Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-07-17
HARTLHP's TRAGEDY.
FOrd's Condition Is Not Serious
The Reports Exaggerated = He'd

FOrd's Condition is Not Serious
H'he Reports Exaggerated He'd
well StiIt nI large.
Stah Correspondence of Gazette and journal
DOVER, July l6.-The people around
Hartley are beginning to realize that
their neighborhood has been mRds
famous by the Bedwell-Ford shooting
case They did not think much about
the atfAir, ct first, and it was only after
they had been overrun with anxious
special correspondents and read the lurid
reports in o number of papers that it
began to dawn upon them that what they
considered crime of only ordinary pro-
portions had been transformed into one
OF the most Sensational episodes OF the
day.
Caleb Ford, psppered with bird shot,
but in fair way to soon be ss we'll as
ever, has no hesitation in Declaring his
firm belief that Tom Bedwell shot him.
The Rsssilsnt is still at large and is not
likely to be apprehended unless he re-
turing to the neighborhood. In that event
Constable Jones and his posse would ar
rest him on sight.
What the good people Of Hartley are
most excited about is the reputation for
lawlessness and disorder that their neigh
borhood is rapidly acquiring. Last Christ
mas eve Fred Mass and Alexander Dill,
two reputable citizens of hartley. were
terribly bsaten by two ruffians named
Peterson and Honey, who have thus far
escaped any punishment for their vii
liany. Honey fed to avoid arrest and
Peterson after being appsehsnded, fos-
feited his bail bond and did not staud
trial. About two months ago Z. Il.
Grant, leading oitiz9n OF the town,
while walking from the railroad station
TO his home, was h.ufally assaulted by
two men, who struck him upon the head
with an iron bar, fraciuring his skull
and knocking him HenieleBs to the
ground. The assRilnnts sprang into a
buggy standing near and drove away,
and no efforts have been made to appre-
bend them, although their Identity is sue
pected. 1t was in this neighborhood
that q German farmer known as "0x
Henry" was murdered five or six years
ago, and since the shooting OF F0rd the
charge has been made that Badgell was
at least an accessory, If not y principal,
il Tho killing OF "OS Henry"
These crimes, and the immunity that
has been enjoyed by their perpetrators
have incensed the people of the neighbor-
hood, and they now demand the enforce
ment OF the law and tho punishment OF
those who have made Hartley the Boene
OF their lawlesa acts. The arrest and
prosecution Of Bsdwell is urgently de-
msnced, aud tha people insist that the
power OF the State be exercised to bring
him back from Maryland, where he is un.
doubtedly ascreted. Walter HGwkins,
James Ourlett, Esquire Philemon Scot
ten and other reputable citizens of the
neighborhood Rrs foremost in the de-
lnand that tins men who hSve heretofore
violated the Law with inpunity shall bt
summarily punished.
The shooting of Ford is supposed By
many 10 be- the outcome of plot matched
by Bedwell and Ford's sister Susan, witt
the idea OF removing Caleb Ford and in
stalling Bedwsll in his plsns as the henC
of the family. The intrigue between
Rusan Ford and Beaweli is thu soandsloul
festure of chs notorious cass that mos
disgusts the reputable resid ents of To,
city. 1t wea open and shameless aD,
evidenced gate of coral deprAvity tina
, is u Disgrace ra civilized conmunity.