Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-08-06
sAAWoMAN MURDERED,
Ida crnmmel Shot in Cold Blood by Edward
Wright.

Wright.
Edward Wright,a young colored man
living on Wilson street, shot and killed
Ida Crummel, also colored, aged 23
years, of No. zoos Orange street, on
Water street, near Market about IL
o'clock Thursday night. Jealousy was
the cause OF the tragedy. Immediately
after the shooting Wright was arrested
by Patrolmhn James O. Shielda ard
Special Officer j ohm Collins. He made
an effort to escape, but the officers were
too quick for him. The woman was
sent TO the Delaware Hospital by Capt.
Chambers, but. she died as she was
being carried into the building.
The murder was deliberate and the
sayer bad decided last Saturday that
he was going TO kill the woman.
Ida Crummel and Mrs. Ward Boyer,
both colored, went TO the Wilmington
& Northern station early in the even
ing to await the arrival of somI,colored
excnrsionists from Reading. The train
was late, and while passing away the
time the two women crossed over
French street TO the r., w. b, sta.
tion. There they met Edward Wright.
He called to the Crummel woman, but
she declined to talk to him, and she
and Mrs. Boyer returned to the w. &
N. station. This evidently angerod
him and be left the station, presumably
for the purpose OF purchasing re-
yolver. He returned later and meeting
Ward Boyer. informed the latter that
his wife was with Ida Crummel, He
also told Boyer that if he met Ida he
had something for her, which he had
just purchased. He added that il he
caught her with another man he would
fix her. a
Upon the arrival of the excursion
train the two women met Mary Thomas
and Joseph Welch. with whom they
started along the railroad toward Mar
ket street. Before the latter thorough
fare was reached Mrs. Boyer returned
to French street station to look for her
husband She passed Wright and
spoke to him, but he did not betray
his purpose .a
Ida Crummel near Market street. She
was with Mary Thomas and Joseph
Welch. He called TO her and as she
was turning round to see who wanted
her he fired, the bullet striking her
behind the ear. She was very close to
him. As soon as she had turned
toward him he shot again, the second
shot taking effect in the middle of the
forehead She fell on her face and he
shot her again at the base OF the brain.
lie then walked off. The officers had
heard the reports and gave chase.
They caught Wright near Water and
Shipley streets and placed him under
arrest. He admitted having shot the
woman and said he hoped she would
die
Capt. Chambers, who was returning
from lunch, happened to be in the
vicinity and he went to where the
prostrate woman was lying. He had
her carried to Front and Market
streets, from which place sho was taken
to the Delaware Hospital.
After Wright was locked up he made
a confession and stated that he had
decided last Saturday to kill the
woman. He was insanely jealous Of
her and said that he did not care to
live without her, He expressed graft
fication when he was told that she was
dead.
There were many colored people
around Water and Market streets at
the time of the shooting and it is likely
that at least 20 saw the act.
The funeral of the. murdered girl
took place Sunday. Services were
held at herlate. home. No, zoos Orange
street. &
An inquest was held Monday Eigh-
teen witnesses testified, among them
being DIR. j. II. Smith, who said that
any ono OF the four wounds was sufii-
cisnt to cause death. The Jury was
composed of colored men, with Daniel
L. Hamilton as foreman and Isaac
Howard as secretary. "A large crowd
gathered about the taroner's office, and
some spoke as II they would like to
lynch the prisoner who was present,
but there was no demonstration.
Wright had nothing to say. He was
photographed for the Rogues' Gallery
and was taken to Jail in the afternoon
to await trial.