Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-29
BLACKBURN HELD FOR MURDER.
The Grand Jury ChargSs Him With
Killing Eddie Gardiner.


He Told Several Stories About His
Ghastly Dream, and The Hour of His
Nap-talsing Gets Mixed Up--There is
little or No Direct Testimony Pre-
sented Against Him.
Tho coroner's jury in the Gardiner
murder case reached a final verdict last
Wednesday, when Walter Blackburn,
the accused brother-in-law, was held to
answer the charge of murder before
higher tribunal. There were six wit
nesses examined at the hearing last
Wednesday only one of them giving any
evidence OF an important nature.
The first witness called 10 the stand
was Katie Corcoran, who gave testi-
nony a. tho hearing on Monday night,
which went to prove the whereabouts
OF TON" Hlncsly on the night OF the
mnrdos. The witness was recalled at
the instance OF Mrs. blackburn. When
asked Why sho did not tell all she knew
last Monday night, she said she thought
she had been summoned then to testify
for Hinesly and did not know that she
would have been allowed to testify
otherwise. She was allowed to make
statement last night, however, which
was to the effect that she saw Black
burn at the fircmen's ball MS near as she
can Judge, about 1920 o'clock. Black
burn was talking to her, she said, and
the time was about 1920 o'clock. The
witnoss' testimony was adduccd to ac-
count for the missing hour.
Miss Hannah Kavanaugh, was at the
ball Wednesday hight, and saw Black
burn about II o'clock, as five dances
had been finished at the time. Black
burn was dressed in a dark cutaway
coat and vest, and derby hat That
was last witness saw of Blackburn.
James Murther, 822 Church street,
knew Walter W. Blackburn, but was
not intimately acquainted with him.
Witness had seen him at the ball
Wednesday night about $50 o'clock and
was talking TO him. Blackburn was
dressed in dark suit and derby hat. Wit
ness said that Blackburn was appar-
emily sober when he saw him.
The next witness was Laurence Nc
Kagney, No. 715 East Fifth street. This
witness, if his testimony is to be believed,
will prove one of tho principal wit
nesses for the State when the murder
case comes to trial before jury. Nc
Kagney's testimony did not differ much
from his statement already made public.
lie testified to the fact of his sitting on
the steps at Lord and Church streets
between the hours of 4.30 and $50
o'clock on Thursday afternoon when
Blackburn approached him and asked
him about the location of the car in
which witness had discovered Edward
Hazel and Eddie Gardiner. Witness told
him, and then Blackburn related the
dream, which he said he had had that
morning. Witness said he knew the
time was about the hour above named,
by hearing the whistles blowing in the
iron works. When asked if he was
positive in asserting that Blackburn had
told him of his dream Thursday after
noon, and that he (Blackburn) had had
the dream that morning, witness said he
was positive of that.
William j. Blackburn's testimony was
to the effect that his brother came to
his house at 2.30 o'clock on Wednesday
afternoon and asked witness to loan
him suit of clothes to go to the ball.
Witness did not loan his brother the
clothes and that was the last he saw of
him.
This concluded the testimony and the
Jury then discussed the advisabllity of
reaching verdict at once or adjourning
as advised by the general until
future time in order that any new
testimony might yet be adduced before
the jury. The majority of the jury
were of the opinion that sufficient evil
dence to hold Blackburn for the crime
had been adduced, consequently the
following verdict was rendered
RESOLVED, That the jury empanelled in the
case of Eddie II. Gardiner, found dead in
express car No. 4l5 ut the foot of Fifth
street on the night of October 18th, 1891,
say that the said Eddie H. Gardiner came
to his death by being choked, and from
having his neck broken, and that after
hearing all lieevidence the Jury feels justi-
fed in holding Walter w. Blackburn for
trial.
There was lack of interest mani
Tested by spectators in the hearing last
Wednesday and the crowds of Monday
night were conspicuous by their absence.
The jury's hearing was private with tho
exception OF Detectives Witsil and
Hatton, who have done good work in
tho murder case, and with the exception
of the members of the press. The jury
adjourned at 1880 o'clock.