Evening journal., 1897-12-16
THORN STILLAT LARGE.
No Possible Clue to George D.
Farra's Murderer.
MURDBRBR's TRACKS IN THE MUD.

MAN CAUGHT AT STANTON, BUT
NO IDENTIFIED AS THORN. |
NEGRO HELD AT SMYRNA.
SECURING THE STATE FOR THE
BRUTE.
All is conjecture as to the hiding
place of Charles Thorn, who murdered
Farmer George d. Farra in his home
Tuesday night. Profound sympathy is
expressed for the small children Of the
murdered man. II is regarded as a
mystery how the children. who were
asleep in the room next that where
their father was murdered, failed to
hear the struggle which undoubtedly
took place It is said that Willard, the
16-year-old son of Farra, lay awake
until ~ o'clock, and It is evident that
had the murder been committed before
that hour the children must have heard
the scufile
That Thorn, after his infamous
crime, did not so in the direction OF
Wilmington is evident from the tracks
OF man leading from the back door,
facing Newport. by which he made his
exit. The tracks are those OF man
wearing a No. or shoe, and the steps
are nearly two and half feet apart
showing that the murderer beat a
hasty retreat from the house. The i'm
preston OF the shoes in the mud shows
that Thorn, after getting outside Of the
farm-yard went in the direction Of
Hare's Corner but after reaching the
fork of the woods leading into New
] Castle and Hare's Corner all trace Is
lost. Had Thorn come In the direction
of this city he could not have passed
over Market street bridge without be-
ing seen by the bridge-tender or the
police, who are ever patrOling that and
the coast district. No one answering the
description of Thorn paslNd that way.
Very few, If any, residents OF New
Castle noticed a man answerlngrhorn'
description, and If he had gone that
way would have aroused little suspi.
cion, as negroes living In and around
the vicinity OF New Castle can be seer
coming and going at all hours of the
night.
The start which the murderer has or
, the officers Is the greatest draw-bacl
In running him down. He Is well
known to the farmers in the countr.
districts, and may be at work for one o
them.
The book which Thorn was readini
was entitled For Mamie's Sake" Tn
book tells the story of a murder, and /
may have worked on his mind and, to
d gether with the idea of getting tn
money in Farra's possession, commit
Z ted the deed
Captain of Police Chambers thl
b morning received a telephone messag
from a grocer at Stanton, saying tha
y a man answering Thorns descriptO
u had purchased cheese and crackers 9
his store. Word was sent back 20 ds
tain the man by any possible mean
He was captured near the railroad sta
tion and held until the arrival OF Car
Z tain Chambers and Mabel, the murder
q ed mans daughter, who went for n
purpose of Identifying the man. II
little girl scrutinized the man frol
j. head to foot, but said that he was n,
l. Thorn although he rsembeled him veI
T. much The man was released.
II Word was also received at the pOlil
3 station that a colored man OF the mu
, derer's description had been captur,
i, at Smyrne. Sergeant of Police Evan
II accompanied by Willard son of Farr
d, went to the place, but II is not know
at this houU whether the man is Thol
l. or not
le The funeral of Farra will take pla
on Sunday afternoon from his sister
residence, No. 204 East Sixth street.
Detectives McVey and Witsil and Il
v entire police force are searching ever
IN where for Thorn. Every clue has be-
run down thus far with no result. Pl
IS cards, with a description Of Thorn, a
VI. to be sent to all the surrounding town
he Mr. Farras pension. which he +
ceived from the government, Will,
'l- course be stopped, as is customary
t. the death of pensioners.