Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-06
Hemorrhages and ConvuI-
sionS the Direct Cause.
He WAS MOST BRUTALLY TREATED
Choked Into lnsensibility by
Constable Brown
Says One of the Witnesses--The Post
Mortem Did Not Definitely Reveal
That Hughes Had Died Directly from
His Bad Treatment.

stables Brown and McKelvey on June
23d last.
Hughes resided with his wife and two
children at No. 216 East Second street,
In this city His landlord was James
Brown of No. 10Y West Fourth street.
Brown held claim of S21 for rent
against Hughes, and on June 23d, Con-
stables Brown and McKelvey went to
his house to take away the goods,
Hughes had been out of work for some
time, and he did not possess the where
withall to pay his rent. He told the
constables so and said he would earn
the money and pay the rent. The con-
stables were determined to have the
goods, however, and they entered the
house for that purpose, leaving two
carts waiting outside for the transporta-
ton of the household effects.
When Hughes saw the constables
were determined TO have the goods, he
procured an axe and began the demoli-
ton of the furniture. He said they
should not remove them unless they
were taken out in fragments. Constable
Brown then grappled with Hughes, so
Mrs. Long, next door neighbor, says,
who witnessed the struggle, aud hand
to-hand encounter ensued Constable
Brown pushed Hughes out of the door.
His head struck stone projection close
by the door and Constable Brown fell
upon the PROSTATE form of the man and
choked him until he was insensible.
Hughes was already helpless, but the
brutal officer choked him until his
tongue protruded from his mouth.
Miss Irene Ireland, who lives next
door, also corroborates Mrs. Longs
statement. The fall upon the stone pro-
lection cut cash in Hughes left fore
head and stunned him for the time
being. lie finally recovered his senses
and then he and Constable Brown rolled
over on the pavement, the neighbors
say. Brown began pelting him with his
fist and McKelvcy joined in the fight.
The struggle ended by the constables
carting the injured man off to the police
stat on.
Mrs. Long says she gave Constable
Brown 50 of the rent that very after
noon the fight took place. The con
stables never returned for the goods.
--ughes was arraigned next morning
in the municipal court for resisting
an officer and despite the testimony Of
other witnesses the story of the fresh
county officers outweighed all other
testimony and Hughes was committed
to the county Jail for 60 days.
Mrs. Hughes says that when she saw
her husband at the police station next
morning he complained of his head
hurting him badly from the effects of
the fall he received at the hands of the
constable.
Officer Brown is the county CON
stable, who with Constable Neutze, at
tempted to blackmail the proprietress of
the disorderly house on Shipley street
above Seventh some time ago. The
constables entered the house at first
without u warrant and claimed that
they had warrant for the propretress.
The proprietress claimed, however, that
constables entered the house for the
purpose of extorting money from her.
The affair created sensation at the
time, but never came to trial and was
hushed up.
These two constables also figured CON
spicuously in an episode that occurred
but short time ago, when they dis
charged their firearms recklessly but
were never overhauled.
Evidence more contradictory than that
adduced before the coroner's Jury on Fri
day in the examinaticn of witnesses in the
case of Elijah Il. Hughes, the man who
VI sn a'il' ~ NcM eus.ie Jail on
NJ w 'u'iesuay iios hins' ~ eclupnl hearu.
ny iei' ',1 ~ lne ueve.seu were h9t
X, m,.i eie t sulIot.iiu
assault made upon him by County Con
stables Brown and McKelvey on June
23d, had great deal to do with Hughes
sudden death. 1t was on this account
.tiu ~ orue, 20 sn.lsiy tne pupilc u, large
.iiNe .ploi 1 nl'trhs ueViueu 10 holu an III
quest frluay llsht.
.;s,a ne yo TO- ne physlcian, pr' smith, as,
sisted by l'r. ueorge "A. Stelnieken. held
an autopsy upon the remains on Friday
afternoon, anu detalleu the result OF this
autopsy before the jury Friday night.
When lhe Jury convened 1T the coroner's
olllce at clock, preparatory to viewing
me remains at me morgue, they found a
large crowa OF spectators present, all eager
70 know .iie oulc9lle OF lhe inquest. Inc
law vinit VI. iai,ilIy ~ hughes ana DINERS
had connected the county constables with
hughes ueath spread upon the streets
rapidly, anu produced Il profound sensa-
uon:
AFTER the jury had viewed the remains
OF the deceased ut the molrgue they re-
Turned 10 the coroners ONCE ana began
hearing testimony. The hearing took
place in the upstairs parlor of the coro-
ners house. and but one witness was adj
mitted at time
The first witness called in the case was
Mrs, Rachel Hughes. She said: on June
sd last, the constables came to my house
and stated that they were going TO take
away the furniture, and brought two
wagons for that purpose. NV husband
said the eonstables could not take the
goods unless they took them out in pieces
Then my husband and Constable Brown
got into scuille in the hall saw Mr..
Mr. ~