Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-02
4 VERY MYSTERIOUS DEATH.
Frank N. Happersett Found Dead at
Llsnwellyu--Tne Remains Plundered by
Thieves.

Frank N. Happersctt Found Dead at
Llsnwellyu--TneR emains Plundered by
Thieves.
The finding of the dead body of
Frank N. Happersett, at Llanwellyn
station on the Baltimore q Ohio railroad
Thursday morning, is puzzling the
authorities of Delaware county, and
there is much mystery about the young
mans death. Happersett was 81 years
old and was railroad constructor en-
ployed by the American Il European
Construction Company of Scranton.
lie was on the eve of lis departure for
Italy to construct a short railroad line.
Wednesday evening at few minutes
before O'clock Happersett called at the
drug store situate at Twenty.first and
Locust streets, Philadelphia, to see Harry
Bryson, friend. He told Bryson he
had struck gold mine and asked II his
friend did not want some money. He
said he had just drawn $240 from bank.
Happersett left the drug store and
boarded the 6.55 train on the Is. u o.
railroad for Holmes, the first station be-
| low Llanwellyn, where he spent the
| evening with Miss Eva Bye, who says
| the young man told her he had drawn
over $500 from the philadelphia Saw
ings Fund in anticipation of his trip to
Italy.
Happersett missed the accommoda-
| ton train for Philadelphia anu started
to walk to Darby where he contem-
plated taking a traction car for his
home. The superstition is he was walk
ing on the west-bound track and seeing
the headlight of the accommodation
approaching stepped aside toward the
east bound track, was caught by the
engine of the Royal Blue express and
mangled to death beneath the iron
wheels.
There is one theory that the man was
murdered, as he had told Miss Bye that
two strange men had followed him as
far as the railroad station after he drew
the money from bank. The fact thai
the young man usually wore diamond
scarf-pin and seal ring, which were
missing from the body, together with 6
large sum of money, strengthens the
murder theory, but il is argued that the
body was robbed by tramps after death
A mark was still visible on one of Hap
persett's fingers, made by the ring, which
over to the care Of Coroner Quinby o
Media.
Young Happersett was son of Isaa,
G. Happersett, one of the oldest con
ductors on the Royal Blue Line, ant
lived at No. 1908 Barring street, Phila
delphia. The elder Happersett for
merly lived at No. 1926 Chestnut street
in this city, and was many years ago
: conductor on the Wilmington 81 North
ern railroad. He was well known il
! this city.
, Coroner Quinby of Media, on Friday
, held an inquest upon the remains of Fran
j Happersett at the residence of Colonel
! Lewis Good, at Llanwellyn, Delawar
county. Owing to the fact that evidenC
was adduced pointing to the belief this
young Happersett was followed by tw
strange men Wednesday night who ma
- have murdered the boy for the sum {
$500 which he had on his person, the jur
Il did not render u verdict. They adjourne
n to hunt the men who 1t is supposed ma
know something about the young man
!, death. The men were seen hangin
# around Holmes station the night OF tn
4 young mans DEATH
According to the testimony of Firema
! Clisbian of the express which was SUI
!, posed to have struck Happersett, the lattt
q was evidently placed on the railroad trac
n and his body mangled frightfully whe
Il the train passed over it. The engineer fe
no jar, and says he saw papers flying frol
n the track, but thought the train had struC
= a newspaper. The young mans death
Il enshruuded in mystery. ~.