Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-09-01
WAS MURDER INTENDED?
NEWTON GEM MAY DIE FROM THE
WOUNDS HE RECEIVED.


John Hemphnl, E1wood knight aad
Isaac wiItbanks Held without Bail 10
Await thu Outcome Of the ToiI-sate-
keepers Irjuriss.
]. Newton Gem. toll-gate keeper Of
gate No /, on the Philadelphia turnpike.
near twenty eighth and Market streets.
was murderously assaulted st 2 50
o'clock last night, by one or two men
Mr. Gem may die, and the men sus-
pected to be his assailants are being held
without bail TO await the result OF his
injuries,
John Hemphill. Elwood Knight and
lsacc Wiltbanks all OF the Ninth ward,
IN which the assault was made. are con
lined ON the charge Sergeant Stetser,
who has charge of the case. says that he
has conclusive evidence that Hemphill
Was the ringleader If not the sole assail-
ant.
Threatened to Murder.
Toll-gate keeper Gem was at his post
at Z. 30 o'clock last night. and, as was his
custom, had ths gate pole across the
road. Three men in q buggy drove up
from Wilmington and demanded that the
gate be raised for them TO pass. Francis
b. Gallagher. OF John ]. Gallagher &
Bro, druggists, was a short distance
away, but he heard one Of the men say
We've paid our toll. II you don't raise
the gate wen get out and murder You !"
The man who made the threat was try
ing to get from the carriage, but his
companions held him. Mr. Gem raised
the gate and they passed up the road.
Mnrdsrously Assaulted
The gate-keeper had hardly lowered the
gate again when he WAS assaulted Tho
man who made the threat had jumped
from the carriage and struck him. ii is
believed by Sergeant Stetser, with a
porter bottle. Mr.. Gallagher says
he is sure that John Hemphill was the
one who threatened Mr.. Gems life. ard
the sergeant says he has witness who
saw Hemphill assault the old man. lie
refuses to tell the WITNESSES name
Mr.. GEM was unable to defend him
self against his assRilant or assailants
and was left insensible in front Of his
toll office. The assault was done very
quickly and the men got into the buggy
at once, and drove rapidly into this city
They were drunk and loud mouthed. aud
before they left the scene, Miss Annie
Gem, daughter of the injured mar, heard
them from the house She supposed they
were abusing her father, and went out
and requested them to stop their wordy
abuse. They then drove off She saw
that the horse was dark bay, aud that
the buggy's top was broken.
Miss GEM went to the toll box but her
father was not inside She found him
standing by the gate, insenslble. She
called his name but he did not answer
her, and then she saw that his face was
covered with blood She took him inside
the toll-box and washed this blood from
his face. Mr.. Gallagher arrived and
fetched DR. E, q. Shortlidge. The police
were notified at the same time.
GEMS Serious Injuries.
Or Shortlidge says that Mr. Gems
injuries were among the worst he haC
ever dressed. Two deep impressions OF
mis- forehead, a bruise on the left temple
the left eye discolored and the upper lii
cut through to the teeth, were the in.
/ juries made BY the murderous assailants
The wounds on the forehead, temple an,
lip were drawn together with stitches
No bruises were found Oh his body
Mr.. Conn will be 60 years old to-mor
row and his condition before the assault
makes bad outlook for his recovery
| psralytie stroke last winter has left Ii
effect, and he was too feeble 70 hav
the least chance against his assailants
His condition is very serious He be
came conscious soon after his wound
were dressed, but said nething until thi
morning, when he complained of hi
head hurting,
Arrested for the Crime.
Officer William r. Todd arrested Johl
Hemphill and Elwood knight on suspic
ion two and a-half hours after the as
sault. They we're in a buggy. the top o
which was broken, The outfit belonge,
to Peter A. Pagan. Sergeant Stetse
arrested Isaac Wiltbanks on suspicion a
midnight. finding him asleep at his HON
! on Nandever avenue between LaMott
and Carter streets. The men denied thu
they were as far out the road as the toll
gate is, and say that they ars inaocen
of the charge.
A preliminary hearing was held IN tn
Municipal Court this morning Or q
q Shortlidge, the attending pbYs.cian
was the only witness Ee testified rha
Mr. Conn was in dangerous condition
and could not tell when he would b
able to appear, If at all He turtle
testified that he would know within
week whether his injuries would result
fatally, or not. he said that the MAJ
was numerically beaten and deatl
might result. The hearing was set 70
Friday morning at o'clock. and Hemp
hill knight and Wiltbanks were he'll
without bail until that time.