The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-03-18
MURDER At
WEST CHESTER

had come to the decision that Lydia
Sharpe, As years Of age, the half
breed Indian, whose dead body was
found IN Young's woods near the
county farm early Saturday morn.
ing, had been inhumanely treated
and then murdered. In accordance
with this decision he has called the
matter to the attention of District
Attorney Baldwin, and the two Of
ticials will be prese mt at an autopsy
to be conducted by DR.. Scattergood:
Of this city, at Marsh atitoh, to NOR
row morning. Meanwhile the Cor
oner is using every effort to locate
two colored men who fed from the
County House just after the disap.
pearance of Lydia Sharpe from that
institution became noised about. In
reviewing the caseto-night Coroner
Troutman said.
''There is every reason to believe
that the unfortunate woman was
llltreated and killed. When young
Frank Young found the body in
the dense woods on his ather s farm
yesterday. at once went to the
farm and took possession Of the
body. The corpse was frozen rigid.
1t lay on its back. Ole OF the ears
was almost torn off, and a bad
wound on the back Of the head in
dictated that the woman had prob
ably been knocked down with
club or some other weapon. Her
lower extremities we're uncovered,
part OF her wearing apparel was
torn and lay on the ground, and
even her shoes had been removed.
which latter fact have been able
to accountfor on the theory that the
persons whom have suspected Of
making away with the woman and
who also knew that she carried
money in her stocking, intended to
rob her.
Lydia Sharpe had been at the
County House Tor little more than
year, and during her stay served
in the capacity Of cook. Although
Indian blood ran in her veins she
was rather better looking than
most women OF her class, and | be-
lieve this fact was responsible for
attracting to her the attention OF
the men whom ! believe made way
with her.
One of the strange features Of the
case and one OF which makes mat
ters look worse for the men under
suspicion is that they spent their
whole lives in this vicinity up to the
disappearance of Lydia Sharpe.
and since then the officials at the
County House have been unable to
find the slightest trace Of the men.
with the exception of one. Harry
Taylor, who was found dead near
harrisburg about one week. alter he
and his two companions ran away,
"Taylor was found in an empty
building, and, although we reached
no definite conclusion as to how he
came to his death, there was no rea-
son at that time for conducting an es-
pecially rigid Investigation, and he
was accordingly buried at the County
House. 1t is now my opinion that
Taylor knew all about the death of
Lydia Sharpe, that he weakened and
threatened TO make public his knowl.
edge, and that he, too, was done away
with.
"rhere are other bits of evidence
which will be given to the jury later.
and we also expect the autopsy to dis
close some interesting features to-
morrow. Owing to the bitter cold
weather that prevailed during all of
February the body was in excellent
condition and will accordingly aid our
investigation. To my mind that wo.
man never went to tine woods of her
own accord, and it is also my opinion
that she was murdered in most bru-
tai manner.
Superintendent Davis Garrett, of
the County House, gave the following
information this afternoon:
Lydia Sharpe came here from Az
ondalC oD May 10, 1900. She gave
her age as 40 years, bat she looked to
be 81. She claimed to be i'll al the
time. AS she grew well again wegave
her work in the kitchen, but at no
time was she under restraint, because
she had come here OF her own accord,
and il was not more than wight that
she should leave when she pleased.
She stayed until February >, at which
time she disappeared
LAS for the cOlored men, it is true
they committed misdecdS and fled the
institution. but do not believe they
murdered the woman. 1t is my Upin-
ion that she went into the woods of
her own accord. probably in her weak
condition of mind becoming confused
and losing her way. While here she
did not associate with the colorcd PEG.
pie. in fact. would have nothing to do
with them. and can I see how these
men could have had the influence over
her that is attributed to them by the
county officials.
1.-The woman has sister in this in
stitution who is weak minded and who
has been an inmate for II years She
also, strange to say left $ll.e0 locked
IN our safe.
Good Work