Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-01


Startling Developments have come
to light concerning the death Of James
Walker of Milton, which was reported
in every Evening" last Monday. On
Monday Detectives Money and Witsil
went to Milton and arrested Harry
Argo, Cove Vent and negro named
William Moseley, all residents of the
town, The men were taken before Mag
istrate Lofland in Milton and arraigned
on charge of causing Walkers death.
The magistrate held them in $500 bail
each for hearing before him on Au-
gust 9th. 1t is understood that all SCI
cured bail and are now at liberty.
As well as could be learned Walker
and the other three men are seamen on
the two-masted schooner Fox, which
belongs in Milton. One night about
the middle of June the boat was lying
at a wharf at what is known as Muir
derkill Beach, on the bay shore about
eight miles from Milton. Vent, Argo
and Moseley went ashore early in the
evening and they told Walker they
would bring. him something when they
returned. Walker was not a drinking
man and they brought back with them
bottle of champagne cider, which they
handed him to drink. Knowing the cider
was not an intoxicant Walker partook OF
il freely. A few minutes after drinking
the cider he was rendered unconscious.
This was between and 8 O'Clock in
the evening and he remained uncon-
scious during the night He aroused at
about 5 o'clock in the morning and
found that he had evidently been lying
on the deck of the boat all night.
When Walker came to his senses he
was very sick and he realized that he
Aad been drugged. He Immediately
decided to go TO the home of his
brother in Milton. 1t took all day to
walk the eight miles to Milton, and he
afterward stated that he had to stop
about 20 times on the road, he felt so
bad. When he reached his brothers
house he was in a bad condition and
was put TO bed.
Physicians were at once summoned,
and after they made an examination
they found that Walker had been pois-
oned. Two Drs. Hopkins--father and
son--of Milton and DR.. Layton of
Georgetown were summoned. They
worked hard to save Walkers life, but
after two weeks illness he died in ter
rible agony.
Walker made statement before his
death. He said that on the day the
drug was administered he had exhib-
tied considerable money. He had more
than 800, but he did not know how
much. When he awoke from the stupor
he stated that he did not have any
money at all, and it seemed plain to
him that he must have been robbed
during the night. He said that as near
as he could judge about three minutes
after he drank the cider which had
been given to him by Argo, Vent and
Moseley he became unconscious. He
said that he was on the very best terms
with the men, and he did not think
any Of them had anything against him,
Death occurred on Saturday and the
detectives were notified at once. When
they went to Milton on Monday they
found the men all there, and no resist
ence at all was offered when they were
arrested.
The men acknowledged having put
cigar ashes and finger nail scrapings in
the cider, but they said it was done in
a joke, and all disclaim any knowledge
of the alleged robbery. They say they
left the boat Immediately after Walker
drank the cider and spent the night in
a cottage on shore.
Witnesses have been secured who
claim that they heard the men make
remarks the night Walker was drugged
that will be very damaging when given
as evidence.
The affair has aroused a great deal
of Indignation around Milton. The two
white men are said to have characters
that are not of the best, while their
victim, young man of 80, was consid-
cred an exemplary citizen. He was
strictly sober He was never known
to drink, smoke or chew, and saved
his money, 1t is the prevailing opin-
ion that 1t was the knowledge of the
fact that Walker saved his money that
the deed was committed.
A most unfortunate thing is that
Walkers deposition was not taken. He
was rational most of the time while he
was sick, and was rational at the time
of his death, but nobody seemed to
know the value Of a deposition in such
cases.
The residents of Milton are anxiously
awaiting the hearing, when it is ex-
pected that further developments will
be brought out.