Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-06-13
A SERIOUS CHARGE.
Colored Man Arrested Charged
With Assaulting John Adams.


Mayor Boyd and - New Castie Ofhcer
Run Him Down at Iiare's Corner-tc-
ported Discovery of Damaging Evil
dence.
Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal
NEW CASTLE, June There have
been sensational developments since the
arrest Of the colored man, Joseph Loper,
who is in jail here on suspicion of know
ing something about the supposed as
sault on the negro, John Adams, early
last Monday morning.
The capture of Loper, which was &C.
complished by Mayor Boyd and local
officer, was good piece of work. The
mayor and the officer went to Whining
ton yesterday and after looking about
the city succeeded in locating the man
near Hare's Corner. They then drove
to that place and found him.
1t is stated that Loper was seen with
Adams late Sunday night, and it is also
asserted that Adams was in company
with colored man, believed to have
been Loper, on the railroad short time
before he was found SO badly used up
after the express had gone by.
When Adams was picked up off the
been struck by the train, but physi-
clan who assisted in making an exami-
nation does not believe that he was
struck. He asserts that he feels sure
the train did not touch the negro at all.
| Adams was unable to account for his
trouble, so nothing sensible could be
learned from him. He was taken to
the almshouse, at Farnhurst, and it was
reported this morning that his condition
was very critical. 1t is feared he will die.
The belief here now is that Adams
was assaulted, and that his assailant
tried to murder him, and failing TO do
SO threw him on the track in hopes that
train would finish the work. IL is said
that there is damaging evidence against
Loper. He will be given preliminary
hearing. .-a
ADAMS is DEAD.
Adams died at the aimshouse at lac
o'clock this afternoon. The coroner
has been notified and will make an in.
vestigation.
PosTMoRTEM EXAMINATION.
DR.. Walker, the coroner's physician
held a post mortem, Friday, and hi:
discoveries would give the impression
that the man had not been struck by
train, thus heightening the suspicion
that he was assaulted by some one.
DR.. Walker found two cuts on the
head, the outside bone of the scalp was
fractured, and clot of blood was found
on the brain. There was evidence o.
meningitis. The doctor would Civ
nothing out for publication, but b.
evidently thinks that the injuries wer
the work of man and not railroad
train.
Loper, the colored man who wa
locked up charged with knowing some
thing about the case, says that he cal
, establish his innocence, but he has no
I made known what his course will be.
DETECTIVES INyERvIEw LoPER.
New CASTLE. May s.--Detectives McVe
and Witsil were in this city yesterday an
interviewed Joseph Loper, who is he'll
until John Adams death can be invest
gated. Loper said that Adams and he ha
q fuss on account of Adams not givin
him bottle of whisky, which he claimed
At the preliminary hearing before Mayo
Z. q. Boyd last evening, Loper said he lei
John'Adums on the railroad track. job
would not get up. He tried to pull hir
up and John kicked at him, after whic
he left and went over i'll the field and slel
; till sun up. Then he went to Hare's Corne
wbe1e he was employed by Joseph II
. Quigiey.
! Detective Jones said the hair on tb
: head of John Adams, deceased, was matte
with dry blood The blood was oozin
: from the ear and the wound on the hea
: was dry. The hair had to be soaked Wit
a sponge to see the cut.
l. Ii is the general opinion of people her
, that they have the right man. but con
: plant Is made about the officials of th
| county Jail allowing james Johnson, VIII
is serving life sentence to run to the ce
in which prisoner is confined pending
. hearing and possibly prompting him wh'
5 to say. The old Jail rules were that ma
! who was confined on suspicion of murdt
: was closely guarded, and no person allowe
. to see or talk TO him except by permisslo
!, OF the mayor or justice committing hin
and then only i'll the presence Of I'll
! warden of the Jail.
e Lopez EXoNERATED.
Deputy Coroner Chandler held a
inquest on Saturday night. Drs. Drape
e Hughes and Walker and the colore
: man Loper testified at the inquest, I'll
a jury decided that Adams came to h
death while in an intoxicated conditlo
on the Delaware railroad, and Lope
who was arrested on suspicion of beir
connected with the death Of Adams, WI
d exonerated, and he was discharge
4. from custody. The evidence he gay
was in straightforward manner, at
the iurymen did not doubt in the lea
, its correctness.