Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-23
MURDER OR SUICIDE.
The Corpse of Andrew Doyle Found on the
BAnks Of tho shollp0t.

The Corpse of Andrew Doyle Found on the
i,auks Of tho shoiipot.
Andrcw Doyle, who until recently
worked on farm near Vineland, n.
j., either committed suicide or was
murdered on the banks of Shellpot
crack near the tracks of th r., w. e. Is.
railroad Thursday. During the after
noon three Wilmington lads, Howard
Whaley, Paul Cushing and William
Cochran, found tho dead body, with
the throat cut, lying near tho stream
in pool Of blood. A message was at
once sent to police headquarters, and
short time Capt Chambers arrived
and made an investigation. The body
had not been disturbed since it was dis
covered by the boys and after an in
vestigation tho captain concluded that
it was case OF suicide. which conclu-
sion is, in all probability, correct.
Near the body a knife with blade
about three inchos long was founu, and
the natural conclusion ia that the man
cut his own throat with this knife. As
the clothing was covered with mud,
and there was another pool of blood a
short distance from whore the body was
found, it was thought that Doyle had
fallen into the stream after gashing
himself, and that he died whore he
crawled out. In fact there was very
little blood where the body was seen by
the boys, and it is quite evident that
the wound had almost ceased to bleed
before no fell into the water.
In the mans pockets were found
ticket from Camden, N. j., to New
Vinelaud, N. j., $40 81 in money and
note containing the name of Mrs.
Conners. No. l7l4 Grayson street,
Philadelphia. Tho note also bore evi-
dence that the man had recently been
in hospital. He was evidently about
60 years of age and had the appearance
OF being a working man. He wore
black trousers, black vest and coat and
blue overcoat.
Deputy Coroner Chandler was notified
and removed the body to the morgue.
A message was also sent to Mrs Mary
Conners of Philadelphia, and she re-
piled that she thought it was hor cou-
sin, Andrew DOYLE, who had recently
been discharged from the Philadelphia
Hospital.
Mrs. Conners' husband came to Will
mington Friday afternoon and identified
the body as that of Andrew Doyle. He
stated that until recently Doyle had
been working on farm in New Jersey,
but he could not tell just where. About
two months ago he was admitted to the
Philadelphia Hospital, and for the last
two weeks he had been stopping with
relatives in Philadelphia. lie left
Conners' home on Tuesday, and said he
was going to take long walk and pay
a visit to the Jefferson Hospital. Moth
ing more was heard of him until the
family was informed Thursday of his
suicide. Mr., Conners stated that he
was sober man and no reason can be
assigned for the rash act. Doyle had
no family, but two brothers live in Ire
land. He had been seen in this city
before Thursday.
1t was learned Friday afternoon at
the Office of Deputy Coroner Chandler
that bad cut had been discovered on
the left wrist. Ii had been but re-
Gently made and had bled, the dry
blood being around the wound. This
is really the strangest thing about the
case, as the mans coat sleeve was
down over the wrist when he was
found.
If it was case of suicide, Doyle must
have cut his wrist first, with the in
tcntion of bleeding to death from that
wound, and fearing he would not ac.
complish his purpose gashed his throat.
But possibly it was murder. lie may
have been in fight with another man
and received tho cash on the arm in
the struggle, after which his assailant
may have cut his throat.
This suspicion is heightened by the
fact that the body, when found, was
some distance from where tho main
pool of blood waa In fact, there was
scarcely any blood where the body was
lying. AS Doyle had more than $40 on his
clothing when searched, it is thought
probable that he may have had more
money and was robbed. However, moth
ing definite is known, and the real cause
of death may always remain mystery,
tho police are on the alert for
any clue that may point to murder.
The man was bachelor and his rela-
tives knew little about his affairs 1t
ir thought he may have had considerable
money, as he was sober and indus
trious.
An inqucat was held Friday after
noon. and the jury decided that Doyle
bled 10 death from the wound in his
throat, the cause OF which was unknown
to the jury.