Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-07

ASis pFA AAN lNla lhAlASA a tAhANultA9 h4b"
on tho head with n heavy stick, break
ing bic skull and causing death ut day
light yesterday morning.
Tae MoCulleys live on a farm four
miles from here, and Saturday Amos
and his brother Harry prepared TO come
to town 10 spend tho evening. Tho
father forbade tho younger son leaving
home; tussle followed in mild way,
and while the father and son Harry
were down IN their knees, the elder.
son, Amos, rushed upon his father and
dealt the powerful blow.
The boys uugoyernable temper was
the cause of the tragedy. Deceased
leaves a widow and four children, Amos,
the murderer, being his first born. Mrs,
McColley was Deputy before mar
rage, niece Of Abe Deputy, who was
murdered on the streets of this town 20
years ago by Tom Devine, and cousin
of Burton B. Deputy, who was shot TO
death by Collingwood 7. Hallett just
dozen years ago.
FOUND HIM UNCONSCIOUS.
MuLFoRD, Feb. At was about II
o'clock Saturday night when DIR. j. s.
Prettyman reached the bedside of
Trusten i. McColley, in response to a
rumor that the latter had been kicked
by II horse md was unconscious.
He found Mr.. McCnlley still uncon.
scious, and learned that the wound had
been inflicted by some blunt instrument
and that Mr.. McColley's case was criti-
cal.
1t was then positively learned that
Mr.. McOolley was struck by his eldest
son, Amos, with d stick Of wood, in
tilcting fatal wound. lie died On Sun
day morning about sunrise. The story
OF the tragedy is MS follows:
Amos MLcCOlley, the eldest son of the
murdered man and perpetrator of the
deed, had just returned home from a
two-weeks' visit among relatives in Kent
county, and desired to come to Milford
that night. lie also wished to bring his
younger brother, Harry, with him US
company. This was contrary to his
fathers wishes and they had some words
over it. But Amos went to the barn
and harnessed horse TO sleigh, and
with his younger brother drove up to
the house and stopped near the back
door.
Mr.. McColley came out and told his
younger son he could not go, and went
to the sleigh and picked him UP in his
arms TO carry him in the house, when
Amos picked up a stick of wood and
struck his father on the head with it.
Mr.. McColley dropped like log and
did not regain consciousness. After the
deed the boy was terror-stricken at what
he had done, but thought he had only
stunned his father. All efforts to revive
him, however, proved futile. There was
only one witness to the deed and that
one is his younger brother.
The wife and mother Is nearly heart.
broken over this great calamity
SAID n WAS DUE TO HORSES KICK.
After Amos McColley struck the blow
which killed his father, he drove to Mil
ford, about 9 o'clock Saturday even.
ing, and told DIR. j. s prettyman that
his parent had been kicked by horse.
For this reason the doctor did not hasten
to the McColley farm.
George Mills, relative, arrived here
an hour later and gave the true version
of the tragedy, Then DIR. Prettyman
went out to the McColley farm.
MTLPoRD, Feb. 5.-The stories circulated
regarding the alleged killing of Trusten z,
McColley. the Cedsr Neck farmer. appear
to be at variance with the facts disclosed
before tho coroner's jury to-day. In fact,
there arc so many versions of the sad
tragedy that tho ncghborhood is IN doubt
aS to the cause which led up TO and finally
eliminated in McCollGy'S tragic death.
The community is unanimous on one
point and that is the undeniable fact that
Trlsten l.. McCOlley met death in some
shape OF other. but in what particular
manner not oYcn the coroncr's jury is able
to definitely say.
Coroner Josephs of Georgetown went
out to the MrColley homestead to-day and
held an inquest He was accompanied by
Jury of l2meu of the neighborhoua,
The attorney.genernl's office was repre-
scented by State Detective Witsil who was
present at the hearing and assisted the
jury all he could to clear up the tragedy
which has mystitied the community. Just
prior to the Inquest, Detective Witsil took
the statements of Amos McColley. who
was accused of causing his parents death,
and also Harry NlCColley. who It is alleged
the father was beating when the eldest son
intereedGd in his younger brothers behalf,
thus prccipitating the fatal sequel of the
unfortunate family quarrel.
There was n pitable scene enacted in the
home Of the McCplley's which could not
help impress the ein5ers of the Jury and
those who visited the dreary and forlorn
dwelling to day. The farmhouse is situ-
ated " wierd point leading oil the road
running from Milford to Slaughter Beach,
II is four miles from the former Al about
three from the latter. The road Is a lonely
one and the intervening fnrmhouses are
50 wide apart 90 to render the place any
thing but desirable one. Yet this simple
country family lived here until Saturday
night IN state OF contcntment and APP
parent happiness Had it not been for
the seeming cruelty of q parent and the
swift, rotributive blow of an elder son in
defence Of his brother, there would be no
need Of this narrative to-day and the bit
of crepe which hangs just by the side Of
the portal would not now be there But
such is the distressing state of affairs
which larkcns one home in Sussex county
to-day and ills many another with SYM
pnthy for the soreiy afflicted family.
Tae cnroner's inry which investigated
the case had NJ. s. Prel,yman Of this
plRce for Its foreman and b. II. Russell az
secretary. DR. John s. Pretsymun frs;
gave his evidence. lie said Amos Ne
Colley came to his house Saturday night
aud tod him his Father had been kicfie 1
by horse. When No got TO the farm IN
found MCUolley unconscious. from which
state he never rallied. lie said death was
due TO comninutrd fracture win
hemnrrhages on the BRAN. and the injury
Was lllcted BY some severe external force
H. might have been produced by !!eayy
blow on the head or IL might hive beef,
CAUSED by a tall McColley being a man
Of powerful build and the impctvls OF biz
body being sufficient TO produce such an
injury. The wuund was on the Left side
Ol the head, was 3 inches long Il inches
in width, and rudiating from this were
| three fractures, extending across the
| parlAtnl bones ana running from left "a
right, just back of the ear. One fract,ir,
extended backwards through the ucclpital
bones Just above and beyond the perturb
| ance, ,'he secOud tonls an ,tnward co,,rs.