Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-04

look atter the interests OF Professor
Shortlidge.
District Attorney William !. Schaeffer
OF Chester, who was only sworn in
Monday morning, conducted the ex-
animation. There were present at the
inquest Mayor Shortlidge of Whining
ton, j. d. Walker of Delaney School,
Philadelphia; Professor Joseph Short
lidge, ex-Collector of the Port Thomas
V. Cooper, Benjamin b. Potts, and
other leading citizens of Media. The
hearing was private, and the business
was transacted with an intelligence and
despatch unusual in such cases.
Edgar Osborn, 16-years-old boy,
testified to hearing the pistol shots,
while George q. Redmond found the re-
volver with which the shooting was
done.
George Dutton said that he had met
Professor Shortlidge and his wife at
the corner Of Radnor and Jefferson
streets. The professor looked pale and
did not answer his salute. He then
described the scene after the shooting,
which occurred when he was block
away.
When Isaac N. Founders arrived on
the scene Professor Shortlidge was ex.
claiming: "My God, bring back my
Marie"
Chief of Police James McKniff of Media
testified that he raised Professor Short.
lidge to a sitting posture. The latter
looked at him and said "Did do this?
Why did | do it? Marie, come back to
me-" He continued on in disconnected
way, until led away by Chef of Police
McKnilf and taken to Borough Hall.
He was afterwards transferred TO the
care of Warden Rowland at the Jail.
Mrs. Mary Amanda Dixon Jones of
New York, mother of the deceased,
testified that her daughter came to
breakfast in the dining-room at 7.30
During breakfast she directed the waiter
to take the professors breakfast to him
in his library. She remarked that her
husband seemed better and that she
proposed to induce him to take walk
with her.
After breakfast her daughter poured
out glass of milk and took it up to her
husband. Mrs. Jones, after breakfast,
went to the parlor and later to the
library to see her daughter. Mr.. Short
lidge and his wife were sitting at table,
the professor eating his breakfast. When
Mrs. Jones opened the door her daughter
asked her not to come in as the professor
was not well.
AT 10 o'clock Mrs. Shortlidge came to
the parlor and said that she and her hus-
band were going for a walk. A few
moments later they left the house. Mrs.
Jones testified that she entertained no
fears for her daughters safety and did
not, as reported, tell her daughter not to
| go. She did not hear the news of the
tragedy until IL o'clock.
Asked if the professor and his wife
| quarreled that morning, Mrs. Jones
said: II never saw anything between
them but love and the most devoted af-
fection. He was very devoted to her
and she to him."
Mrs. jones continued: "He was
prostrated and at times hysterical, but
| never heard any one say thatit was un-
safe to leave him alone. do not know
any reason for the commission of the
act. never saw any act on his part to
make me think that he was mentally ill
save that he told his wife that he wanted
to go to the Norristown asylum.
DIR. d. t. Laine Of Media, who came
| into prominence some time ago, by rea-
son of expert medical skill rendered
Colonel A. X. Mcclure, who is recover.
ing from his critical illness, was called
and testified that he was Professor
Shortlidge's family physician. DR.. Laine
said that Professor Shortlidge suf-
fered frightfully from the grip and the
terrible illness had unbalanced his mind.
He said Professor Shortlidge was first
taken critically i'll December 18th. The
patient was seriously prostrated with
insomnia. He was hysterical and given
to weeping spells. He went five and six
days at time without sleeping. DIR.
Laine warned Mrs. Shortlidge not to
leave him alone, and advised that he
have day and night attendant.
"I feared that he might commit some
act of violence to himself" he con
tinued. ~ prescribed bromides and
morphia, but they did not relieve his
insomnia. On Thursday, December
22d, in spite of objections, he went to
Philadelphia alone. The peculiar, rest
less look in his eyes at times suggested
that he might go insane"
DIR. Laine saw the professor at the
jail, Monday, and said that he talked
wildly and disiointedly. His conversa-
ton was that OF an insane man.
At the close of DR.. Laine's testimony
the jury retired, and after 20 minutes
deliberation brought in the following
verdict:
I'VE find the deceased came to her
death from pistol sho 5 fired by her hus-
band, and from the evidence we believe
he was insane at the time of tho COM
mission of the act"