Middletown transcript., 1901-07-13
VERDICT OF CoRoNER's JURY

There were sensational developments
Saturday at the inquest over the body of
Thomas B. Windsor, proprietor of the
Windsor Hotel, Milford, who was shot by
his son, James Edward Windsor, and
who before dying swore that his son shot
him by accident.
This statement the coroner put little
faith in, and he conducted the investiga-
ton with view to the prosecution of the
son, who has disappeared.
As the tragedy occurred in Sussex
county, a few feet from Kent county line,
the inquest was held by Sussex county's
coroner, Samnel NJ. Marsh, at that place.
The coroner's jury examined about 20
witnesses. Sensational and damaging
testimony was given by Lottie Wright,
neat-looking mulatto attendant of the
hotel, who saw the tragedy.
Lottie Wright's testimony was taken
in writing and signed by her in the pre-
sence of the jury. 1t came after large
number of witnesses had testified to hear
ing quarrel between the father and son,
and to running away before the shooting.
They didn't mind seeing a fight, but
their stomachs would not permit their
staying to see mans head blown off by
his own son.
The girls testimony, verbatim, was as
follows:
''Mr. Eddie (the SOM was going to the
beach to take load of passengers who
had offered him good pay to drive them
down. His father at first told him he
could, but afterward, when Mr.. Eddie
had fixed the wagon and harnessed his
horses, and had come into wait on the
porch, he told his son he could not take
the team out.
Why, you just told me l could
said Eddie.
eyes; but you better not
"What in theh-ld do you mean, father?
Do you know what you are? You're "a
orner, dirty man.
Both then began cursing, calling each
other word for word. Mr.. Windsor Or
dered Eddie out of the barroom, declar-
ing that if he did not desist he would
knock him in the head with his heavy
cane.
eddie said: well, Pve had enough
of this. Now Pm going to put you out |
of business. I'm going to shoot youp
"Mr. Windsor shouted: What, shoot |
me?'
Edward answered, with an oath; Yes
Pm going to shoot you.
edward went out from the barroom
to closet in the readingroom and got |
the shotgun, loading it as he re-entered
the barroom.
'Mr Windsor shouted: "Why, you-p
GAS Mr.. Windsor said that Eddie put |
the gun to his shoulder and shot right |
straight, and Mr.. Windsor screamed:
Chr and clapped his hand to his heart.
'I was standing in the doorway through |
it all. Mr.. Windsor grabbed the gun
just as his son shot, but too late to spoil
the aim, and that's how the load tore his
hand. The ladies rushed in and took the
gun from Eddie, and he went out the
back door with long knife in his hand,
swearing that he would kill himself.
That's the last we've seen of him."
Chief of Police Nathaniel Thomas of
William S. Collin, Captain
George W. Dennis, Thomas Cooper, Peter
Brown and several other witnesses testi-
fed to hearing threats on both sides and
hearing young Windsor tell his father he
was going to put him ''out of business"
and that he loaded his gun in their sight.
When he raised it TO shoot, however, the
sight was too much for them, and they
fled from the hotel, some of them afraid
of the desperate young man.
After hearing the feeble attempt of the
father to shield his son by an ante-mor-
tenn statement, taking the blame upon
himself, the jury found a verdict that
Thomas B. Windsor came to his death by
a gunshot wound inflicted by his son,
Edward Windsor, on July 18th, in Cedar
Creek hundred.
Thomas B. Windsor suffered the same
fate as his mother, Nancy Windsor, who
was shot by her husband, John Windsor,
father of Thomas B. Windsor.
The affair occurred in 1S47, at which
time Thomas was babe sitting beside
his mother.
The husband came in the room with
a knife, saying: "Nancy, l have come to
kill YOU" Her reply was: "John, you
have often said that
He struck at her with the knife, but
did not succeed in his purpose. Enter
ing another room he secured gun, and.
he fired the shot which caused
Instant death.
Windsor was sentenced several times
% be hanged, but was each time respited, |
lying at an old age in the Sussex County |
Almshouse.