Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-22

hurt that woman, making the state.
nent before any charge had been. made
ngninst him. When asked why he ran
be replied that he didn't want to be-
caught. The officers brought him to
Georgetown and on the way they asked
him TO explain about the woman who
was seen with him on the train the
previous Wednesday. He replied she
was a woman he met at Smiths res
taurant, Wilmington, just before last
christmas. He haa boarded the train
at Philadelphia that afternoon, he said,
and the woman had gotten on at will
minRton and sat down by him. When
asked her name he said that Ut was
| Mary, and after some hesitancy be con.
tinued that her last name was Brown
Mary Brown. The witness said to him /.
Jim, wouldn't Mary Lewis sound
better?" The prisoner dropped his
head aud did not answer. Gordy further
told the witness that he and the woman
both got off the train at Milford, when,
he SAID. the woman got into the hotel
hack. That was the last he saw of her.
tie went up town, hired team and
drove to his farm near Georgetown. He
would not toll where be got the team.
lie said ne met two people on the road
to the farm, but would not tell their
names. He got to his farm about 10. so
o'clock, 1t was not 80 late as il o'clock.
The witness asked him why he left the
train at Milford instead OF coming to
Georgetown, but he would not answer.
The witness and Mr.. Lynch searched
the prisoner after they got him in
Georgetown Jail and found in his
pockets diamond ring, pocketbook.
three keys and receipt for goods de-
livered at the Pennsylvania railroad
freight office in New York. One of the
Keys unlocked the trunk, found at tho
express Office, containing the dead
woman'5 clothes and another fitted a
box found at the freight office. Gordy's
shoes we're removed at the Jail, and the
witness had a man put the right shoe
on and make track in some soft
earth. This track measured exactly
like those ON the bank of the river and
in that vicinity.
John II. Short, agent for the Albums
Express Co., stated that two trunks
came to his Office addressed to "James
II. Gordy." They were opened in his
presence by Detectives Witsil and Me-
Vey, and several articles OF woman's
clothing were identified by Madame
Grunert as those belonging to Mrs.
Lewis, her sister. The trunks were
billed from the Puritan and Priscilla
auction house. l54th street, New York.
Joseph Millman testified that he had
known Gordy for three years and that
10 January last he and Gordy drove to
Joseph p. Bailey's house. They drove
down nearly TO Vaughan's wharf, but
not quite there, close enough to see the
wharf, however. He described the route
they took to get to Bailey's. With the
examination of this witness the State,
at 3. 45 o'clock, rested its case. The
counsel for the defence made no open.
Ing remarks, but called DR.. G. Il.
Lay ton as an Hypothetical witness. He
stated that be had never had case of
drowning. Mr.. Richards then asked
him whether or not he considered the
absence of water from the lungs of
dead body conclusive Indication that
death was not produced by drowning.
The State objected, as the witness had
stated that he had never examined the
body ola person who died by drowning
anu, therefore, his opinion could be
only theory. The witness said be got
his knowledge from very careful
study OF the report OF the Royal
Humane Society OF London. His testi-
mony was admitted, and he answered
Mr.. Richards question, saying that
be did not consider the absence of
water in the lungs conclusive evidence
that death was produced by means
other than drowning, but that water is
invariably found in the stoLaach of
drowned person. Much to the surprise
OF the counsel for the State and all
others in the court room the defence
rested its case, and the taxing of testi-
mony in this most famous case was
concluded ut O'Clock.
At 4.25 O'Clock the deputy attorney.
general began the argument for the
State, stating to the jury that in this
case the court would instruct them 10
find the prisoner at the bar. James NJ.
Gordy, guilty OF murder in the first
degree. as be stands indicted, or not
guilty. There could be no middle
ground. The man was guilty of cold
blooded, dastartly, fendisb, ,premedi-
tated murder, or he was guilty of no
murder at all. There was not word,
not syllable, Of evidence produced by
the defence TO show any mitigating
circumstances; in fact the defence hau
produced no evidence at all. lie then
sketcned the movements OF the prisoner
from the time he was married, on Feb
ruary Gath last. to Mrs. Mary Lewis to
the time Of bis arrest on March 12th,
and reviewed the testimony given. He
closed at 5. % o'clock, and court took
recess till 10 O'Clock this morning.
Georgetown, April 16. - At 7.3o
O'Clock last night James NJ. Gordy
listened, without tremor, without the
twitching of muscle, to his doom
pronounced by the IL men who had
bean selected to try him on charge of
murder in tho first degree. Not another
sound was heard in the crowded court
room when the foreman Of the jury, in
answer to the question put to them by
Clerk Dorman, whether They found
James M. Gordy, the prisoner at the
bar, guilty in manner and form US he
stood indicted, or not guilty?" said
I've find him guilty.'' After brief
silepce the counsel for tho defence
asked that the Jury he po!lod. Tho
name OF each juror was called, and he
was asked sis that your verdict?"
Every man replied lit is. +" Tho jury
was then discharged until to-day.
Argument for the defence was COM
menced at 10. 10 o'clock yesterday
morning by John NJ. Richardson.
The attendance was large. Mr..
Richardson began by saying that the
occasion of the trial OF man for his
life is one of the deepest solemnity,
and is to be looked upon only with the
most profound consideration. Review