Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-10-19
iron HILL MURDER MYSTERY
The Body of the Victim Still
Not Identified.
VERDICT OF THE CORONER'S JURY
The Authorities Urged to In
vestigate the Case.
No Doubt That 1t Was a Murder and
That the Bloody Coupling Pin Was the
Weapon Used--An Unsuccessful Hunt
for the Victims Clothing.

NO Doubt That 1t Was Murder and
That the Bloody Coupling Pin Was the
Weapon Used--An Unsuccessful Hunt
for the Victims Clothing.
ELKToN, Mn, Oct. 1.-THE dead body
of an unknown white man, apparently 30
years of age, was found by Edward Quick
sail aud John Krewson, who were walking
through strip of wood on the farm
owned by MIR. Quicksall along the line of
the Philadelphia, Wilmington IL Baltimore
railroad, near Iron Hill, Cecil county. this
afternoon. The body was lying in a clump
of bushes, entirely naked, with a deep
cash over the right eye, exposing the
skull. Coroner Perry Gutenberg of Elkton,
was notified. and in company with DIR.
Howard BrattOn visited the scene. The
news of the tragedy spread rapidly, and
within short time after the discovery
was made large crowd had gathered at
the scene. Coroner Litzenberg impaneled
a jury, with DIR. IL. c. Wells us foreman.
Investigation showed that the man had
been Killed under a cedar tree and after
his clothing had been removed ne was
either carried or dragged to the secluded
spot where he was found. A coupling-pin
was found short distance away covered
with blood. This il is thought, was the
weapon with which the deceased was
killed. After hearing the testimony of
several witnesses the jury adjourned until
tomorrow morning. The body was placed
in the care of Undertaken Vinsinger, who
removed it to Elkton. The deceased is
about feet inches in height, light brown
hair, sandy moustache, and weighs about
100 pounds. On his hand above the thumb
and under the finger was an anchor tat
tooed. lie was crippled in the right foot.
The body has the appearance of being that
of hard working man, and had not been
lying where it was found over two or three
days, as there were very little or no signs
of decomposition. The arms were sun
burned up to the elbows; the rest of the
body was perfectly clean and white.
Warner McNeal, young man who re-
sides a short distance from the scence,
stated to the jury that he saw three we'll
dressed men on Sunday evening, ABOUT
O'Clock, going in that direction. What
could have been the motive for the homi-
eide or for removing the clothing is per-
picking to the authorities. The nearest
point where the coupling pin could have
been secured Is the Philadelphia, Will
mington a. Baltimore railroad, at least 500
feet away from where the man was found.
The case will be thoroughly investigated.
ELKToN, ND, Oct. 12.-The coroner's
jury, Ii. @. Wells, foreman, this after
noon completed their investigation of
the death of the unknown white man
whose naked corpse was found yester-
day in clump of bushes on the farm
of Edward Quicksall, near Iron Hill,
Cecil county. The jury rendered the
verdict THAT the unknown man came
to his death from the effects of wounds
inflicted by some person or persons UNI
known to the jury. The jury recon-
mend that the case be thoroughly in
vestigated By the proper legal authors
ties"
DR.. Howard Bratton, who made the
post mcrtem examination, this morning
stated that there was a fracture of the
skull four inches in length, involving
the frontal, parietal and squamous por-
ticn of the temporal bones, and that
death was probably instantaneous from
the shock or may have followed several
hours after the assault from hemorrhage
on the brain.
States Attorney Austin L. Crothers
visited the scene this morning and, in
company with several others, carefully
searched through the woods in hopes of
finding some of the victims clothing.
In this, however, he was unsuccessful.
The mystery surrounding the identity
OF the man still remains unsolved. 1t is
the opinion of some that he was lying
under the cedar tree sleeping when he
was assaulted, as there is not the least
sign of struggle. A large pool of blood
was found under this tree, which goes
to show that it was here that the assault
took place. After being stripped of his
clothing he was either carried Or dragged
to the secluded spot where the corpse
was found, in hopes that he would never
be discovered. IL is evident that the
crime was committed by some person or
persons not acquainted with the locality,
for only few hundred feet away is a
large trench nearly 80 feet in depth,
where the corpse could have been
thrown and perhaps never found.
Lying short distance from the cedar
tree was an empty whisky flask. Some
persons think that the man, in company
with others, went to this spot to rest for
the night and was killed by his com.
panions and his clothing taken. Others.
think robbery was the motive.
John Denver, employed on the rail
road, who resides at Iron Hill, stated
this morning before the coroner's jury
that he saw man on Sunday morning
going toward Wilmington, carrying
clothes on his arm, and described the
man as being very large and wearing an
overcoat. The body is in charge of
Undertaken Henry Vinsinger, and by
direction of the authorities will be kept
until Saturday afternoon, at which time,
If no one comes to identify the remains,
1t will be buried.
Coroner Perry Litzenberg received
telegram from W. Nelson Hammond of
the Southern Homeopathic College,
Saratoga street, near Charles street,
Baltimore, asking for full description
of the deceased. He was, beyond ques-
| ton, of American birth. The coupling
| pin which was found near the scene is
| in the possession OF The authorities and
shows blood stains upon it. DR.. Bratton
says the fatal blow was struck by II
blunt instrument, and thinks the coup
ling pin was the instrument used. The
| whole affair is shrouded in mystery and
| will, perhaps, never be unIaveled. 1t
is thought that the man had been dead
about 36 hours when discovered by MIR.
| Quicksall and John Krewson.
ELKToN, Nd, Oct. 15.-The case of
the unknown white man whose corpse
was found in clump of bushes on the
farm of Edward Quicksall, near Iron
4 A.. L