The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-06-12
JIM'S PERIL
NENT QUERY.
Startling Story Of Media
Jail Just Comes to
Light.

Dodl ldu DCSh louiu duu thdl Ito
mute testimony backed by the story
told by Mary Cowan, would lead
him on the straight path to the
gallows?
This is the question which is
agitating thousands of persons in
Chester, and the conviction that he
did is strengthened by evidence
which came to light to-day.
Sheriff Edwin Oliver. it has just
been learned, visited the Delaware
county Jail on Friday, just two
davs before Pierce swung himself
into eternity. He saw Jim, who
asked him this question:
''Is it true that Berry has found
Eyre's skitf!'
The Sheriff replied that he did
not know, but that he had heard
that boat had been found by a
mud digger in the river, but that
Chief Berry would not say whether
or not it had been identified as be-
longing to the murdered man.
Last night over in Media an in
quest was held over the body of
Pierce. A half dozen witnesses
were examined by Coroner Elwood
S. Fry, and the jury returned the
simple verdict that "James Pierce
came to his death by suicide By
hanging himself.
The inquest was held in the Jail
warden's office. Warden Thomas
S. Fields was the first witness. He
said he believed Pierce was OF
sound mind when he hanged him
self. "Pinny' Pierce gave us more
trouble than any man insofar as
his requests for flvors was COIL
cerncd, but "Jim' always seemed
to be contentcd with his lot.
Warden Fields testified that he
was passing Pierce's cell about II
O'Clock Sunday morning when he
found the prisoner hanging by the
neck to bar of his cell. Then he
related the details of how he sum-
moned Deputy Warden Campbell
and afterwards Prison Physician
J. H. Fronield and DR.. e. M.
Harvey, who worked with Pierce
for some hours to bring him back
to life.
Chester, Pa, June 12.-Before
God and before man | swear that
the evidence gave before Mags-
trate Smith, in which | said James
Pierce told ne he killed George
Eyre is true, said Mary Cowan,
the famous woman in the case last
evening. shall stiekto that story
until my dying day.
There was something dramatic
in the way in which the unfortu-
nate woman spoke. She uttered
the sensational words with that
degree Of earnestness that could
not he doubted.
The story that | was in Media
Yesterday, and was at Jim Pierces
side when he died is lie. 1t was
told by newspaper that has told
a whole lot of lies about me. The
last time was in Media was on the
9th day of March, when | was call
ed before the grand jury.
n1ser bore the slightest bit of
mal:tI towards jim Pierce. Mary
Cowan continued, l had known
him about a year, He frequently
called on me, and always treated
me right, | was never offered
money or anything else for making
the statement that did. Friends
Of the Pierce boys have iEsulted
me, but they have never made any
open threats against me, so far as
know. | told the story because
ny conscience would not let me rest
aud l have since felt better for it.
may have my faults. but, so help
ne God, | told the truth, and | will
.epeat my story before Judge John
son whenever | am called upon to
10 so.
Chief Berry said last night, 'the
natter of the man who murdered
ieorge b. Eyre is closed as far as |
I'M concerned. | will continue to
ook for the boat and expect to find
t in the river.
This afternoon the body OF James
Pierce was removed from Coroner
frv's blishment to the home
If James Pierce, the father, at IS
iraham street and prepared for
'urial. The funeral will take place
Iext Thursday afternoon at ?
clock. and will be as private as it
$ possible to make it, The fea-
ures of the dead man present a
wonderfully lifelike appearance,
nut about the neck there is a dark,
eep ridge showing traces OF twine
With which the poor man took his
fe.
Brief services will be held at the
ather,s house, and only the i'm
lediate relatives and friends of the
,milv will be permitted to view the
emains. The body will be inter-
ed in Chester Rural Cemetery, not
lr from the Eyre family plot, in
hich the murdered George 3.
'yre was buried a short time ago.
While opinions differ as to the i
innocence or guilt OF the Pierce 4
oys, the deepest sympathy goes I,
1T to the family. ~
Chester, Pa, June l2.-Haggard d
,reworn and downcast Amos
ierce journeyed over to Media
lis morning, appeared at the bar
the Delaware County Court and I
as re-admitted to bail in the sum =
$4,000 in the Eyre murder case. j
e was accompanied by his gray Ct
aired father, his youngest brother a
rank Pierce, and his brother-in- \
W. Charles Newton. d
Peter Carey, who was on the
iginal bond, and Charles Long, =