Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-03

Ine nine ColOreu men VINO are charged |
With the murder of Dir. James Heighe |
Hill, near Millington Kent county. on |
April 23d last, came to a sudden end at |
O'Clock this afternoon. The counsel for |
the prosecution concluded for the state and |
submitted the case without argument. |
Messrs. James Alfred Pearce land Marion |
DeK. Smith, counsel for the defence, stated |
that they would not put any witnesses on
the stand, They rested their case on the
facts ELECTED by the cross-examination of |
the states witnesses and the statement of |
States Attorney William NJ. Stay under |
oath that within the past two weeks the |
i've boys, Joshua Brainard Louis Benson,
Henry HURT, Frisby Comegys and Charles
Emory, who were indicted on the charge
of having committed the murder, had de-
MED statements and confessions made pre-
viously, and also that the state had failed
to bring out sufficient testimony to impl-
cate John Potts. Smith stated that other
wise he would have put the prisoners on
the stand to testify. Judge Robinson then
announced that the court would consider
Me facts and would render decision at 10
o'clock tomorrow morning. The state
had intended to conduct the prosecution
without having confessions read, but at
she suggestion of the court and by agree
ment of counsel for the defence it was de-
cided to submit confessions in place of ex-
Amining over 40 witnesses.
The states officers tried to show the con
testimony of witnesses who said they saw
him in Millington the night Dr. Hill was
killed and that they saw him looking in
the window of Justice .ohnsons Office
with other colored men when Dir. Hill was
attending the Cleveland meeting. The
prosecution intended to back up this testi-
nony with other evidence that Potts was
in the plot, conceived by himself and
Others, to kill DIR. Hill in revenge for the
Seath of Thomas Campbell col0red, who
met his death in row in Millington last
Christmas Eve. DIR. Hill made the post
mortem examination of Campbell and
gave a certificate that Campbells death
may have been due to heart disease The
testimony, however, was not sufficiently
strong and the states officers abandoned
the project.
BEADING OF CONFESSIONS.
The testimony brought out by the state
on the last day. of the trial was mostly in
the nature of confessions, obtained in
writing by Mr.. Harrison W. Nickers, Of
counsel for the prosecution, and Detective
James Nevins of Philadelphia, from
Brown, Brainard, Comegys, Emory
HURT and Benson while in Jail here and
in Baltimore shortly after the murder was
committed. The confessions charge Brooks
and Williams directly with having done
the killing, and state that others Of the in
dicted coiored men were present, but that
Potts was not on the scene. The confess
sions state that Comegys and Bradshaw
held the doctors horse. The statements
were read by Mr.. VickerS and Detective
Nevins under oath. Statements made by
Brooks and Williams while IN Jail were
also read, giving an account of their
lctions on the night of the murder, but
containing no implication of completely
n the crime.
BRADSHAW on THE STAND.
Perry Bradshaw who turned states eyi.
hence tho ne ,s
curt opened. Later confession made BY
sim soon after the murder to Detective
Sevins was read, and while not in full
accord with his testimony in minor points
1t was in substance the same so far as II
related to the killing of DIR. Hill Brad
shaw said he did not know his age, but ht
worked for MIR. lobe Merritt, near Mas
sey's. ION the night of DIR. Hills muir
der" he continued, Il quit work abou
shutdown and went to Ailington witt
Howard Turner, a white boy. | met 3
horse and wagon on the road, in which
were two colored men. ] recognized then
after went to jail as Henry ltynson and
John Harrison" At Wilmington Bradshaw
said he met Charles Brooks, Fletcher vii
liamss, Moses Brown, Frisby Comegys
HURT, Joshua Brainard, Philip Mandi
Walter Roe and John Potts lie hear,
some OF them talking about killing a MAJ
but did not hear DIR. Hills name men
toned. He heard Williams say, ~ an
gong 70 XII man when get ont of tow
Tonight A crowd was around wheI
Williams made the statement. Bradshu,
thought Williams was talking directly t
Brooks, Comegys, Emory and others VIII
were standing around.
ALLEGED PLoT TO KILL.
Bradshaw said, in reply to question
from Mr.. ViGkers; "Comegys told n
they had made up alplot TO Kill man.
frat hoard Ur ITillu
Just after we got out of town. Bcfoi
leaving town MIR. Howard King can
along with his wife, Williams swore, M
when told by Brainard to hush because
lady was coming, he swore again. Phil
Wanda soon lett us, going off with NJ
John Hurlock in his dog cart. Walter Ro
who was on horseback, left us just out
own. When Manda left Williams .ai
ale was coward, and when Roe left ii
;rowd cursed him. In the crowd whl
we LETT town were Williams, Brook
Brown, Comegys, HURT Benson, Brainal
and Emory. Williams said to Brooks ur
Brown, i am going to kill Dr. Hill
Either Brooks or Williams said Dir. Hi
was coming out Of town that night. VI
were dancing and singing when NJ
the crowd cursed Mr.. Everitt We ne,
topped at the bridge near steve Cooper
house."
MURDERED IN HIS VEHICLE.
Bradshaw continued "Whcn DIR. III
anne along Brooks stopped the hors
Brooks struck the doctor With stone N
Williams cut him, Frisby Cumegys and
held the horse. When the doctor drove /
Brooks and Williams were in the tnidd
of the road, and Moses Brown was ON Ii
side Of the road. ! saw Brooks pick /
something. Williams called to pr. Hill
hold on-he wanted to see him. VIII,
struck the doctor said Don't kill me. ~
fell in the cart. Williams then took no
of him and cut him Brooks, WiliaI
and Moses Brown fixed the doctors boz
in the cart, and Williams started the hor
by slapping him on the flank, at the sal
time calling to Comegys and me to let
of the mare. She went i'll d fast II
toward Massey's. Those who were presc
when the doctor was stopped we're Brood
Williams, Brown, Benson, Comegys EmuI
Hurtt Brainard and myself After /
cart had gone we stopped under the hi
and team containing three white M
passed. They cursed at us and Williai
cursed back. We were talking about
Hill and what had been done to hi
Brooks and Williams told us not to tell
they would do something to us We W,
old to say that Moses Brown and Bens
pad stopped at Mr.. Ford's gate and that
had not seen DR.. HILL"
THE HAT, CUFF AND SHOE.
"After the killing" Bradshaw went {
1--WE went toward steve COOpers hOu
Brooks, Williams Comegys and Emo
went in, and HURT, Brainard and stu
outside, Brown and Benson had left
to go home. Comegys and Emory cal
ouJ ana went to MIR. lIendriCks0E
Then Brooks and Williams came out d
NHn ant, S,s,n i