The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-01-25
PIERCES ARE
ARRESTED.

Quietly but surely the police have been
weaving u network of evidence, Circum-
stantial and direct, about the accused men
buo ii was not until their theories,
strengthened by the work of newspaper
investigation. had received the corrob.-
ration Of witnesses who saw James Pierce
and Georgia Eyre together on tue mo nine
Of Thursday, December 2l, that they felt
he case was strong enough to warrant
the arrest of the Pierce brothors on the
charge Of murder.
Wnen, yesterday, tho last links In the
chain Of evidences had been forged about
the two suspects, the police made prepara-
ions Tor the arrest.
"Pinney" Pierce was taken into custody
at his home at II O'clock, and half an hour
later jaime who had left tho house early
in the evening, though under the surycil-
once OF detectives re urnel, and was AZ
onpe placed under arrest by Chief Berry
assisttu by several or his officers. The
n"s"ners were lodged in separate cells in
the Chester Jail.
Inese ARE Is, sensational yet for some
days really expected, bringto II startling
climax II. search and an Investigation more
exhaus i've and thorough than any In the
criminal history of Delaware county.
Bit by bit tho evidence necessary to an
ARE has been gathered. Step by step
supposed murderers tor forty-eght hours
prior to the tragedy, md on that fatal day
itself, has been follow ed The testimony
of witness ait. r witness has been weighed
until the police reached tho conclusion
that the case against the accused not only
warranted the urres $, but was sufficiently
strong to insure the conviCt ion OF the men
suspect d.
The police have witnesses who saw Pin
to' creek on the morning Of Thursday,
DECEMBER 81, at which hour other witness
es saw two men go out from the Alpha
bua house in little skitf. ! hesa two mon
according to tho theory on which the ar
rests were based, where George Eyre and
"Jim Pierce.
Tracing tho cours, of fatcful evsn:s
from tho very beginning, tho uoice found
that Eyre had eft Sadie Pane 'a,tat 45
o'clock on the morning ol tho day OF his
disappearance.
he told her he had an engagement to go
bunting with Jim PiercN that morning.
Arriving in Chester ut s. Is, he telephon-
cd to his 81 ter, tel ing her that he would
not be home as lie wa going duck.huns-
inc with "J'n Pierc'."
Hr he went to Mi'ier's proyi ion ct r,
no ,tlo +. lruad ation, where Pie co n"d
u,uaiiy sod mis- ducks and fish. SborU-
keeper Miller suys that he inqnI ell for
Pierce and not finding him there, left.
Then, acrordingto 10 Charles John on, VIII,
is employed in AlIler's sto e, about s b
O'Clock JIM Pi, REQ put in an appearance
aud inquired for Eyre. Not finding him
he too, ielt.
From Miler's store IL is Surmised that
Pierce went to tho clubhouse. Meanwhile
IL Is pretty certain hat Eyre had arrived
at the clubhouse ami changed his clothes,
because the janitor says he wns not there
at or aftor 8 o'clock, wheu the lai ter went
on duty. AT all events he changed his
street. clothes Tor MS ducking sui, leaving
in hi, trousers pocket Sc. But no Kept
his watch, his ring, and took his two val
liable gun, with him. hrom the club
house to tho boathousr proper, ho wore u
black Cvercnat.
Pi rec, it Is believed, from the facts re-
lated, met him at the boathouse, whittier
he went In search for Eyre, and lett with
him in the skilf. This part of the circum-
stantlal account of the movements of the
two men is surmise, based on stlongly in
dica;!ve evidence.
But the strong facts, tho facts upon
W hich tho mos potent part OF The case Is
based, ere these:
Mrs. Lytle, colored woman and her
daughter, who reside near tho boathouse,
saw "Jim'' Pierce and Eyre on their way
to tho river in the close viciDiy OF tho
bUathOuSe.
O,hrr Witnesses, known to the police
give this story strong corroboration.
George smith, new tacto" in the caso
and the latest witness. found by the police
to add to the weight of evidence against
the accused, saw Jim Pierce and Eyre
leave the bnathouse in skitf tagcther.
shortly after they were seen by Mrs. Lytle.
Another witness, John G ny, declares
that he saw "Jim" Pierce on Friday aftor.
noon, he day after Eyres disappearance,
with SOS in money in his possession aud
wearing ring answering tho description
of one known to have belonged to Eyre
At two O'Clock "Jim" Pierce appeared
at The yards OF the Consumers Ice Com
puny and worked from then un IL four
o clock, helping Q ioad ice wagons.
HG vulun eered his services and received
no compensation for hem, though he
was never known rs tho kind Of man who
would do any wurk for notalng.
According to his own acknowledgment.
'Jlm' Pierce on that same night left
Oh rster and did not return until two
o'clock. the next morning He says he
was duck hunting"
The police have lwitness who says he
nw James Pierce in front of tho Cnnsum-
,r's Ice Company on Friday afternoon,
tNFFyluh WV ptOhuSOS VI
Tho suspicion Is that theso contained
parts of one of Eyre's guns,
Chester, Pa, IN. "A. " ith solemn,
impressive, but unoStnnlatious ceremnn'os
tho funeral o;IGeo. b. Eyre took place this
afternoon from his Frustrated mo hers
residence, 235 West Seventh street, and the
lamp clay Of Chester Rural Cemetery
,losrd ano, her scene In the horrible mur-
ier tragedy of December 2l.
The ceremonies were fixed to begin at 2.
30 y. H. but two hours before this the
II rect opposite the house was throngcd
with upwards Of 200 people. Strong men
we're awe struck and women treInbled
with nervousness, and their paid faces
old hat their thoughts were conferred on
he tlendiSh act which hal bereft OF life,
n carly nandood one of the city's best
,itizJns. The scene was u solemn one.
On every hand there WA doath-like ST.
ence. Mems lips wore firmly set and it
vas plainly visible that they wore endeav-
,ring to keep In check the strong impul-- |
i've feelings that ragged within aud cried
or vengeance.
Every opportunity was given the gener-
i public to view tho cnsket in which the |
eposed body the dead man, as the abuTd-
lance OF magnificent decorations with |
which it. was surrounded, The murdered |
mans face, however. they did not SEQ for
he casket lid was tightly fastened and
he features forever hid from view. This
vas done to hide from the morbid gaze of
seekers tho shot pierced, crushed
,ruised and blackenod head.
For almost three hours constant
cream of humanity passed in and ont of
10 parlor in which the body rested and
ach man and woman. with trembling
ips babe their townsInan and friend good
,yv. So largo was the crowd that one
you'd have thought that tho cty's entire
oula,lon had lett their stores and their
business ito pay last and loving tribute
o him whom in life they had loved and
whose young life had been cut short by
errible fate,
In every part OF the city there were
vidences Of universal regret at Mr..
,yre's death Tho church bells were toled
4 solemn grandeur amid a deashlike
llence. There was an apparent cessation
I the ordinary Chann nels OF industry; tho
sgs Of the Hanley Hose Company, Of
'hich Eyre was M active member, floated