Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-07

serving life sentences seemed greatly
affected BY the parting. Stafford.
johnson and jackson seemed to be the
most affected by the scene. The escape
of these men fron like fate was almost
miraculous One prisoner who is serv-
ing a life sentence was told that he
might bid the man good-by stated
that he did not like the idea aod
would prefer to leave that part undone.
Daniel Miller, who is now serving a
life sentence for the murder of Noah
Benson, colored, whose headless body
was found in the canal at Delaware
City several years ago, went to the cell
OF the murderer, accompanied by one
OF the wardens and there shaved him,
after which Wright was asked il there
WAS anything else that he would like
to have done or anything that he
desired. As usual he replied that he
did not want anything, He stated that
the sheriff and wardens had been very
kind, az had also the men who waited
upon him. He desired that Mrs. Finn
and the wardens of the jail be>given
thanks for their kind treatment
During his stay in the Jail his
actions have been perfect enigma to
all who have been brought in contact
with him.
During yesterday afternoon, while
religious services were being held in
the Jail, Wilmington saloon keeper
who was among the Visitors, viewed the
scatfold and exclaimed 'Trot that
Niger out and let us have shot at him
now - Chief Warden Peirce Gould
caught hold of him by the nape of the
neck, and StonepiIe Boss William Con-
nor grabbed him by the arm and the
two men conducted him to the door
exit and locked him out.
Wright went to bed at 10 O'Clock and
slept sound during the entirs night,
awakening at >. 30 this morning. Night
Wardens Hance and Bowers we're at
his cell door all the time. but he was
not seen to move.
Last night Sheriff Finn asked him
what he wished for breakfast. He
stated that he did not care for any
special dishes. This morning he par
took heartily of ham and eggs, bread,
butter. coffee and preserves.
Shortly after O'Clock Wright was
brought from cell No. 30 on the upper
corridor whore he had been for several
days, and took him to cell No. 10, on
the lower corridor, where he was kept
until the walk to the scaffold.
Daniel Miller has been very attentive
to the needs of the condemned man
and helped dress him. He also wrote
farewell letter to Wright's mother and
sent her 81. 30. Wright had asked the
sheriff to keep the money. but the
latter told him his mother should have
il and this morning it was forwarded
to her.
Sheriff Flinn's wife and daughter
and two sons went to Newport this
morning to spend thu day.
THE STORY OF THE CRIME.
The crime for which Edward Wright
paid the penalty of the law was the
murder of Ida Crummel, colored, aged
% years, on Water street near Market,
on the night of July Both last. Ida.
who lived at No. 1908 Orange street,
had been Wright's sweetheart, and it
is said that thsy we're to have been
married ana that the house was fur.
nished. On the Saturday before the
murder. according TO the testimony OF
Mrs. Ward Boyer at the trial, she and
Ida met Wright, who said to Ida
Crummel that il he could not go
with her no one else should; that il he
could not 60 with her, he would kill
her. According 10 his own statement
to police officers, Wright bought a
revolver for the purpose of killing the
woman. He said he had done this after
an interview with Ida, in which she
said she wouldn't have nything to do
with him.
On the fatal night of Thursday,
July 30th, Ida Crummel and Mrs.
Ward Boyer went to the Wilmington &
Northern railroad station, Water and
French Streets, to see colored ex-
cursion come in from Reading. While
waiting for the train they walked over
to the r., w. & b. station, where they
met Edward Wright who wanted to
sneak to Ida Crummel, but she turned
away from him. The women returned
to tho W. 81 N. station and Wright
told Ward Boyer, whom he met later,
that If he met Ida be had something
for her. He declared il he caught her
with another man he would fix her.
After the excursion train came in
Mary Thomas, Joe WEIGH and Ida
Crummel started along the railroad
towards Market street and Mrs. Boyer
went to look for her husband. She
passed Wright on the way aud few
moments later heard shots. Wright
had overtaken Ida Crummel near
Market street. He called to her and
when she turned he fired. Ida fell.
Her assassin then stood over her and
| fired two or three more shots into her
PROSTATE form. Wright walked away
but was soou captured by the police.
He expressed no remorse at shooting
| the woman. and said he hoped she
would die. She did die about the time
she was being carried into the Della
ware Hospital.
Wright was put on trial for his life
at the September term of the court of
oyer and terminer. He was repre-
sented by AuFtin Harrington and Il.
r.. Cochran, Jr, who made two I'M
successful attempts to secure post
ponement. The case went to trial ON
Thursday, Octobe LIST, before the fol-
lowing jury james e. Donovan, Frank
W. Morrison, Isaac Elliott, Frank Me-
Lauehlin, Elwood l.. Hawthorne,
Thomas II. Townsend, Warren Y.
Messimer, Nathan M. Powell, Lewis
| II. Day, Caleb NJ Price, Vincent
| Moore and John W. Mitchell.
The defence admitted the killing,
but advanced the plea of insanity. A
number of witnesses testified that in
1898 Wright had been i'll and since
then had been troubled by pain in
his head Deputy Attorney General
| Peter L.. Cooper, Jr., held, however,
that the defence did not connect
| Wright's mental condition at tce time
of his illness, with his condition at
| thu time of the murder, Yle case was