The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-10-20
Fourth edition
THE GARDNER INQUEST.

tody-Blackburn's Vision Vanishing-
Belle Scott Fills in the Hour that
Nobody Else Could Account For on
that Fatal Wednesday Night-She
Sees Man Like Blackburn with n
Little Boy in His Arms.
The curious Inquest in the case of
the mysterious death of Eddie Gard
ner met last night ut the coroner's
Office at 7 o'clock. In anticipation OF
large crowd present, the coroner
gave up his oilice entirely for The ac-
commodatlon of the large number OF
Witnesses present and appropriated
his carpeted dinlng-room for the use
OF the jury.
By these means only one witness
was admitted at time, and no one
witness knew what the other said. A
large crowd Of spectators gathered,
hut not gaining occess to the room
where the inquest was held, could gain
no satisfaction. Patrick Gardner, his
wife and three sons were tho first to
arrive. They were followed closely
by Mary Blackburn, daughter OF the
Gardeners and wife of the accused.
Then came Thomas Hfnesley hobbling
in on crutches, and his aged wife with
sun bonnet on her head, to show
that their son, though drunken and
worthless was not guilty OF this hor-
rible crime
The parents Of Blackburn and his
sister, very respectable looking people
came in and took seats. Three yonng
ladies' Of the Dugan family, next to
Gardner'B residence were present and
seemed to have plenty of fun out of
the affair. There was q tlutter OF ex-
element as Belle Scott entered and
took her seat. All eyes were fixed
upon her as the main witness against
Walter Blackburn. She was met with
smiles from the Gardner side of the
case and with frowns from the Black.
burn side. A number of young men
who were with Waiter Black burn Mt
various hours on Wednesday night, &C.
oupieu tho store space outside OF the
Office screen.
At precisely7 o'clock, Mr.. William
III. Robinson, the last OF the jurors,
stepped in and the trial commenced
Patrick Gardner, the father OF the
murdered boy and father-in-law Of
Walter j. Blackburn, was the first
Witness Called. He was still filled
with grief at the murder OF his boy
and frequently burst into tears az he
gave his evidence
lie spoke of his distress on Wednes-
day night when Eddie failed to come
home; how he went to work on Thurs
day morning at The Harlan h Holllngs-
worth works; how at noon when his
dinner was brought to him and hs was
told that Eddie had not been found he
went home and saw Blackburn at u
lamp post, corner of Fifth and Church
streets, and neither spoke as he passed ;
how he found the door locked by his
| daughter, who would not say why she
| locked II; how, when ne got in, ho told
his wife that he did not believe she
would ever see Eddie alive again; how
he went to Forty Acres and all around
to hunt Eddie, and when he returned
home at O'Clock he sent Michael, one
OF his sons. to search while he took a
nap.
Patrick Gardner then told how that,
when he awoke, he was told that Eddie
had been found and going down on
the street he saw Michael, his son; car.
/ rying Eddie to tho house, how that he
then went up stairs in his grief; show
! that Blackburn followed him up stairs
and catching him by the shoulders,
and wanted to know IL he accused him
of the murder how TINT he said to
him "Blackey your breath smells too
bad for me-" how that Blackburn fol-
| lowed him around. wanting to know
II he thought he killed Eddie, when he
| OiardnerJ never had accused him of it,
and how that Blackburn said he saw
| lin Hinesley take Eddie down Lord
street the day before, between 2 and
o'clock.
The witness then told how h asked
Gardner why he didn't tell that yester,
day and save all this anxiety. and save
us from hunting ever where Tor him,
| hut he could not answer. Then the
witness went on to tell OF the family
troubles. how that Blackburn had mar
rled lls daughter; how that he kept
the daughter until they could go u
housekeeping; how he got furniture
at last and went to house keeping OF
Madison street; how that he soon got
to drinking, got behind in the rsnt
sold all the furniture Tor $40 and then
came home to him,
lie told how that Blackburn fire.
quently Threatened the lives OF hi,
vile and enid; how that he told Black
burn he could not keep him; how tina
they took his best quilts and mad,
him bed in the cellar; and how tina
when he found IL Out, he thrnatenet
to have him arrested, but his wifi
warned himandIhn remained away, bui
said he would get even with them 70
that.
Mrs. Annie Gardner, mother OF the
murdered boy was admitted and sworI
and as she kissed The bible she left the
Imprint Of tears upon the lids.
Amid her Sobs she told how that oil
Tuesday she told Blackburn he hat
better stay away, and how that sh
= gave him live cents Eddie shc sail
disappeared on Wednesday. She hunt
cd all over the town for him and shl
could not sleep at night, and at A.
O'Clock on Thursday morning she wen
to Blackburn's home and rang tho bell
Black burn came to the door, and wh8l
, lie saw her no trcmbled all over. Whel
she asked what was tho matter Ii, sal
1t WAS cold, but 1t was warm. She ask
eel him II he had seen Eddie and Ii
said no, but he would go and hunt fol
him.
she told of her extreme anxiety dun
! ing the day aud sitid that alter her bo,
WIS brought home dead her daughte
told her of blacKbNrn's dream. Sh
said she did not want to tell her soone
t As II might frighten her. She did no
think Blackburn had anything agains
= the boy. but he had spite against hel
, When the boy was brought home leat
. accused. 'Biackey" of killing him, bu
then became insensible and do no
> know what was said up stairs.
. Mary Blackburn, wife of Waite
Blackburn, testified like this: 30
Wednesday morning my husband sen
word asking for hyecents. My molhe
sent him five cents. Later | met hiI
at the corner. My mother came VI
2 and told him not to come around tn
house until he was ready to treat m
right gave Eliie hlsdinner at IL. j
O'Clock, and that was the last | saw 0
- him. | met my husband at Seventh