Evening journal., 1900-01-27
MARY COWAN' S
STARTLING STORY
Says Jim Pierce Confessed 10 Her
I, That He Murdered George
B. Eyre.
ROBBERY WAS THE MOTIVE

ROBBERY WAS THE MOTIVE
WILMINGTON WOMAN swoRE
PIERCE TOLD HER HE SHOT
EYRE AND HIS BROTHER HELP
ED, HIM SINK THE BODY AND
THE BOAT IN RAccooN CREEK.
Chester, Jan. 2F.--District Attorney
Smith reserved his star witness for the
last at the hearing before Alderman
Smith, yesterday afternoon, in the
case II James Pierce and Amos Pierce,
charged with the murder OF Gorge b.
Eyre. ...4 ,. ,a
The crowd was dazed by the testi-
Inony of Mary Cowan, OF Wilmington.
DELI as there fell from her lips the
story OF a confession alleged to have
been made TO her on the Friday night
following the disappearance that
Pierce had shot Eyre to death near the
mouth oil laaccoon creek on December
2li that he aud his brother, "Pinny'
Pierce had tied stones to the corpse
and had sunk 1t in the Delaware, and
had weighted the murdered mans boat
down With stones and had likewise
sink Il and his gun in the river with
IA few yards Of the same spot where
they placed the body.
The witness said the wretched man
hau admitted to her that the motive
for the murder was robbery; that he
wanted money to buy Christmas pres-
ents, and that the possessions CT the
murdered man were divided between
himself and his brc.her.
A DRAMATIC SURPRISE.
II was after the audience had grown
very tired and Iestive frcm listening to
details that about $50 o'clock a stcut
veiled young woman, followed by an
other woman a little older, wearing a
light colcred coat and unveiled, was
ushered through a bhck door into the
&ldernans s Office. The veiled woman
took up position in front Of the pris-
Ont4b anu ldtlnt DAulAu
When the name OF Mary Cowan" was
called b. District Attorney Smith
Jim Pierce, who was closely watch
ed, did not vince.
II could be seen, despite her heavy
veil as she faced the alderman, that
she was laboring under excitement and
that her cheeks were flushed. She said
she had resided en- Tatnall street., vii.
N.I lie,
Chester prior TO going to Wilmington
about year ago.
How long have you known jim
Pierce?' asked the prosecuting attor.
ney.
Almost a year" was the reply.
When did you see Pierce in VIII
mington?"
"On Friday night, December %, a
No. AS Tatnall street. where / live
He came there between 6 and Z o'clock
! was eating supper when he arrived
He stayed until The following Sunday.
What did he say to you in refer
ence 20 the killing OF George B. Eyre? I?
inquired the district attorney.
"Eie told me enough to convict him o
the murder Of George B. Eyre. He tol,
me everything
i
the Quiyering voice Of the speaker a
she paused.
How did he ccme to tell It? Go o.
and tell in your own way said Dis
trict' Attorney Smith. encouragingly.
He woke up in the night in a grea
fright" she said He exclaimed:
did ~ ! did IL. He was asleep. an
yet he wasn't"
Il said to him, What was it yo
did?' He didn't say anything more iii
the middle OF the night, and then h
began talking. He said he had kille
George B. Eyre. He said he fired tn
shot and hit him In the back of tn
head. and that "Pinney' had helped {
carry the stones into the boat. He sal
"Pinney" had gone to the sugar hous
wharf and rowed out and met him q
RaccoOn creek"
did he say anything about
watch?" inquired the district attol
ney.
HE didn't" was the reply. Il sa
him have an open face gold watch
his possession that night"
Were the figures on that watch ii
same as ON my watch?" asked Distri
Attorney Smith. pulling out his ow
AuepicOc- DchCllut IL as well as yt
can"
The witness replied that she cou
not do so.
DIVIDING THE PLUMBER.
Then Mr., Smith asked: did he ss
anything about what he and "Pinne,
did about dividing the plunder?"
''He said he divided the money wi
'Pinney,' but he did not say how mu'
there was"
did he make any threats abo
what he would do to you if you to
this story?"
mo, he didn't say anything to I
about that. He wanted me to take
row up the river with him afterwai
He said he had a spot to show me.
asked the madam II I could go o
with him, She said no"
What did he say about sinking I
body and the boat?"
He said 'Pinney' helped him to si
the body. He didn't say 'Pinne
helped him to sink the boat"
Where did he say the crime VI
committed?"