Smyrna times., 1900-08-15
.ELOPEMENT CASE STIRS DOVER
HOWARD NJ. WILKINSON RUNS AWAY
WITH HIS WIFE'S SISTER

Hires a Team and Drives to FELTON,, Where
They Board the Norfolk Express
Plans Carefully Laid.
Dover revelled Sunday in the great
est sensation it has has since the Bot
kin murders, says the Wilmington
Erery EUening. The excitement re-
suited from the announcement that
Howard NJ. Wilkinson, a prominent
druggist, had eloped with his wife's
sister, Miss Josephine Packard. Be-
fore daylight, Wilkinson went to L.
W. Rust's stable and hired team, say
ing that he was going to Kits Ham,
mock, a bayshore resort nine miles
distant, but would return by 6 a. m.
Miss Packard's disappearance was not
discovered until few hours later. In
stead of going to the bayshore, Wilkin-
son and his companion drove to FELTON,,
where, it is supposed, they boarded
the night express bound for Norfolk.
The team was found Saturday after
noon hitched to post in FELTON,, and
was taken in charge by livery pend
ing the arrival of the owner. After a
consultation with Attorney r. H. Van
dyke, yesterday afternoon, Wilkinson's
fatherinlaw went to the telegraph Of
fee and telegraphed to various towns
throughout the State in an attempt to
intercept the eloping couple, but he
failed to locate them. The recovery of
the team was the only information he
could obtain.
Money Drawn From Bank.
1t was found, says the Philadelphia
Record, that DIR. Wilkinson had drawn
the money he had deposited to his per-
sOnal account in one of the banks,
about S165; that he had drawn 1925
from his business, which he would
need for actual expenses while on a
vacation of several days; that he had
sold his wife's trap carriage and fancy
harness, Sheriff Mcdaniel purchasing
the former, $125 vehicle, for $40 cash,
and that he had taken some of his
young wifes dresses and other cloth
ing, together with his belongings from
their home on State street. How much
of the latter was missing, however is
not clear, as Mrs. Wilkinson, the
young wife, had gone to Rehoboth a
few days before, taking her trunk with
her.
It was found that Wilkinson had not
only taken the $500 in cash, but he has
carried off all the solid silver wedding
presents given to him and his wife on
their wedding day. And he has taken
his wife's diamond ring, valued at 800
together with other valuables from the
house.
1t was also found that he shipped
several hundred dollars worth of fine
drugs and other articles from his phar.
macy, which he evidently intends as 6
starter in the drug business, where he
locates. The drugs were quietly
wheeled out piecemeal by the rear dool
Of the store, and was shipped by ex-
press to Charlotte, n. G.
DR.. Wilkinson on Saturday morning
obtained from the widow of his uncle,
DIR. J. NJ. Wilkinson, the latter's golt
watch, representing to the widow tina
the valuable timepiece was bequeathet
to him by his uncle.
Mrs. Nellie Wilkinson, the missing
druggists wife, returned from Reho
both Monday evening, in utter ignor
ance of the crushing news that awaited
her at her deserted home. After sh'
had replenished her wardrobe, sh'
went to the farm of her parents, nea
the suburbs of the town.
The Wilkinson pharmacy was CLOSED
Monday morning, Constables Killer
and Hurd taking possession on behal
OF some creditors, who know that
will be useless to continue the busi
ness under its present name, and VIII
advised a seizure and sale. The clerk
were barred out and were not allowe
to get their coats until the afternoon
The Eloplng Couple Traced.
DR.. Wilkinson said last week that b
was financially ruined man. Th
Philadelphia Record Of to-day say
that the exposure in the papers ha
caused him to leave Charlotte, N. @
and 60 to Greenville, s. @. He say
that his wife will have to get a divorce
mat he and Miss Packard love eac
| other and will never be separated.
Alter going to her fathers house
| MRS. Nellie Packard Wilkinson broH
\ uown last evening and seemed to hay
/ lost every iota of the magnificent sell
| control which she possessed since h'
rival at Dover from Rehoboth
/ learn OF the elopement Of her husban
/ with her only sister.
1 apparently forgetting her own grie