Evening journal., 1893-12-27
THE Barnard MYSTERY
Murderers of the Aged Negro
May Be Brought to Justice.
BENNETT WAS AN EYEWITNESS

BIackbird, May BE Cleared Up After
-Four Years Have Elapsed.
The cloud of mystery heretofore sur
rounding the murder of Alexander
Barnard. an aged colOred Emiser, near
Blackbird, in the lower part of New
Castle county, may be dispelled after a
lapse of four years. Samuel Bennett, a
white man who lived in the neighborhood
at the time, claims TO have been an eye
witness to the tragedy, aud says that he
will inform on the principals and acces-
sories. While he has, as yet, failed to
name the murderers publicly. It is
understood that Detective McVey has
gone TO Blackblrd and Green SDriug TO
work upon the statements made by B an
nett.
Shortly after the murder, which occur
red on December 20. 1889. several arrests
were made AS no conclusive evidence
could be obtained those arrested on sus-
picion were released.
Had the Right Men.
Bennett asserts that some Of the men
arrested were the murderers, and that he
is in position to inform the authorities
Just VINO dld 10.
IL Was Brutal Crime,
The crime was brutal and unprovoked
and cupidity was at the bottom of it.
The victim was a respectable old colored
man of industrious and saving habits
and of inoffensive character
He lived Ia a hut in a retired spot
between Blsckbird and Green Spring. He
was reputed TO have considerable money
secreted about the house. This doubtless
aroused the cupidity Of III murderers
They visited the hut one day before
Christmas, overpowared the old
man and, by threats and violence
endeavored to compel him C
| tell them where his money was So
| creted. 1t is presumed that he refused
| for, when he was found on the day after
Christmas, he was dead, his head being
crushed in and his throat cut. He car
| ried his money, estimated to be from
| 800 to $500, in leather belt, which h'
wore around his waist Both the bell
and money were missing.
In the Old Log Cabin.
On Monday, December 80. an inques
was held by Coroner Gamble. Thl
coroner's party visited the little old log
/
Hills farm. They found it so low that (
man could scarcely stand upright In it.
The chinks between the logs were
filled with mud and square opening il
the side served for window the nigh
air and intruders being kept out by
tight shutter
Developments at the Inquest.
The inquest developed some important
particulars regarding the crime. 1t ap
pears that Barnard had fire.
quently shown his money belt an'
boasted of the value of its contents HI
was last seen alive the week befor
Christmas. On Christmas morning
passer-by saw the hut door open but 4
was no unusual circumstance aud h
paid no attention to it. Bainard's alb
sence from his familiar haunts causeI
comment as the days went by and con
lectures were rife as to departure from
the settled rules of his life.
The Body Discovered.
On Saturday evening. December 90,
boy employed by Mr., Hill went to tn
hut to see If Barnard was sick. II
found the door shut and besmeared witt
blood He reported the circumstane
and Mr.. HILL George w. Smallwood
Samuel s. Bennett and others went t
the cabin.
There was every evidence Of a desper
ate struggle. The room was in disorde
and the body was face downward on tn
floor Near it was bloody stick Tn
head. nose, hands and feet of the victir
had been gnawe ed by rats and the fes
stripped from the bones The floor wa
covered with blood, which had flow
from a wound in the throat. Thi
wound had a downward tendency an
the weapon had penetrated the heart
Only 500 was found on the body, It bein
sewed on the inside Of the drawers. Th
disarranged condition Of the clothin
showed that the belt had been torn froI
his waist
; The Jury rendered verdict ths
Barnard was murdered by some perso
, or persons unknown.
Arrested on Suspicion.
On. January Detective Harvey I
Vandegrift arrested George +. Smith,
3 resident of Kent county, Md and ovel
! seerer for Mr. Hill. He was arraigned b
! fore Magistrate Deakyne, Of Blackbird
and COMMITTED to New Castle Jail o
q suspicion of being implicated ia tn
murder. The man who swore out IL
warrant was Samuel B Voshel
Smith proclaimed his innocen,
7. and said he could establishe
U It, He proved that he WI
II in West Chester at the time of the con
8 mission Of the crime, and was releases
u Several colored men were arrested bV
}; were equally fortunate.
" Governor Biggs offered a reward
o $500 for information leading to the ARE
and conviction Of the murderers but
uvao uavar clafmad