The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-30
BLOODY HAT
AND COAT FOUND
They May Prove a Clue in
the Morrison Muir.
der Case.

the West Chester road, about three
miles from Radnor, may possibly
point to the way the slayer Of Stella
Morrison made his escape after
striking his victim down on last
Wednesday afternoon. Certainly
the peculiar discovery has created
no end Of comment in the neighbor-
hood of the pretty suburb, and the
residents feel that they have at
least part of a mystery on their
hands.
Coat and hat were in good con-
dition, but both were covered with
dark brown stains. The colored
man notified Thomas Burns, who
is employed on the Godfrey estate
and the latter removed the articles
and made a more minute investi-
cation.
There was nothing in the pockets
of the coat that would serve to iden-
tify the owner. In one of the pock-
cts, however, was found a thirty
two-calibre cartridge, such as are
used in Smith and Wesson revolv-
ers. The clothing was turned over
to Simon Miller, who is employed
BY Mr.. Godfrey. He intends keep
ing the articles until the authori-
ties in West Chester can be heard
from.
If the theory Of the police be cor
rect, that the murderer took to the
woods and thence reached the pike
after killing the woman, he could
readily reach the spot where the
bloody coat and hat were found
some time on Wednesday night.
The discovery of the garments was
made on Thursday morning. Who
ever left this clothing on the road
must have been anxious to get rid
of it, said Mr.. Miller yesterday.
The coat is good one, and any
farm hand around here would be |
only too glad to have such a gar
ment to work in.
Inquiry in the neighborhood yes
terday failed to disclose any one
who had seen a hatless and coat
less stranger on the road either
late on Wednesday night or early |
Thursday morning. None of the
men around the railroad station
recalled having seen a person Of
this description.
West Chester. Pa, May 30.-So
far the police Of West Chester have
been baffled in their effort to dis
cover Stella Morrison's murderer.
The only clue worth considering
are those advanced by ex-Superin-
tendent Linden. The man whose
intimacy with the Morrison woman
is known, and whose description
tallies with that of the man seen
sitting on the steps Of the murdered
home on Wednesday last
by Mrs, William Hoffman. OF Brin-
ton 8 Bridge. and by others as well
is the object of the authorities
special solicitude.
In an effort to trace this mans
since last Wednesday |
Chief of Police Jefferis and Acting
District Attorney Lack drove far
into the country yesterday, ques-
tioning various farmers who had
seen the .man on the day of the
murder. In an interview last night
The Acting District Attorney adj
mitted that their quest had been
well-nigh without definite result.
The suspected man is believed 10
have gone to Lancaster county,
where at former times he is known
to have worked in lumber camps.
It was while engaged in work Of
this character that he first met
Stella Morrison.
That the chief of police is doing
all that lies in his power to find
The assassin cannot be doubted.
There is a we'll defined feeling to-
night that important developments
will ensue within a short time. III;
these developments fail in their
purpose the Morrison crime it is
believed, will take its place in the
rather long list of unsolved muir
iers Of Chester county.
Washington Morrison, the hus-
band of the murdered woman. re. ,,
turned to work on the Sharples
arm today. Accompanied by the j.,
chief Of police he entered the house
the crime was committed
and collected his clothing. After
ne had left the chief again sealed
he doors,