Of the house"
Mr.. Curlett and his neighDors ex-
changed startled chances. They all knew
Bedwell and none knew any good of him.
Plessanton went to the door and asked
little Rose Ford, Caleb's 5.yeRrg- old
niece, to look for her uncles gun. Five
minutes later the child returned and
lisped these fatal words: "Taint here,
and guess Jim took it with him. Jim
amt been here since breakfast"
DR.. Wallis then ordered everybody out
Of the room. The neighbors went out on
the lawn and began to talk about Jim"
Bedwell.
The affair bad taken an ugly turn. II
was known that for two years or more
Bedwell had lived with the Fords. Il
was common talk that he was intimate
with Miss Susan Ford, ORleb's sister. In
point Of fact, the . O sir between the pair
amounted to scandal. Susan Is about
a .Nl -
good looking. She has three children
who live on tho farm. Annie, Rose and
On infant. Annie is an uncommonly pretty
maid OF 16 and Rose has juat celebrated
her sixth birthday. II il said that Bedwel
is the father of the youngest child
Strange as it may appear Caleb Ford
never appeared to reslizes that there wa
anything wrong between mis- sister and
Bedwell. Jim and he were boys together
He knew that Jim was q lawless lad with
an oVsrfondness for drink, but when b
came to him more than two years ago anC
asked leave to stay at the farm for few
weeks Caleb entered no objection.
Since that time Jim has dwelt at th(
farm. He has worked as day lahore
for the neighporing farmers OF odd inter
walls, but never paid CALEB 81 for hi
board. But il young Ford was blind t.
his sisters lisson, he WAS quick to motto
that something more thaa r plAtoni
friendship existed between Jim and tn
fair Annie. He is uncommonly fond Q
the girl and proud Of her beauty. Il
feared that his guest meant to harm her
and it ia thought warned Annie.
All this must have happened last week
Annie must have told Bed we'll OF Caleb
suspioions, for Jim began 10 act strangely
He made mysterious trips to Dover an
Hartley, a village about i've miles froI
the farm, 1t was rumored that he ha
offered drug clerk, whom he knew, s
for drug, On the day he met Fsrmt
Curlett ne boosted to the latter that l
had been intimate with Susan Ford an
the girl Annie. Also with Susan's olde
daughter, who lives on farm 1--WE or al
miles from here, and only makes oocl
sional visits to Green Meadow farm.
Jim appeared to be impressed with u
charms OF the girl Annie, and hinte
that if Caleb Ford would only cease h
meddling with Annie and himself !
\, !. would be better satisfied. On Thursda
the day of ths shooting, Jim had promisl
=, to do Some work for Mr.. Ourlett but
IL failed to come. Caleb and he had the
breakfast at the farm. Jim asked Gale
no what he was going to do that day. Calt
lii said he intended to cultivate Mr.. OF
mi, let's corn-fsld beyond the grove.
: per agreement Jim got up from I
u table, and picking up Oaieb's shotgl
ny told the latter that he intended TO cle
flers the weapon. Then he shouldered 1
n'iolgun and walked out of the house. Gal
nj n, went to the corn-feld, and two bou
~ later was brought home literally riddl
with Bhot