The sun., 1897-12-16
ONE CENT

under the chair was only few inches
from Mr.. Farra's body, and why it did
not communicate to the clothing is a
mystery. There was another chair
alongside the burned one and almost
touching it, but the flames did not com.
municate to it. 1t is believed that the
flre burned fer some time, as the frag-
ments OF the lamp chimney, which were
among the cobs, were very much smoked
and would probably have melted had
the lire continued to burn much longer
IL ls rather peculiar thing that the
children did not smell the smoke, as Il
must nave per1neated the whole honse
but Willard, when asked about f. th;s
morning, said he did not smell anv
smoke, and did not even detect that
there had been fire after he awoke this
morning.
The Instrument used by the murderer
was four-pound iron weight which wss
lying on the window sill.
Deputy Coroner Chandler had the
BODY removed to the residence Of Mr..
farras daughter, Mrs. William Day, No.
2lA East Sixth street, from which place
the funeral will probably take place. Al
inquest will not be held until the invea-
tlgation has progressed further
Alongside the chimney and nearlv
back OF the stove, on the side away from
the road, were the ashes of box which
the night before had contained corn cohs
Under the partially burned chair were
also the ashes Of corn cobs, and in the
debris about the chair, in front of the
stove, were the fragments of the lamn
which had been broken and scatterad
about.
1t is altogether likely that the MIR
derer had his plans we'll laid and acted
deliberately and that he intended to burn
the mouse, with the possibility of snuffinp
OUT the lives OF the two children who
were asleep upstairs, and thereby
adding to his infamous crime, there
IS no doubt. As broken lamn
was found among the charred corn cohs
near the chair it is believed that be
broke 1t after the murder had been com
mltted and spread the oil over the cobs
TO make them burn. There are also evil
dences OF oil having been scattered about
the floor, which was probably done for
the purpose OF making the flames spread
rapidly. There was every opportunity
Tor fire, and as there was much wood
work about nobody can tell why the fire
did not spread and consume the whole
| house, but it did not for some reason
Nearly all of the cobs in the wood box
and under the chair were burned, as was
also some wood, which was apparently
among the cobs, but the flames did not
spread very far beyond where they were
started
The unfortunate man was born in
Chester county, Pa, on October l1th.
1872. He came to Wilmington about IL
years ago and lived in this city until
about two years ago. when he took
charge OF the farm where he was mur-
dercd. .
The following children survive Mr..
Farra :-john D. Farra, who lives on
Scott street, near Delaware avenue Mrs.
Henry Nowland, of No. 9l5 Brewster
street, Philadelphia Mrs. William Day.
OF No. 2O4 East Sixth street, this city
Mrs. Wallace Cobb, of No. 1926 Bouyier
street, Philadelphia Grace, Ralph, Hull
da, Willard and Mabel Farra who lived
with their father, and Naomi, who lives
with her aunt, Mrs. Sarah Ryan, at Ris-
ing Sun, Md. Naomi, who is the young
est, is 10 years of age.
Charles Thorn tie negro, who is sus-4
pected OF having committed the crime.
is said to be about 80 years of age. He
is 6 feet tall, weighs about $50 or 100
pounds, is brown in color and wore a
black mustache when last seen. He
had been wearing a blue storm overcoat,
blue oyeralls, stripped shirt and brown
slouch hat When he came to Will
mington he said he came from Baltimore.
Shortly before noon Chief of Police
Dolan received message from the Phila-
lelphia police informing him that a
,olored man who said his namo was
Harris and he had lived about seven
niles from Wilmington had been ar
ested there on suspicion of having
tolen team. He had in his possess
ion brown horse about 5 years old
md 10 hands high, with white on the
eft hind foot lie also was driving in
phnton painted black with red stripes,
70 further information was received con-
erning the man, but the police are max
ng an investigation.
The following is the police description
i Charles Thorn, colored A brown
olored negro, 25 to 30 years old, 6 feet
all, $50 to 100 pounds, a brown SLOUGH