Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-09
WOMAN IN THE CASE,
Cheers and His Wife Make Confessions of
Roberts, Murder,


Centreville, Md, Aug THE mys-
terry connected with the murder of Solo
mon Roberts, which was committed on
Friday night, July 9th, has, it is be-
lieved. been cleared Robert A. Butler,
one Of the colored men arrested charged
with the murder, has been released, as
evidence has been produced which
seems to prove that he is an innocent
man. Matthew Cheers, the man who
stated that Butler committed the muir
der, and his wife, it is now believed,
are the only ones connected with the
case. The theory now Is that on the
night Of the murder Solomon Roberts
was decoyed to the straw stacks by the
wife OF Matthew Cheers and there muir
dered by Cheers.
Yesteday afternoon Constable Robert
Coursey went in search of Mary Cheers,
the wife of Matthew Cheers, and brought
her to Centreyille. On his way to town
with her he secured confession from
her. As soon as he reached here he
apprised States Attorney Harper of
what information he had obtained, and
10 short time they were behind closed
doors interviewing her. There being no
stenographer in town, they secured the
services OF rapid penman, who took
down the evidence OF Mary Cheers in
| order that the State may have it for
further use, No ore was allowed in the
room where the testimony was being
| taken. The woman hesitated several
times in giving her Testimony, but the
officers before they finished secured
what they believe to be u truthful
| statement.
She stated that on the day of the
| murder, in the morning, she had made
arrangements with Solomon Roberts to
meat him at the straw stacks at an APP
| pointed hour at night When Solomon
came out OF the kitchen whistling 1t
was signal for her to meet him. She
answered the signal, but had already
| gone toward the stacks and reached
there few minutes before Solomon.
| They had only been there short time
when Matthew Cheers, the husband of
the woman, arrived upon the scene. and
struck Roberts a stunning blow with a
club. Matthew then dragged the body.
still living, to the opposite side of the
stack, where it was found, and con-
tinued beating Roberts with HE club.
The cut on the side of the head was
made by the sharp edge of the club.
After he killed Roberts he searched his
pockets, took his gold watch and what
other things they contained Cheers
then buried the body in the straw aud
he aud his wife went to the house,
where he burned the club, the hat and
the glasses Of Roberts. .-
Ever since Saturday afternoon the
officials have believed that Cheers was
the only guilty man. and that Butler
knew nothing at all of the affair. Sat
urday afternoon Constables Ooursey and
Jump and Deputy Sheriff Seward found
the glasses worn by Roberts and some
pieces of wire which were 10 his hat in
Cheers stove. Cheers had stated that
Robert Butler had burned these articles.
Cheers. not knowing what his wife
had said. was again brought before
these questioning officials. He started
to rehearse bis story, and declared he
was telling the truth. States Attorney
Harper questioned him regarding his
whereabouts, but he stuck to his ole
story. Constable Coursey suggested
that Mr. Harper tell Cheers what his
, wife had stated. Cheers countenanct
changed In an instant and he tremblec
, like leaf. He was told what his wife
, had stated He asked Mr.. Coursey i
, he would promise to reprieye him II b.
told him all of the facts. Mr.. Course,
|
Uses, but stated that he always fount
] that person got off easier by telling
!. the truth than by telling lie. Cheer
! then said "Bting my wife in here ant
let me ask her u question, and il sh
tells me that she has told you what sh
. knows | will tell you the whole trutl
t about the affair."
i Mary Cheers was ushered in and toll
: her husband that she had told all sh
8 knew. Cheers then began bis story b
stating that his wife had told him Of
the Sunday previous that Roberts ha,
made proposals to her, but he neve
paid much attention to it. "Yet be
a fore the end of the week." said Cheers
: II began to suspect that Roberts wa
\ criminally Intimate with my wife. OF
1 the night of the murder my wife lei
my house, and /, being already sus
8 picious, determined to watch her
r Roberts came out whistling and fol
8 lowed him to tho straw stacks.
/. II found Roberts and my wife in
q comErom ising situation on the side {
Q the straw stacks next to the road.
struck Roberts blow on the hea6
This blow did not kill him, as h
struggled for some time draege
him around the stack and ther
70 Hn1Sneu Killing MIN. ArGer ne wa
1t dead pulled the straw out from undo
q the stacks and buried him. ! the
n went to the house with my wife, burne
l. tho club and hat and glasses and keI
u the watch. On Sunday morning weI
into the woods and buried the watci
The wool in which the watch WI
wrapped was some had in my puck,
at the time of the killing"
a Cheers stated that the reason he in
plioatad Butler was because he wante
10 to save his own neck. He was told til,
l. he had done Butler great iniustit
a and that he ought to ask Buffers TO
ID giveness. He said that he would an
so asked that they bring Butler In IL
ty room and no would apologize. Whe
% Butler was brought in Cheers extende
ut him his hand and told him that he ha
ia wionged him and asked his forgiveness
70 He also asked Butler to pray for. hin
Q. 1t is impossible to describe Butler
De expression. To say the lenst he WI
vs. the happiest man in Queen Anne
I'd county. Although Cheers tried to dri
ly him into the affair, yet he seemed
n