Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-01-06
PROBABLY CHARLES THORN
A Negro Suspected Of>GeOr66 D. Farra'S
Murder Arrested in Virginia.
WAS CAPTURED NEAR PETERSBURG
Is in Custody of Detectives
Money and Wltsil.
THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT MAN

Detectives Witsil and McVeH who
left Wilmington on Monday morning
for Virginia, have arreateh negro who
ia supposed to he Charles Thorn, the
suspected murderer of George d. FArra.
Tho capture was n;ade near Petersburg.
and in response to telegram sent ny
the detectives last night, Chief of
Police Dolan and Willard Farra, BOD of
the man who was killed, left yesterday
morning at sol O'Clock for Petersburg.
The chief tnok the boy with him for
the purpose Of identifying the negro,
as the lad lived at the house while
'rhurn was there and will have no
trouble in recognizing bin.
The message which WINS received
from the detectives contained hut little
information, but there was enough to
indicate that they we're pretty sure that
tney had the. right man.
The capture is the result Of neat
piece o; work which was performed Ivy
Detectives Witsil and McVey, assisted
Ivy others, at and near Now Castle,
aud, priur to their departure their
plans were go well laid that there was
little chance of the man they we're after
making his escape. In fact, be knew
nothing about what was going on here,
aud, in all probability, was very much
surprised ia see tho officers
II Willard Farra identifies the
prisoner as Thorn the latter will lo
brought to Delaware as soon as prac-
ticulle and will be lndGed in New
Castle jail to await the action of the
grand Jury. Tbs coroner'I jury has
already placed the responsibility for
Mr.. Fnrra'a death upon Thorn and, as
the evidence ia very damaging, the
grand jury, il called upon TO act, will
undoubtedly tlo likewise.
Sergennts Bnylsy and Evans left
this city yesterday morning shortly after
q o. clock for New Castle. They lett
the car at the corner Of Fourth and
Delaware streets aud won't south on
Fourth street to tho home OF colored
man.
Upon receiving response to their
knock they entered the house and a
search of the premises was made.
The officers were armed with the
proper state warrants and were on the
hunt for the clothes worn by Thorn.
A search of tho premises failed to reveal
any clothing large enough for Thorn.
~
The officers had been informed that
of the murder and changed his clothes,
but, it so, lie must have taken his
clothes with him when he left.
The police have been informed that
Thorn after changing his clothes went
direct to Virginia, and the impression
is that no has been living with Tela-
tiya there.
THE SUSPECT ARRESTED.
Petersburg, W., Jan. 5--Chief OF
Police Parkinson Ut this city anil State
Detectives Walter Witsil and B. ]. Nc
Vey of Wilmington, Del, arrested at
an early hour this morning, in the
Kitchen OF Moses Yatoy, coloreG, on
East Washington street, David Stewart,
alias Charles Wilson, negro, on sus.
picon OF bning Charles Thorn, wbn
murdered George D. Farra, who resided
just outside of Wilmington, on tho 2ith
of last December.
The detectives arrived here last Sun.
day. Yesterday, accompanied by Chief
of Police Parkinson and Lieut.. Chandler
OF the police force of Petersburg, they
left here fur Dinwiddie county in
buggies, armed with shotgunH, ostensi-
bly, ON bunting trip but in fact
searching for Thorn. Ina officers went
es far aH Ford's Depot, on the Norfolk
&c Noitern railroad, about 10 milen
from Petersburg, whore, upon their
arrival, they learned that negro
answering tho description OF tho man
they wore in search of hal left there
on freight train for Petersburg last
10 Aft al
to this city and began a search for the
fugitive, with tho result as stated.
Moses Yates, ut whose house Stewart
was found, ia relative of tho latter.
The man under arrest is about 2G
years of ags anu bright mulatto. lie
denies that he is the murderer wanted,
but the detectives say that be answerH
in every particular that given OF Thorn.