Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-01-30
NEWS OF THE PENINSULA
Death of the Postmaster of
Pocomoke City.
STATES ATTORNEY SWORN IN
Decease of the Rev. r. Day
Cantwell's Father.
The Preliminary hearing Of James n.
Truss, Accused of Having Murdered Capt.
Thomas camp-Held TO Await the Action
of the Grand Jury.

Elkton. Md, Jan. %. Joseph t.
HedriclS, postmaster at Chesapeake
City, this county, died last evening,
in the 6Sth year of hia age For
number of years he held the position
of collector of the Delaware & Chesa-
peake canal. He was appointed post
master by President Cleveland about
two years ago. His wife died about
three weeks ago. -Four children survive
City, Harry Hedrick Of Florida, FRANK
Hedrick of Philadelphia and Mrs.
James Tay lor OF Baltimore.
John f. Harper, State's Attorney of
Queen Anne's county, Nd, took the
oath of office before Judge Frederick
Stump, Associate Judge for Cecil
county.
James II. Truss was given a prelimi-
nary hearing this morning on the charge
of having murdered Capt. Thomas
Camp Of the schooner Manaway, which
occurred on Thursday night, January
I'd, last He was held by the magis.
trate. Peter II. Cleayer, to await tho
action of the grand jury at the March
term of the circuit court for Cecil
county. The hearing took place in the
Court House, and tho State was repre-
sented by William S. Evans, States
Attorney, and Austin l.. Crothers.
The prisoner was represented by Albert
Constable, Jr. 1t is said that his
counsel, Albert Constable, ST., advised
him not to have hearing, and Truss
wanting one, refused to appear for
him. The 10-pound sledge hammer
and the shovel, which played most
important part in the murder, were
produced at the hearing and showed
the mark Of blood upon them. The
gum boots, which were identified by
Truss himself as belonging to him,
were also produced, and they Likewise
showed tho marks of blood and mud.
Tho witnesses were Mrs. Irwin Deibert,
Mr.. Irwin Deibert, DR.. w. G. Kars.
ner, DIR. Joseph Wallace, William
Tuney, Jr., Mrs. Harry Buckwith,
George Peterson, Harvey Fl. Mackey,
Mr. Miller, Henry Hager ana Henry j.
Pensil. Sheriff Maclkey testified to
making the arrest Of Truss and the
searching of his house. He also stated
that he found s6O in a purse in the
sewing machine drawer, in TRUSTS
house, and also a shirt OF TRUSTS that
had stains of blood on it. He also found
at the engine-house pair OF gum
boots which clearly showed the marks
Of blood. A cane which was found in
the engine-room after the murder was
identified by witnesses as tho same as
seen in possession of Winfield Broad
way, brother-in- law of Truss, who
boards with the Truss family Other
testimony showed that Truss, on
Thursday morning, paid store bill to
Henry Hager Of $40. 36, and when he
did so he said to Hager that it was all
the money he had out of his month e
pay. The next evening, the night after
the murder, he appeared to have plenty
of money, as he paid for three months
rent, then overdue, and paid 81, 30 for
balance due on organ. He also spoke
to George W. Peterson, with whom he
worked at the dry dock, of paying 81
in the lodge, so that it would run hin
all winter. This was besides the s6C
found in his house. When the money
was found in his house Mrs. Truss
said her husband had told her Friday
night that Mr.. Deibert had paid hin
for two months back work. Mr.. Del
bert testified that he paid Truss
promptly each month, and on the 30tt
day of December last paid him SIT. So.
|
had nearly a hundred dollars on hi.
person, but when found murdered only
IL cents were found. Camp had beer
speaking to Deibert about leaving or
Saturday, and asked Deibert when HI
was coming back TO Chesapeake City
seeing that he was going to leave. 1'hi
was on Thursday morning. Deibert tolC
him no would be back that night, anC
Camp replied all right, as ho wanted
to pay him some money. His bill fo
repairing the boat was about $40
Truss overheard this conversation, ac
cording to the testimony Of Deibort
Truss has been saying all along that h,
would be able to prove an alibi. bu
to-day did not attempt to do so, as h
did not place witness on the stand il
his behalf
John W. Cantwell, well-known ant
respected citizen of this town, died Il
an early hour this morning Of pneu
monia, after short illness Mr. Cant
well was son of the late John Cant
we'll, who for more than Is years wa
overseer of tho almshouse at Cherr
Hill. lie was "a years of age. II
was for many years a prosperous busi
ness man OF Elkton. He was Uniol
soldier, having enlisted in the late wa
in 1861 in Go. G, Sixth Marylan,
} Regiment. At the battle of Mine RuI
he was wounded and later was takel
prisoner at Winchester. A widow an,
two children survive him Mrs. j
Harvey Groves and Rev. r. Day Cant
well, Of Bethel Methodist Episcopa
Church