The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-10-17
EDITION,


coroner's Jury Hunting Clues-But
do not Find Any-The Jury to Far
fher Investigate
The REPUBLICAN presented such q
full report and as accurate as could be
got of the Eddie Gardner murder case
yesterday that but little new In regard
to the case Is left for to-day. The
mystery surrounding the case seems
tmpenetrable. The post-mortem ex-
animation seems to disprove the tramp
theory advanced by this paper yester-
day, and yet tramps may as readily
have cloked this boy to death and have
broken his neck as anybody else.
One thing Is certain, the tramp,
Edward Hazel, who outraged the same
boy eighteen months ago in
box car nearly at the same spot Is
loose in the city now after serving his
term In jail for the assault. No mo-
tive whttcver appears which should
incite Blackburn to do the deed, and
il is not believed that he is in any way
connected with the affair
The Coroners jury which sat In the
case last night was composed OF Will
linn IL. Quinn, foreman; w. ii. Walk
er, secretary; John Crawford, William
II, Robinson, j. L. Walker j. i, Dun
bar, 5. s. Winchester and Taylor Wick.
! ersham. The jury were all sworn over
the dead body of the boy yesterday
forenoon, and ut O'Clock last even
ing met In the Municipal Court room
and heard the evidence. The Court
room was crowded with spectators in
spired 10y morbid curiosity to henr
the evidence. Only ono witness was
permitted in the room ut one time.
Patrick Gardner and his wife Annie
We're 50 Frustrated with grief that
but will testify at the next session OF
the jury.
Police Captain John Q. Kersey was
the first witness put upon the stand.
He stated how that he had lcen noLt-
He'd OF the affair a few minutes before
po'clock Thursday evening; how that
he went to the Gardner residence, and
having bceu told OF the singular
dream OF Blackburn la arrested him
nnd Harry Seaman and had them sent
10 the police station and lockedup,
After that he examined the Adams
Express car No. Ais, IN which the body
was found, hut saw no signs of u
struggle in the car, but found spot
where there was clotted blood, which
0Ozed from the boys mouth. He knew
nothing of the relations existing he
tween BlaCkb burn AMI the boy.
James L. Kennedy, No SOB East
Sixth street, small lad, playmate oil
the Gardner boy, testified that he saw
q boy who looked like Eddie Gardner
at Second and jackson streets, OF
"Wednesday afternoon; saw him agaiI
ut Twelfth and Market streets abuut
$50 O'Clock in the afternoon and talkeu
with him, and ut $50 O'Clock at nighl
he thought he saw him go into the Re
hanee House, but was not posltiv,
n was Gardner. They were following
Ale parade.
Michael Gardner, aged ii, bi other
fhe deceased, said the last he saw o
his brother was about o'clock wheI
lie ran up Fifth street alone. and die
not return and that was the last tim,
he saw him. He knew nothing Of Ed
dies death until told by Walter j
Blackburn. When asked where Eddi,
was Blackburn replied. ask Harry
Seaman Went with Blackburn an,
Seaman to the ear and saw the 10 ly OF
Eddie. They took the body home
when his mother declared that Black
burn killed Eddie, anu she keeps on
saving so.
Michael said he heard OF Blnckhurn'i
dTeaIn, The Gardner family used tl
I've on Madison street, and HlAckburn
is brother-in-law, but does not liv,
with his wife. Young Gardner became
somewhat confused and when astet
n the ear Was shut, he said "one sid,
was" and then he burst into such
spell OF crying that he was allowed tt
step down
Dr. Joseph r. Smith, coroner's ply
sieian, told how he had held an au
tOpsy, and found that the boys necl
was broken which was tile cause OF hi
death There were also the marks q
mans fingers on his throat and on
OF his eyes was discolored.
When found lie may have been ca
B6 hours, and not less than IL.
Thomas Hinesley, who lives neN
door to the Gartners, and father /,
one OF the prisoners, said he saw Ed
die Gardner ON Wednesday molnlnl
for the last time. His son came HON
between and 8 O'Clock that evening
and remained at home all night. l
response to question from foreman
Quinn. Hinesley said he was sittinl
on derrick near the railroad at til
foot OF Fifth street from $50 to SIS
O'Clock Thursday afternoon when Ii
saw Blackburn and companion pas
from the saloon at tho corner of FIT
and Church streets across the lailrua
track behind the cars. They mad
this trip twice, The witness had n,
idea what they went there for, bu
when he heard OF murder he suspect
ed that Blackburn and his companiu
knew all about 1t. Blackburn had
quarrel with his wife last spring an
Threatened her life, throwing II hatchC
at her Witness had heard no qua
refs recently.
Edward Redding said he saw Blacl
bnrn at Lord and Church streets, o
"Wednesday evening between and
o'clock. On Thursday morning Blacl
burn told him Eddie Gardner wa
missing and he wanted to find hin
blackburn left about II so on Thur
day morning.
told how that Blackburn came to h
house about O'Clock ON Thursda
night and got railroad lamp and Oh
he would bring il back in an hour, bl
the lamp has not been returned
Martin Gardner. another brother
the deceased, aged II, told how
hunted for his brother on Wednesda
night without finding him. BlackbuI
came To the house and talked with Ii
vile, then went away and came bac
Then he heard Of the murder, mud VIII,
Eddie's body was brought h ,me h
mother accused Blackburn OF the mu
der, but Blackburn said he was Il
best friend Eddie had
John Cook, Seventh and Chur
streets, told how Blackburn had to
him Of the dream he had
John Fuhr said Hinssley came to 1
house drunk at O. 5 Wednesday nigh
and few minutes before O'Clock,
took him home.
Harry Seaman. one of the accused, /
ing put upon the witness stand sa
he was standing at Cooks store. Sc