Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-27


parently good, consisted of a gauze shirt
and linen drawers. He wore white
shirt, white cuffs and collar and gold
cuff-buttons, bearing no name of any |
kind. His hat, which was stiff straw |
one Of good quality, contained no name,
but the lining, which may have con-
tanned name, was partially cut out as |
II by knife. Some think that deceased |
took the precaution to cut this lining |
out, which might have contained his |
name, in order that no clue to his iden-
tity might be left behind. The trousers
OF the deceased were taken to the Bos-
ton Clothing House Friday morning, to
ascertain whether OF not the figures of
measurement found in pocket could
be recognized by the tailor who sold
them. The measurement of the waist
was found to be 80 inches, and the in
side measurement 32t inches.
When the name ~. B. Williams" was
found upon the key ring on the mans
person, search was made to learn
whether or not there was such man
living in this city. An examination of
| the directory soon revealed the fact that
the only Williams bearing these initials
was James b. Williams, machinist,
l
employed at the Pussy & Jones Com
| pany's works. A visit to the home OF
Mr.. Williams, at No. 212 Walnut street,
revealed the fact that this man had gone
to work as usual Friday morning, and
could not possibly be the deceased.
Among the first officers to arrive at
the scene of the tragedy on Friday
were Sergeant Chambers, Captain
Francis and Officer Scott and later
Detectives McVey and Witsil and James
l.. Hawkins. The officers and detectives
made a thorough search for the pistol
which they believed was lying at the
bottom of the ditch, but their hunt
awaited nothing and the pistol cannot be
found.
Coroner Sparks secured the services of
negro from the coast shortly before
noon, and took him out to search
the ditch for the weapon. The negro
searched the ditch thoroughly with his
hands, but could not find the missing
weapon. He got so cents for his work
and departed.
A jury was Friday evening empaneled
by Coroner Sparks to investigate the
death of j. b. Williams, the young man
found dead on the causeway about n
mile from this city at daybreak on Fri.
, day morning.
The first witness called in the case
| was Dir. Joseph r. Smith, coroner's ply
r stefan, who held post mortem upon
0 the body assisted by DIR. John G. Fahey
4 Friday afternoon.
. DR. Smith stated that the ball had
: penetrated two inches to the left of the
/ sternum, passing directly through the
: heart and lung II passed between the
4 fifth and sixth ribs and passed
5 on to the tenth rib burying itself jus
inside the spine, Death ensued in
r spontaneously, he said DIR. Smith also
e stated that if the wound was self-in
y flicted the man was left-handed, as h,
0 could not have shot himself in the man
: ner he was shot with his right hand
n would also have been difficult for hin
+ to shoot himself with his left hand al
o though sucn thing could have hap
J. pened.
!, William White, a milkman, said h,
n passed by the man about 4.40 o'clock
o and seeing him lying on the road he die
L not disturb him and did not get out o
e his wagon. The man was laying on hi
left side, his head toward Wilmington
and his feet in the opposite direction
n Mr.. White noticed nothing irregua
l, about the man and drove on into viii
e mington, unloaded his milk and wen
u back. He then got out Of his wagol
d and examined the body and found tn
+ hands cold, and at once said the mai
y was dead. There were several peopl
2 about the body by this time After dis
re covering the body and learning that tn
l. coroner had been notified, Mr. Whit
y then drove off.
James Gregg, a farmer living on on
- Of the New Castle commons farms, sal
re he left home about $40 o'clock on Fri
y day morning with heavy load of true
=. and reached the spot where the ma
Y was lying about 430 o'clock. lie wa
y positive the mans head was towar
y New Castle and his feet in the opposit
- direction, and that he was lying on hi
" right side with his face to the east G
~ y toward the ditch. His hand was lyin
u carelessly on his side and his straw hi
y was drawn partially over his face, as
~ to conceal his identity.
ho Mr.. Gregg said he hallooed at Ii
by man, but he did not answer and b
Or thought he was either asleep or intox
IA Gated. He also met man that morI
~
y where the mans body was lying. II
a. met the man just around the turn q
,et the State road. The man was walkir
Nv on the foot path, and when Mr. Greg
M M came up the stranger walked straigl
AZ toward the wagon without ute
m ing a word. He had gotten close u
ii to the wagon shaft when he hemm,
/, and hawed us II not being able to 50
H. what he wanted to, but finally askt
% Mr., Gregg:
nj as this the road 10 New Castle
al "You can go that way TO New Castle
Nil Mr.. Gregg said, but the other rot
he will be the best for you"
In Without saying another word h
he man jumped a fence and cut across Il
elf field 10 the other road Mr.. Gregg d
IN. not like his appearance and felt reliev
'hn when he had gone. He was apparent
HI a young man, had moustache, She
If beard and wore soft felt hat. N
All Mr.. Gregg was frightened when t
he man first came toward him and thong
Hi he was going TO get into the wagon
IA was Just light enough for Mr. Gregg
ron get good look at him and recogni
.hn him should he ever be brought face
ms face with him again.
in. Henry Lee, colored, who lives at \
2o4 Walnut street, left home at o'clot
was that morning, and started out the eau
ad, way with Elijah Fuchus, James JAG
ere son, George Showl and another color
v man for the farm of William Viii
yay 10 go threshng. When the party cal
red upon the body they bent over it a
div saw that the man was dead. He "
IS a lying on his left side with his he
sed towards this city his feet in the oppos
1t 4 ~. II.