The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-30
BRUTAL
MURDER.
Mr.. Burton West the VIC
tim of Unknown
AssassinS.

snow lllll, Mo-, Aprll SOL lie
open county road, about one mile
and half from this town, was the
scene of brutal murder last night.
and Mr.. Burton West, well-to do
and respected farmer, was the vic
tim of the crime. The affair is
shrouded with mystery, but it is
pretty certain that his death was an
act of violence, anh it is likewise
certain that plumber was the motive.
Mr.. West lives about seven
miles from town. i'll Atkinson's
district. and came to town earlier
than usual on Saturday. afternoon
to meet his wife, who had been
away on visit to friends. He met
her at the railroad station, and, after
doing their afternoon shopping,
he sent her home by his son, Mr..
James West, Mr.. West himself
having a wagon load Of shingles to
carry out. Mrs. West left town
about three o'clock, and the hus-
band remained until near midnight
when he was started home in
charge of two colored men. This
was the last seen or heard Of him
until this morning, when a colored
man who lives with Mr.. Charles X.
Mckee. about a mile from town,
was on his way home and found
the dead body OF Mr.. West lying
alongside the county road, in front
ofthe Mckee farm.
The negro was frightened at the
sight Of blood and the dead mans
body, and never went near the body
but fastened to tell Mr.. Mckee Of
his discovery. Mr.. Mckee. accom-
panied by his wife and the colored
man, went to the scene, and they
recognized the body at that OF Mr.
West. Logs were placcdaround
the scene to keep persons from
destroying footprints and other
tracks. Immediately States Attor-
ney r. d. Jones and Justice OF the
Peace Chas. Parker were notified
and Jury OF inquest summoned.
They have been at work all day and
a number Of witnesses were ex-
amined, including the two colored
men, Sanders Townsend and
Arnold Martin, who left town in
company with the murdered man.
When found an examination
showed that Mr.. West had been
struck heavy blow in the right
temple, which crushed his skull,
making a deep cash in the side OF
his head about the size Of a silver
dollar and hole in the center OF
the ga h about four inches deep.
In the center ofthe road was a pool
of blood, which had been covered
up BY dirt evidently thrown over it
by the murderer with his rightfoot
as the ground showed the prints.
From this pool Of ciotted blood
markes OH ground indicated that
some one or two men had taken
the dead man by the arms and
pulled him out OF the road to the
side path, distance OF eighteen
feet. That lie was dragged foremost
was shown by the prints OF his two
legs and the hcls OF his feet as they
were dragged through the sand.
The jury rendered verdict o
death at the hands Of unknown
persons. The stories Of the colored
men who left town with him are
the same. Both say they left Mr.
West at the forks Of the road, one
mile from town, and remained al
night with a friend. Mr.. West,
team was found at his road gate
this morning. lie had on hi
person when he left town a small
amount ofmoney anda watch, boil
Of which are missing. The two
colorcd mcr have been lodged il
jail to await further developments
There is considerable cxcitemen,
but there is no likelihood Of violcnc
unless it should develop beyon'
suspicion that the colored me-
murdered him for his money, an