Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-31

West Chester, Pa, May %. "A horri-
bio murder Was committed on the Min
shall Sharpless farm, in birmingham
township, today, and tho whole country
side IS worked up to high pitch OF
excitement. The victim was the comedy
wife Of William W. Morrison, and the
scene OF the crime is the tenant house
on, the Shnrpless farm, directly on the
Wilmington pike, about four miles
from West Chester. Who killed her is
as yet not known,
1t was about a o'clock this afternoon
when the husband, who was working in
the field, a Quarter OF mile distant.
was summoned to the house by his
aged father, with the horrifying in
formation that his wife had been slain.
The elder Morrison is man upwards
of 80 years old, and it fell to his lot to
discover the crime. Ele lived with his
son, and this morning be went to the
Brandywine to wash Upon his return
tn the house this afternoon, not seeing
his daughter-in.lsw about, be entered
the sitting room In search of her, when
terrible sight met his gaze. Every
thing in the room was turned upside
down, with Mrs. Morrison lying in the
middle Of the floor, with her head
CT ushed in.
The Surroundings bore evidence of a
terrible struggle, and from the disor-
dered condition of her clothing it IS
supposed the murderer first attempted
to oriminally assault her. Alongside of
the body lay heavy hickory club, with
sharp edges and an iron handle in one
end, the instrument used with such
deadly effect, It was covered with
blood and hair, and one heavy blow from
it would have been sufficient to kill an
ordinary person. The woman's face
was completely mashed In, the blood
saturated the floor.
The husband, who worked for Min
ehall Sharpless, was accustomed to take
his meals with the latter, and therefore
the last time he saw his wife alive was
at 4lo'olock this morning, when be left
her TO 60 to his daily toll as farm
{ hand. When he was summoned home
late In the afternoon he was at work
in a field with George Sharpiess and
George Jones.
Two other hired men on the same
farm, Lawrence and Daniel Hickey,
said that some time during the day,
while working near the Morrison house,
they heard Mrs. Morrison exclaim a
couple of times: "Get out Of here. -
Thinking that she was chasing dog
out Of the house they paid no attention
to her cries. As three suspicious look
ing tramps had been seen piowline
around the neighborhood during the day
1t is suspected that they are the parties
Mrs. Morrison was attempting to drive
of when the Hickeys heard her, and
that they are her murderers. F
Their tracks were traced for quite n
distance from the rear side of the house,
and Chief of Police Jofferis of this town,
has a squad Of men securing the entire
country surrounding the scene of the
crime. ~ 4 ~. fsEF Il
The dead woman's maiden name was
Stella Brown. She was daughter
of Adley Brown of West Chester, and
was 27 years old. She was married to
William. w. Morrison three years age
last September, according to her hus.
bands statement, but his father, who
was seen this evening, claims that she
wac never married, being only Morri.
sons housekeeper. The husband en-.
Joys a good reputation, and has worked
for Minshall Sharpiess for over n year.
Coroner Troutman was early on the
scene, and impanellod the following
Jury O. +. GroH, David M. Colder, Evanl
jackson. George s. Faucet, Jane!
Kirkpatrick and Morris s. Ingram. Tn,
inquest was postponed until tomorrow
morning. In the meantime the officer.
of the law are making desperate effort,
TO ind clew to the whereabouts of the
tramps seen in that reighborhood.