Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-20
MYSTERY OF LEES DEATH
Investing a Singular Case in
Cecil County.
WAS SHOT AT BY MISS JACKSON
But Death Was Due to In-
jurieS of Another Kind.


ELKToN, Nd, Dec. 14.-On Thurs
day morning between / and 2 o'clock
Miss Clara jackson, aged II years, shot
at a negro man who was prowling about
the premises, where she and her mother,
Mrs. ]. Miller Jackson, were by them
selves. The house where they live is
near Theodore, in Cecil county, q few,
miles north of Bay View. Mother and
daughter were aroused from their sleep
by the barking of the dog. All the male
members of the family were at Perry
vile, where they are employed.
Through the windows of the house
the ladies saw in the moonlight negro
man, who made q complete circuit Of
the premises, closely inspecting the
house.
They became alarmed at his actions
and the young lady secured shotgun
for protection. They called to the man
and demanded to know what he was
doing there. Receiving no answer, the
pose Of soaring the intruder, but it did
not have the desired effect. Instead of
leaving the intruder approached the
house, making directly for the window
at which the ladies were and gazed
directly at them. This was distance of
about 90 yards. The ladies became
greatly frightened at the mans boldness.
After while he retreated some distance
toward the barn, when Miss jackson,
thinking he was bent upon some evil
purpose, fired right at him, discharging
| both barrels. At the first shot the man
started to run, and, when at a, a,distance
of about 80 yards, was seen to fall. The
| ladies were, of course, terrified at what
nad happened and did not go out to
make any further examination. At
| daybreak the man was found lying dead
| near tree, where he had fallen.
| The neighbors were summoned, but
they could not recognize him. 1t is
thought he was George Lees, an aged
colored man, who wandered from his
home, near Union Church, on Tuesday
last, and of whom nothing has been
heard.
The county authorities investigated
the case. No wounds were found on
the body. 1t is supposed the man died
of fright.
ELKToN, Nd, Dec. 16.-The identity
of the aged colored man who was found
dead on the premises of Thomas Miller
jackson, near Theodore, in Cecil county,
on Thursday morning last, has been
fully established. He proved to be
George Lee, and was N years of age
and demente6. He was shot at four
times by Miss Clara jackson, the 49,
years-old daughter of Mr.. Thomas Miller
jackson, supposing him to be burglar.
He wandered away from his home on
Tuesday. On Wednesday morning he
appeared at the farmhouse of Kennard
Simpers, near Bay View, where he was
given his breakfast. He was seen within
a few yards of his home that evening
and again at midnight near the place
where he was found dead. He was near
the barn, and the fence against which he
was standing when fired upon by Miss
Jackson was literally filled with shot.
Notwithstanding this there was no
evidence of q gunshot wound on his
person, DIR. Brown, who made the
post-mortem examination at the in
quest, found that his right arm had
been badly cut with some sharp instru-
ment, and that his skull was almost
fractured by some blunt instrument.
On account of his age this head wound
would have caused his death.
While at Farmer Simpers' his arm
was dressed. Lee lived with his aged
sister, who, while acknowledging to
having inflicted the cash on his arm,
denies any knowledge of the wound on
the head, and it was shown that he was
not hurt on the head when his arm was
dressed by Mr.. Shippers. From the po-
sition of the wound ON his head itcould
not have been inflicted by fall, and it
must have been made by some weapon
in the hands of some person unknown.
His funeral took place this afternoon
from his cabin, near Union Church, and
was largely attended, mostly of white
people of the immediate vicinity with
whom he was favorite. The interment
was made in the old graveyard on the
place. Lee and his sister had lived for
more than half century on q piece of
ground consisting of 35 acres. They
were very eccentric couple, and for
more than 80 years no light has been
seen in their house except that thrown
out by the fire that burned in the fire.
place.