Evening journal., 1897-12-18
MAY HAYE BEEN THORN
A COLORED MAN ANSWERING HIS
DESCRIPTION SEEN AT BLACK
BIRD STATION.

DESCRIPTION SEEN AT BLACK
BIRD STATION.
When Register in Chancery Colen
Ferguson reached Wilmington from
Blackbird Yesterday he called upon
Chief of Police John F. DOlan and
gave him a clue which may lead to the
capture of Charles Thorn, who is sus-
pected of having brutally slain George
ID. Farra.
"a negro answering Thorn's descrip-
ton in every essential particular, has
been seen down there acting in a sus-
picious manner and apparently maxi
ing his way towards Smyrna. He had
told a colored travelling companion
who left him at Blackbird, that he
proposed to visit his aunt, and as there
are negroes named Thorn in Smyrna
and vicinity, it is surmised that he
may be found there.
1t is believed that he went to Black
bird on a freight train. The station
agent there lives about a quarter of
mile from the station. While he was
on his way from his home to the sta4
ton he met a strange negro whom he
took to be preacher. He wore black
overcoat, a felt hat and had little
moustache. He would weigh about $50
Il
pounds.
On Thursday about dusk, James
Reed who runs an engine for James
| Buckson, near Blackbird, saw a man
come out of an old school house and
go towards Smyrna. Neither he nor
the station agent knew anything of the
murder at the time he saw the colored
man.
| Officers of the law are on the lookout
for Thorn in all parts of this state and
adjoining states, and he will be cap
tured sooner or later.
i There was a most laughable incident
at Middletown last night. The officers
l of the law heard that Thorn was in a
4 freight car on a train which would ar
4 rive there at a certain hour. Constable
l Hushebeck summoned a posse of about
twenty-five citizens, armed them to the
teeth, and they went down to the sta
tion. AS soon as the freight train pull
ed in one of the crew pointed out the
car occupied by the negro, and opened
the door for the constable. He and sew
eral men jumped in the car and covered
the negro with their weapons, at the
same time commanding him to surren.
der. He was so badly frightened thai
he almost tainted and gave his captors
no trouble whatever. They took hin
before Magistrate Reynolds. AS sooI
as that functiOnary saw him he told The
constable that his prisoner was a mu
lattO, while Thorn was black, and or
dered the prisoner released. But the,
were not to get rid Of him so easily, TO
he told them that as they had takei
; him from his comfortable quarters il
the freight car, which had pulled out o
town, they should provide him a plac
to sleep. This caused a hearty laugh
and they put him in the cells to spen,
{ the night, not as a criminal, but as
guest of the town
There are no developments in tn
possible capture of Thorn, the slaye
- of farmer George D. Farra Detective
Witsil and McVey. Captain of Polio
Chambers and Sergeant Evans are i
] search of the man, but the chances @
running down the murderer are no
hopeful, as Thorn knew the countr
we'll, which knowledge aided in his es
cape
William Pierce, colored claims t
have done a little detective work II
! | called at the police station and to a
, | Evening Journal man said that h
: could find Thorn. 81 know him well,
said Pierce. "and | think he is in hid
: ing near the Eastern Shore of Mary
3 land, where he preached all Of las
y Summer SE
! ! The police so far have arrested seve
o men, but all of these proved their ider
e tity and were released. The polio
3 yesterday were in the vicinity
J, Smyrna, as it was said that Thorn ha
e } relatives there. It is now said tn;
3 Thorn is an assumed name, and tn;
(, he may be working for some of Ii
farmers near the sceEe of his deed.