Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-03-21

Harrington, March IA. Tho arrest of
Daniel Bending yesterday on suspicion
OF having murdered George W. learn.
the wheelwright, on the previous day,
served to intensity the excitement
aroused by that felonions deed.
Bending is brother Of Thomas Bend
ing, with whvm Hearn boarded; tracks
near the scene of the finding OF the
body correspond with Daniels shoes,
and drops thought to he blood were
noticed on the shoes. Bending is an
invalid, suffering from a cancer on the
face. Detective Bernard j. Money,
who made the arrest, aud Deputy At
torney General Robert Fl. Richards
questioned Bending yesterday after
noon. He denied any completely 10
the crime. Twenty five dollars in bills
we're found on him. After being taken
into custody Bending was brought into
the room where the body of his sup
posed victim lay, but he viewed the
dead man with apparent unconoern.
Last Monday Mr.. Iiearn exhibited to
several acquaiEtances sum of money
amounting to $3.50. all OF it was in bills
excepting ten 50 gold pieces. One of
the bills was of the denomination Of
500. None OF this money was in
Hearn's pockets when his body was
found lying IN the ground; within
few feet Of him were two of the IS gold
pieces. Even the large wallet in which
he had carried the bills and the smaller
one, which contained the $50 in gold
had disappeared.
Several months ago Bending borrowed
s75 on note which fell due last Mon
day. His indorsers, DIR. B. L. Lewis
and John p. Maaten were pressing him
to meet the obligation. According to
Bending's own statements he sent word
to DR.. Lewis yesterday afternoon that
he was prepared to pay the note. DR..
Lewis went for him. and together the
two went to Mr.. Masten's place Of
business, where Bending handed over
the $40.
lie accounts for his ability to pay the
note for SIS by saying that he got the
money from his mother, who lives In
harrington. Bending asserts that he
left with Mrs. Bending various sums
at various times until it amounted to
800. When DR.. Lewis insisted upon
his paying the note he went to her ard
secured the 800. "The s25 you found
on me is what was left after paying the
note,' he declares. In explaining his
whereabouts yesterday between the
time he is known to have last seen the
murdered man and the time latter's
body was found, Bending says that about
5 O'Clock in the morning he left Hearn
sitting by the stove in the kitchen of
the Bending house. II went over to
Hiss Hickman's to get rub of snuff"
the accused man stated, land when /
came back Hearn was gone Then /
went over to the spoke factory and from
there to the log yard to get some red
oak bark to make an ooze for my sore
nose. / brought the bark back tc the
house and then went around the front
way to the sawmill, where | was when
] heard that Hearn's body had been
found"
The place where the murder was COM
mitted ia unusually public. 1t is
within 100 feet of Ezekiel Fleming g
grist mill on one side. and the same
distance from the saw mill on the other
side
A large force of men is employed Mt
either place during the entire day.
The murdered man lay not 30 feet from
the rear door of the Bending house,
but the location is screened from view
by the pig-sty, although there is a slar
fence that would offer view of nearly
everything that could occur behind the
,sty, should person be gazing in that
direction. Stretching in broad expanse
south OF the pig ETY., thu Bending home
and the mile is a broad expapse of
fields, skirted on the south by dense
wood.
About 200 yards to the east is the
dwelling of Ezekiel Fleming, former
member of the Legislature. There is
an unobstructed view from Mr.. Flem-
ing's house to the place where the body
Of Hearn was found and the murder Is
supposed to have been committed.
Near where Hearn 'ssbody was found,
an axe with blood stains on the handle
was found.
Ezekiel Fleming, owner of the saw
mill, declares that Daniel Bending was
seen following Hearn with an ak over
his shoulder Tuesday morning. Asked
to account for the blood stains on bis
shoes, Bending denied that there we're
any. When told that his denial did NOT
alter tho facts he stubbornly insisted
that II any stains were on the shoes
somebody had put them there. ~
never had nm ak, elther," he declared.
There is no disputing the evidence tc
the contrary. however.
Bending's mother supports her son in
his declaration that he procured 500
from her Tuesday. There is marked
difference in their statements though.
when / heard that Mr.. Hearn had
been found dead" Mrs, Bending says,
~ sent for Daniel and told him he
had Better take his money!
In the official statement given out by
Or. I. j. Riley, DR.. b. L. Lewis anc
0r. P. M. Money, who performed the
I autopsy, say it was hardly possible fol
the wounds on the dead mans head tc
have been caused by an axe. They
think it more likely that club d
some kind was the instrument used
Last evening a piece OF blood stained
shingle lath was found under the mig
pen where Hearn was killed. The
doctors did not succeed in finding thl
bullet which is supposed to be LODGED
in the dead mans head.
Coroner Baynard yesterday empanelec
Jury, Of which a minister is foreman
He Is W. s. Phillips The other Juror
are: II. S. Minner, ID. e. Sawtelle, j
w. Cam, w. /. Collins, j. L. Horney
Il. j. Smith, q. L. Baird, John Shell
drake, William Simpson, James Porte
and G. s, Harrington. They met in tn
Aftnrnaon and adjourned.
Harrington, March l4.-An ipques
was Eegun here to-day in the matter o
the death of George w. Hearn, wh,
was murdered ON Tuesday.
Coroner Baynard. with his jury, me
10 the Oiera House at 11.30 o'clock
The Rev. w. S. Phillips, pastor of th,
p Ilhnrala p,nu f1run,ap Tho Al q