Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-21
TERRIBLY SHOCKING CRIME.
Assault Upon and Murder of a Girl-Oh,
the Pity of It'll
tBy telegraph to the Dispatch J


[By telegraph TO the Dispatch.l
WILMINGTON. DEL, October 20.-The dead
body Of a white girl O years old. with long flow
ing hair and black eyes, was found in n lonely
0eld back Of the residence of Lewis Y. Bush, in
the Eleventh Ward, shortly before noon to-day.
An examination of the body revealed that
shocking double crime had been committed du-
ring the night. Not satisfied with having com
mitted brutal assault the perpetrator OF the
infamous crime added murder 20 his work.
Tho throat was cut from ear 10 ear, while the
young girla eyes we're black and blue from beat
ing. She IN de desperate struggle Tor her
honor and was only overcome by the superior
brute force OF her assalant. The crime was evil
dently committed IN the darkness OF last night,
when the girl was pro5a oily waylaid while follow
Ing the foot-path through the neld.
ii was shortly before IL O'Clock to-day when
the crime was revealed. William B. Carswell, a
well-known football player, was returning from
his home at Elsmere and crossed the field In
which the body was found. The dead body lay
near a small poplar tree The girl was prone on
her back, the arms at right angles with the body.
The face WAS much distorted, while the head
was almost severed from the body. A large
razor lying near The body told how the murder
was committed. The weapon was besmeared
with blood and was half open.
There was every evidence OF a desperate
struggle, showing that the young gri fought
with an the strength possible for one Of her age
As soon as the deed was discovered Mr.. Cars
well made his way 10 corn-neld adjoining,
whore Michael Mcmahon and Charles Segars, his
colored man, were at work. Although the body
had lain in the field during the entire morning
and but q short distance from where Mr.. Nc
Mahon and the negro were at work, II had not
been discovered, nor was the crime made known
until revealed by Mr. Carsweil.
THE BODY IDENTIFIED.
The body has been identified as that OF Katie
Dugau aged l6, who lived with her parents at
No. Ilu west Front street. Previous TO the ar
rival of the coroner a large crowd gathered about
tho spot where the corpse OF the young girl lay,
and loud protestatons against the deed and the
assailant were heard all sides. At first II was
thought that the crime was committed oy one OF
the negroes living In the vicinity, particularly
as other girls had been assaulted al TINS
MACE some Etime ago. This belief was, how
ever, quickly dispelled when the crowd heard
the story of the girls father, James DuGan. lie
stated that about o'clock last night ne was en-
tering his house near the scene OF the crime
when a Young man of medium stature emerged
from the shadow Of the house and disappeared
down the avenue. Ii was not long after that
when Katie put on a light evening coat ana
stated that she was going our put would re-
sister, Lizzie, asked permission TO ac-
company her, but this request was re-
fused Tho girl left tho house, and that was the
last seen OF her alive. Mr.. Dugan also stated
that the girl had received letter during the
morpiug, written IN a masculine hand, ana that
she had refused to divulge lis contents even 10
her parents. This letter, IL Is believed, was
written by the murderer, VINO ehsleea ne. 70 .he
spot where the body was iound. The authorities
are securing the country Tor mhcs AROUND, anu
every effort Is being made 10 bring the murderer
20 justice. -,
A post-mortem examination was held tnts al
ternoon when Il was learned that criminal as
sault rad been committed, and that the girl had
frat been knocked down by stone. which rem
dered her unconscious. recovering her senses
she fought fercely for all that was dear 10 ner,
and until the knife Of the murderer siienced her
tt.A Alafh