Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1891-12-16
Dupont Barn Burners.

For Del O4'H VI AhH DOFONA BARNS.
p" Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday anc
Friday were occupied by the State il
case of William J. Gibbons, charged
with burning the new" barn of E.
DUPONT de NemOurs & Co., on Decem.
Der 26, 1889. The most important
witness was Thomas H. Lynch, of the
Wilkinson Detective Agency. He tes-
tilted that on August 81, this year, hi
went into partnership with Edward
Clark in the Columbus Inn, on Ken.
nett turnpike, just outside of the city
limits. He met Gibbons in September
when he made threats against the
DuPOnts. On the End Gibbons and
Edward Clark were talking about the
fires which had occurred Clark said
The next place to go will be Chicken
Alley" small row of houses. YES, >
said Gibbons, "It will go next"
On the night of September II joseph
Clark said:
Frank DUPONT will never put uu
another barn" Gibbons said mo.
never" and Clark added, IF he does,
it will go up like the last"
Gibbons said he would be the first to
light fuse under the house of Head
BOOk-keeper Collision. He was glad
the leaves were dry, as it was good
time to kindle fire.
While in Philadelphia, on October
2lst, Detective Lynch said to Gibbons
that Eugene Burns had confessed to
firing one of the barns. "If Burns told
you that, )" said Gibbons, he broke his
oath" but he refused to say what oath.
The next day they were in Room IS.
Scott Hotel, Philadelphia, when Glib
bOns confessed to Lynch that. one
night, he and another man went tn
burn the 'old" barn, but thew found
that the Waterman was there and thew
got drink at the pump instead.
The State then called Joseph Knox,
who testified that about June IS. while
he Was on watch at the "old" barn
Gibbons and Eugene Burns came IN
the road towards the barn, and when
they saw him they asked him if tbev
could get drink of water. They got
the drink and went away. He heard
Gibbons say on the day of the explos.
ion, October, 7, that the DuPOnts ought
to have been in it.
John Ramsay testified that Gibbons
said: IF Frank Dupont DISCHARGES
me III blow up every mill in Haglev u
Inc defence opened at noon. vii.
liam 5. Hilies, in addressing the iurv.
SAID that the crime was the cravesi
committed in the annals of the Grim
lnal history of the State, and Gibbons
was guilty there was no punishment
too severe for him.
Maggie Gibbons, sister of the Dris.
oner, swOre that he came home At Z
O'Clock and stayed until 6. A few
minutes alter he left an alarm of fire
was gwen. He returned about mid
night and slept until about 5 o'clock
the next night. The witness was pos.
itive as 20 these points, but knew moth
ing OF any Of the other circumstances
at that time.
Philip DOugherty swore that he
met Gibbons going towards the fire lust
about the time the alarm was given.
Other witnesses swore that Glib
bons fought the fire.
The testimony for the defense occu-
pied portion of Thursday morning
session, being principally to the effect
That Gibbons worked to save the prom
erty and prevent greater loss. and that
MS reputation for peace and good order
We're good. The State called witnesses
III rebuttal to his character, and then
produced another witness, who testi-
fed IN rebuttal of the alibi claimed Inv
the defence. The alib was that Glib.
bons lett home but five minutes before
tue fire was seen; that he could not
nave reached the barn before the fire
was started, and that he went a certain
way. James Harty in rebuttal testi.
hed that between three days and two
weeks after the fire Gibbons told him
how be went to the barn after he left
his home. This statement was directly
contrary to the testimony tor the alibi.
The State rested at Ills o'clock Al.
torney General Biggs addressing the
Court as to the strength of circumstan
tlal evidence. Deputy Attorney Gen.
eral Thomas Davis addressed the iury
going over the chain of evidence in
detail
William 5. Hilles, for the defense.
spoke Tor nearly. two hours.
Attorney-General Biggs made the
concluding argument. He spoke an
hour and half. At O'clock the iurv
elected to be charged the next morn.
ing and the court adjourned
Friday morning Associate Judge
Cullen delivered the charge to the
jury.
The jury deliberated for one bour
and forty minutes, but took only one
ballot, the remainder of the time being
taken up in examining the plans which
were IN evidence and in discussing the
testimony. Gibbons paled slightly
when he heard the verdict. William
,. Hllles his counsel, made a motion
Tor new trial and an arrest of iudg-
ment,
ANOTHER CASE TAKEN UP.
Friday afternoons session Edward
Mary and Joseph Clark and William
}. Gibbons were put on trial for con-
spring, upon January 10. 1891. to burn
the barn known as the "old" harm in
Christiana hundred, valued at $4,000
the property of E. l. DUPONT, de Ne.
mours & Co.
Austin Harrington represented the
Clarks, Mr.. Hilles, William Gibbons
end Attorney General John Biggs the
State.
Edward Clark worked for the firm
from 1865 to 1883, with short inter
mission, and occupied one of the farms
of the firm for nine years. He left this
farm on March, 25, 1890, having been
warned Oft for keeping disorderlv
house.
The State has summoned about 25.
and the defense ahORt On ,,,;t,,ooo.,'