Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-11-09
THE 0EAKYNEVlLLE MURDER.
Harry Wallace Arrested on the Charge OF
Killing His Common Law wi1e.

I'LL pLnNiNI Wbh6Eih
Harry wallace Arrested on the Charge of
Killing His Common Law wiie.
Shortly after : o oclockMonday evening
State Detective Walter Witsll arrived
at the iaiI in New Castle with a
detected looking specimen of humanity,
Harry Wallace, who had been arrested
on the charge of numbering his common
law wife, Mary G. Perry, the divorced
wife of John Perry, now of Woodland
Beach. The woman was formerly Miss
Mary G. Smith. The murder was COM
mitted at Dealiyneville about O'Clock
In the morning.
After unlocking the handouts. from
the wrist of the prisoner, Detective
Witsil advised that tho wardens make
careful search of the man in order 10
relieve him of anything that he might
use il he should want to kill himself.
A search of his pockets revealed a
piece of twine about 10 feet in length,
a pocketkbook containing several dol
lars, pawn ticket and corn husker.
His clothing consisted Of suit OF
underciothing, vest and trousers, |
overalls, jumper, gum boots and slouch
hat
Afer being searched Wallace talked |
| ipi % ~" ihonIhtS " A(uApStiNp
and promised that he would not do !
| anything rash and would keep stiff |
upper lip. He was then taken to cell
No, 81 and locked up to await the
action of the grand jury.
| He talked freely of the crime, how
ever, and stated that he did not intend
to kill the woman, but only intended
10 chastise her after she had thrown a
| hammer at him. He went into details
in relation to the affair. He said he
owned horse which his wife had
allowed man named Smith, living on
the place, to use on Sunday night for
the purpose of driving with his wife to
church. On the return of the couple
he found the horse to be very warm.
He and his wife quarieed over this
and she told him he might as well
leave the house; that she did not want
him around the place any longer. He
claims that he had been driven from
the home several times by the woman.
About year ago he went to Kansas
and remained there several weeks. He
and the woman had lived together fur
, for nearly eight years and when he got
into debt he turned over the property
to her and since that time she has
appeared to care but little for him.
i, "The time | went West and re-
. turned" he said, .she scarcely had
! anything to say to mo other than that
should get out. / asked to see the
two children and she brought them out
to me. then went to Philadelphia
: and there secured employment at the
9 works of the Baldwin Locomotive Co.
: l afterwards met her by appointment
7 at Woodland Beach and after talking
y matters over we decided to live TO.
q 4 fhut sn,a na a
many quarrels, -
Q In relation to the crime Wallace
o said: "After having breakfast Mon
e day morning gave Mollie to under,
stand that | would not allow anybody
u take the mare again. We had words
" and she ordered me to leave the houst
10 and | objected and said that wanted
the $40 that she had borrowed from
= me, that | would need the m oney il
case l should be without work fo
- several days She then said: 'Yol
will leave ut once, and / said that
a. would leave on the afternoon boat from
ig Smyrna She said Leave at once,
=; and picked up hammer lying on tn
s. window sill and let it fly at me. Th
y, result was it struck me glancing bloy
IS, OH the shoulder. [ got up and strucl
es her in the face and knocked her down
VI Jl1T Ieau SlTu iie StbNb. lollt VI lt
lg to get up and get the hammer agai
los and pushed her away and got hold q
nd tho hammer and struck her on tn
or head. She twisted as if about to &c
ed up again, but did not. 1 do not thin
/ hit her the second time. | saw th
in blood and went out of the house.
)r. met Willie Raughley and told him
VI go tell his grandmother that Nam wa
i'd sick. / then took to the railroad trac
ne and walked toward New Castle, whe
ed was met by several men who aske
th my name and was then arrested.
IL am sorry that she is dead. l haven
on anything to say about her. ~ He sal
,rn he hoped some person would look aft,
IN the children.
dy After Wallace had left. the house
negro named Smith, employed on Il
place. happened to go to the house ar
there found the woman lying in a po
I've OF blood He Mt once gave the alar
CO. and Constable Van Horn was notitie
OF A search was at once instituted for II
re- man and word was sent to Coron
of Vandever and Detective Witsil. III
ed. coroner and detective left this city
raj 2.45 O'Clock. On arriving at M
eet Pleasant it was learned taat Walla
md had BEEN picked up while waikiki
by along the track, and was at the static
IA Detective Witsil alighted and to
be charge OF Wallace and went to Middl
any town with him. where warrant W
} to sworn out before Magistrate Reynol
tier charging him with murder.
t is While on tho train between N
to Pleasant and Middletown Walla
o a talked freely to Detective Witsi a
confessed that he had committed
crime At the hearing before Mag
trate Reynolds at Middetown Walla
our was held without bail.
now % Coroner Vandever went to Townser
sing where ne einpaneleu jury auo neiu
APP inquest. NO witnesses were examine
For The coroner related the story of /
that affair as told by Wallace on the ira
II and the jury rendered verdict IL
feat tlsil. MARY q. Perry came to her death
snna3 the hand Of Harry Wallace, by bel
. per. struck on the head with hamm
Iiieh about s o'clock in tho morning.