Middletown transcript., 1897-07-03
MANsHAUGHTER, SCARCELY
MURDER.

4
cides, and suicides. but the terrible natnr,
Of the crimes is not apparent until it il
brought nearer home. The peace and quie
OF our usually orderly town was disturbed
on Thursday just before the noon hour By
the announcement that in quarrel over
game of crap" Charles Jones had stabbed
to death Alexander Thomas, both well
known colored men in town.
Itappears that Alexander Thomas ac
companied by John Showell in the course
of the morning went by the National Ho
tel where Jones was employed as waiter
on their way to do half days work fol
Mr.. William Jones. Charlie asked Alex
for tobacco, according to Johns story, who
replied II hain't got no tobacker but some
money for you, meaning money to gam
Bile. Charlie said he would soon be ready
and the three went to the cannery,a hun
drsd yards up the railroad track where ii
is said ''crap is shot" every day in the
week and especially on Sunday. John
claims that while Charlie and Alex. were
preparing to play he fell asleep. Charlie in
his testimony before the Goroner's Jury
told this story: ~
I'VE had played and Alex. had won 81. 20
from me. 1t came my turn and won five
cents. Ny s'pass" was six and started to
take the money. He said don't you
take that up or will knock your
head off. said its mine and I'll take it up
| and did. Alex. struck me with his fist
in the Jaw and knocked me over. I got up
and got my knife out, four inch knife,
and he grabbed me by both arms and held
me and must have punched him."
| John told story somewhat different
81 was awakened by the cries of Alex. to
Charlie, who had hold of Alex, to "quit,
behave yourself. let me alone.n- Charlie
said to him. "Give me that dollar" and
Alex. called upon John to not let Charlie
cut him. John started out of the door say
ing he would inform Bailiff Dixon, when
Charlie rushed at him, John, with open
knife and struck at him. He got out of the
way. This was all in the cannery. came
out first, then Charlie followed by Alex.
He walked to the bars and said to me he
was cut and went back to him. asked a
man going by in buggy to. help me
but he said he could not fool with drunken
niggers. Alex. .!had been drinking"
It appears that the stab was just over the
heart and death resulted in short time.
Charlie did not know that he had killed
Alex. and went to the hotel to attend to
his duties. Hearing that the victim of his
passion was dead he started up town the
back way and was arrested by Constable
Crockett who had heard of the dreadful af-
fair. He and John Showell were taken be-
fore Esquire Ferguson who committed
them, the latter as witness.
On the $40 train Deputy Coroner Chand-
Ter, Detectives McVey and Witsil and J. #.
McIver came down. The Coroner sum-
moned the following jury: Joshua Clayton,
Jr., foreman; J. F. McIyer, secretary; Jos.
G. Jolls, e. s. Jones. Henry Foster and
Henry G. Deyalinger. After they had
heard the evidence Of which the above is a
brief synopsis they rendered the following
verdict:
That Alexander Thomas came to his
death on the first day of4-July, 1897, at
Middletown, in West st. Georges hundred,
New Castle county. Delaware by injuries
received by being stabbed with knife in
the hands of Charles Jones and We. the
jury. recommend that he, Charles Jones,
be held without bail for trial at the next
term of court.
Detectives McVey and Witsel took
the prisoner to New Castle where he
will await trial at the September
term of Court, and also John Showell
as witness, he not being able to give
bail. Deputy Coroner Chandler took
the body of Thomas to Farnhurst where
after an examination has been made of
the wounds received his body will be
buried in the Potter's lield.
Charlie Jones, the prisoner testified
before the jury that he was born near
Middletown 81 years ago and has lived
here ever since. He bears good re-
putation generally being Industrious
and Vsry obliging, though it is known
to some that he has previously given
away to violent temper. He learned
to "shoot crap" this spring. He has
wife and three children.
Alex. Thomas was about S5 years
old and came here from Easton, Nd,
having married the daughter of Jim
Jenkins. They have three children,
one babe week old, Last year he
worked for Mr.. Manning Clendaniel and
was said to be good hand. This sea-
son he has been Sup the country" re-
turninga few weeks since and not pro-
vidiDg very we'll for his family. This
fact together with the superstition that
he met his death gambling are the rea-
sons assigned for his wife's people re-
fusing to take the body for burial.