Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-10-27
THE SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY


he can be found.
Iiesides Chief of Police Francis, and the
city detectives, who have been indefatgt
bly, at work on the case, State Detectives
McVey and Witsil are bending every
energy to bring the assassin to Justice.
| They are working under the direction of
| Deputy Encouragement Branch IL. Giles,
| who has taken hold of the case. but who
is unable to diyulge any information in
connection with his work at this time.
Richard Riley, who was arrested by the
city detectives and Chief Francis Thurs
day night on suspicion OF being the muir.
dcrer, was released Friday. There was
absolutely no evidence to convict him
| with the crime, further than that he was a
former admirer Of the deceased.
The burial Of the dead girl took place
from the home Of her parents, No. iii
| West Front street, on Saturday Long
before hour for the funeral arrived the
house was thronged with relatives and
| friends of the bereaved family who did
everything in their power to console the
| grief-stricken parents.
The mother was almost heart broken
She moaned pteously over the murder Of
her daughter and her lamentations could
be heard throughout the house. She would
not be comforted The deceased's younger
sister Lizzie, tainted during the morning
and bad 10 be carried to the cab in waiting
to proceed to the church.
| .. ~ crown u stNtTul DUnuTtIl ptbpit sIbuu
| about the pavement and silently gazei at
the darkened home. The body lay in u
neatly furnished room in the second story
Of the dwelling. The blinds of the windows
were closely drawn aud all without bore
evidence of death. Immediately over the
head of the collin hung a picture of the
dead girl taken not many months ago.
Her countenanCe wore Il pleasant smile;
her Jet black hair was long and wayy,
From the home Of the deceased the cor
tege moved to st. Paul's Church, where
the obsequies were held. The church was
crowded to the doors by the girls sorrow
ing friends and acquaintance. As the
coffin was borne into the sacred ediiicc the
"Miserere' was sung by the choir. The
coffin WAS then placed on the catatalque at
the front Of the church.
The services were conducted by the Rev.
Father fallon, pastor of the church. They
We're solemn and impressive. There was
the ltsuai requiem mass, but no sermon.
During the services the scene i'll the
church was a pathetic one as many of the
congregation were moved to tears
From st. Pauls the funeral procession
moved to st. Iuseph's cemetery at Henry
Clay, where interment was made.
1t is estimated that fully 5000 people
visited the scene of Katie Dtlgan's murder,
in the field stretching back of the resi-
denCc of Lewis L. Flush, on Clayton street,
during Sunday. A constant stream Of
mprbidly curious persons began flowing TO
the place in the early morning, and not
until darkness came on did it cease to How.
The small persimmon tree which stands
but a few feet from the grnesome spot was
almost stripped Of its twigS and branches
by relic iicndS, who secured these reminders
. of the dark tragedy. If this tree could
talk il would in all probability a tale I'M
fold that would spread CONSERVATION
among the relatives of the dead girl and
reveal the murderer in his true light.
People stood in groups and discussed the
! murder, every one having q new theory Us
/ to the identity of the scoundre who per.
: petrated the decd and his possible motive
g for the iicndish crime There We're many
: in the crowd who had known the dead
girl i'll her life time and some had been
r her former sutors.
: 1t was even rumored that the crime was
enacted bya jealous rival, who repulsed by
| the girl, had thus avenged himself by
+, numbering her. Little credence was given
to this rumur, however, and it was looked
: upon rs unworthy of belief. Then there
were some who believed that the murder
+ had been committed elsewhere in the hea
a of passion, and the body carried to the SpO
where il was discovered Thursday morning
e The authorities scout such theory, how
/, ever, and consider it as groundless ms the
y first. For il the girls throat had been eli
y while she had been standing up the bloot
. would have spurtcd over her garments
= and besides, were she carried such dis
lance her clothing would have been satu
a rated with blood,
g When the body was found the garments
n were free from blood, while the ground be
= meath the head and shoulders was stainet
: with pool Of the crimson iluid. Tn
q blood had penetrated the ground to
n depth of six inches by actual measure
ment. AS the head was inclined Slight,
n to the left when the body WAS found, it i
W believed the murderer began by SEVERN;
y, the left iuglar, after first rendering her un
i conscious; then turning the head to tn
!, left he severed the right iuglar vein. II
then finished his tiendish work by almns
N severing the head from the body. III
girl was then left in such . condition as t
= advance the theory OF the dual crime o
/ outrage and murder, or the belief that sh
"a had committed suicide.
The razor handle, when the dead
weapon was found, was covered with blood
and il is believed that the razor and it
case were so placed as to lead to the belle
that q negro had committed the bruta
!. crime.
The belief that married man is til
perpetrator OF The crime is strengthene
more every day, as il is argued singl
< man would hardly have been induced t
N commit the murder, but on the other han
lie would prevent exposure on the part of til
# girl by flight.
IS At 7.30 Sunday night further cor
As ference was held at the city hall. Their
b. were present the mayor, Deputy Attorney
, general Giles, state Detectives AlcNey an
es Nyitsil, Chief of Police Francis and ID
lie tective Hawkins. As result Of this cor
ference Municipal Court Clerk Adams wa
C. called III and Il warrant issued in hlan
II, for the suspected assailants arrest.
I'd The officers then Went to Il house in Tn
western part of the city and it is allege
ne searched the place. 1t Was also learne
~ that the house had been kept Under polio
a, surveillance all day No arrests were mad
" however.
Monday morning three girls were foun
It. who claim TO have heard IL woman
" screams as they we're returning. to the
10 home late Wednesday night. These cir
Il. are Agnes and Louisa Balrenbuch nm
ed Annie Ruwhout, living at No. 2O2 Eight
II, avenue. They declare they were returnin
\, home from tine fair at Sacred Hea
Is, Church, Wednesday night, shortly aft:
w II O'Clock when they heard Il nun
r. Der of screams coming from over til
IL hill in the direction Of Clayton stree
Id They were at the corner of Marylan
lp avenue and Harrison street ut the tim
n and declare that the strange sounds were
II. great distance OF. Ernest HindcrGr, VII
ii was passing at the time, also claims
cd have heard the strange cries.
The inquest upon the case uf murdert
"a Katie Dugan was begun on Monday b
us Coroner Sparks and Jury of nine ner
Oh There was nothing new developed ut Ill
lie inquest, and the time was consumed
ar hearing the evidence Of the persons wi
". first found the body, and Of the dnato
lie, who made the post-mortem examination
~: when the first witnesses were III
Fl. Charles L, Baird and Albert H. Ilarri
m f;pth visited the scene of the murder i