The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-06-02
REWARD FOR
MURDERER.
Authorities of West Chest
er at Last Take DeCi-
Siye Action.

west Chester, "a, June -
Spurred to take some action by the
indignant protests of West Chest
er's citizens, the County Commits
sioners to-day offered a reward of
$500 for the arrest and conviction
of the murderer or murderers of
Stella Morrison. Ever since the
preparation of this beastly crime
the town has been chatting under
the inaction of the authorities. At
noon to-day the reward was offer
ed.
One of the Commissioners, in an
interview with a newspaper re-
porter yesterday, gave an explana-
tion of their duty.
"How could we offer a reward"
he said, "when the Coroner's Jury
had not yet brought in any YER
dict? When it had not yet been
declared officially that the woman
was murdered? Now that such
verdict has been rendered, we have
offered a reward for the assassin.
Despite this explanation the gen.
eral feeling is that matters have
been left to take care of themselves
too long; that the scent has been
allowed to grow cold. One of the
jurymen in the case said Yesterday
that the Commissioners had not
intended to take any action,
and would not have done so
had it not been for the pressure
brought to bear upon them. He
pointed to the fact that IN
case where woman is found with
the back Of her head caved in and
the implement with which the mfr
derous blow was dealt lying close
beside her, it seemed curious that
nothing could be accomplished
until the Coroner declared that a
murder had been committed Ac-
cording to this, the perpetrator of
the crime could not have been ar
rested during the time which elaps-
ed between the crimes commission
and the rendering OF the Coroner's
verdict, whole week. Reasoning
of this kind, said the iuryman,
helps one greatly in coming to full
appreciation of the methods Of the
Dreyfus trial Of the knave in Alice
in Wonderland.
Nevertheless, it is generally
hoped that the offer of the reward,
even at this late date, may bring
something to the surface. It is be-
lieved that there are at least three
men living near the Morrison house
who could throw some light upon
the mystery, did they tell all they
are thought to know.
A newspaper reporter drove to
the scene OF the murder yesterday.
Looking in at the window of the
Morrison house, he saw old Daddy
Morrison busily engaged in pack
ing some tools and clothing. Daddy
said that he had secured permits
sion from Chief Jefferis to enter
and take away his belongings. The
old man did not seem much per-
turbed, even though he was stand
ing close by the great dark spot on
the wooden floor which marks the
place where Stella Morrison's life
blood flowed away. Morrison so
completely proved an alibi at the
inquest yesterday that no shadow
OF guilt now rests upon him.
Contrary to expectations, the
District Attorney has not yet re-
turned to West Chester. Although
he is aggressive and capable, the
people do not feel that his presence
can do much now to bring the muir.
derer to Justice. The Morrison
murder seems ordained to take its
place in the catalogue OF unsolved
crimes. There is little chance that
the thug who dealt the brutal blow
on May . will ever be apprehcnd-
ed.
Chief Jcifcris is an ardent lover
Of roses. During the time not spent
in counting brain fag and extreme
emaciation through his pursuit of
the elusive clue he calls the frag-
rant blooms which embower his
country lodge and nod invitingly to
their sister roses in the Normal |
School opposite. To the languid |
Oriental the scent of the roses is
dear. There is much that savors
of Orientalsm about Chief of Police
Je tfcris Of West Chester.