Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-09-19

Sfa wa ms Ills DOIJ WAS IOunl I1OAL-
ing in the Brandywine near the r., w.
& B. railroad bridge by John Tucker,
who lives at No. S39 Spruce street.
Tucker was crossing the bridge, about
30 O'Clock, when a peculiar noise,
apparently under the bridge, attracted
his attention. He made an investiga-
ton and found the corpse. AT the
same time he saw man running away.
The body was brought ashore and
DEPUTY Coroner Chandler was notified.
The man who was running away was
captured by Frank Jennings and Jerry
McSweeney, watchmen at the Pull
man works. The prisoner who proved
to be John Dougherty, man with a
bad reputation, was turned over to
Patrolmen Kelley and Massey, who
took him to the police station and
locked him up. He will be held to
await the action OF the coroner. The
police think they have a good case
against Dougherty. When he was cap
tured he was washing his hands and
his clothing was soiled with blood,
which he tried to explain by saying
that he had been in a fight recently.
he was greatly excited.
Deputy Coroner Chandler removed
the body. Ericsson's father called at the
mIorgue on Tuesday and identified the
body. The deceased boarded at No.
ll30 Head street.
There is considerable mystery about
the case. Tho murdered man is not
known to have had any money about
him. Near where the body was found
were two coupling pins, covered with
blood, and it is presumed the man was
murdered with them. His head was
battered in, which leaves no doubt that
a blunt instrument was used.
1t is thought that Ericsson was prob
ably murdered for his clothing. His
hat, coat and trousers were found in
the vicinity. A whisky bottle was
found alongside the clothing, and it is
likely that Ericsson was lying along
the creek bank drunk when he was
assaulted He had evidently been try
ing to defend him self, as his knuckles
were skinned. 1t is thought that at
least two men were implicated in the
murder, and it is alleged that two were
seen running away from the place, but
nobody except Dougherty was cap
tured.
The prisoner was arraigned in the
municipal court on Tuesday and held
without bail to await the action of
the corner.
The murdered man was about 30
years OF age, and until recently worked
at the Pullman car works. Two weeks
ago he complained of having been as
saulted by two men, who tried to steal
his watch.
Dougherty is bad character. Last
June he completed three years. SEN
tence at New Castle, where he had been
sent for horse stealing.
People living in the vicinity Of the
Pullman works know nothing about
the affair, and when reporter of
THE Gazette visited the place
Tuesday the residents could throw
no light at all on the mystery, except
that some of them said that two sus-
picious characters had been seen prowl-
ing around the bridge early in the
evening, but whether or not Dougherty
was one Of them was not known. 1t is
the general belief, however, that it
was plot to rob anybody who should
chance to pass that way, and Ericsson
was found to be an easy victim.
The police are making an investiga-
ton. After the murder was reported
tive tramps, who were found near Edge
Moor, were arrested, but an examina-
tiou proved them to be innocent and
's'NJ blothtbbOos thOlnbI uldH Was
arrested at Gray's Ferry, but he too was
released for the same reason.
Ericsson's father and two sisters re-
side at No. 800 Wright street. They
are very much distressed over the
tragedy.
Damaging evidence against John
Dougherty was heard by the coroner's
jury at the inquest held on Tuesday
night, and the police have little doubt
about having the right man in custody.
Dougherty WAS in the coroner's office
while the inquest was being held, but
he refused to speak.
John Tucker, the man who first
heard the groans and subsequently
found the body, stated that he was
going toward the railroad bridge from
the direction of the Pullman works.
He was on the west side of tracks, and
when about half way between a row
of houses and the bridge he heard the
sound. 1t was about o'clock and
he FASTENED to the bridge house to get
a lantern. He could zee some dark
object down the bank in the dark, but
could not distinguish what it was
When he returned with the light he
saw there were two men, and one of
them was covered with blood. Tucker
called to one man, who appeared to be
looking up the bank at him, saying
Come up out of thatr' The man
who was spoken to said: my partner
is here and l can't get him up %
Tucker then said: what are YOU
doing in the water with him?,' BY
this time the man was coming up the
bank and Tucker flashed the light
right in his face. He said to the man
who had come up the bank, Come
down with me and | will help you got
him up" Tucker then descended the
bank with the light and when he
looked about for the man to whom he
had been talking he saw that he had
fed.
A hurried examination showed that
the body was dead, and after getting
1t to place of safety, for the tide was
coming in and it was lying in the water,
he went to the Pullman watch box
and told the Waterman there of the
affair. The police were then notified to
look out for the man who was supposed
to be in hiding somewhere about.
Dougherty was captured, and as soon
as Tucker saw him he recognized him
as the man to whom he had been talk
ing, and he said TO him ''Why didn't
you help me up with your partner,
instead of running away" Dougherty
then denied that he was the man and
said he knew nothing about the affair.
He was angered at Tucker and said to
him: when | get out of this trouble
I'll fix YOU" He seemed to be irritated
over being accused of the crime.
Tucker was positive that the man into
whose face he flashed the light came
from. the side of the dead man, for he
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