The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-03-15
BENDING STILL
IN CUSTODY.

| 11afflnGtOn MaTcu II, 1 Hc nuiuti VI
George Hearn is still the topic of con-
versaton here. Today the inquest on
the body Of the dead blacksmith was
begun.
Bending accounts for his ability to
pay the SIS note of which mention was
made yesterday 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 $780,
When DIR. Il. l.. Lewis, who was one or
the endorscrs. insisted upon his paying
the note he went to her and obtained
the 500. '"rhe SIS you found on me is
what was left after paying the note,
he declares. In explaining his where
abouts on Tuesday between the time
he is known to have last seen the muir
dered man and the time latter's body was
found, Bending says that about o'clock
in the morning he left Hearn sitting by
the stove in the kitchen of the Bending
house. Il went over to Miss Hickmans
to get rub oflsnuff,' the accused man
stated, land when | came back Hearn
was gone. Then l went over to tho
spoke factory and from there to the log
yard to get some red oak bark to make
an ooze for my sore nose. l brought the
bark back to the house and then went
around the front way to the sawmll,
where was when heard that ucarn's
body had been found
Ezekiel Flemmng, owner of the saw
mill, declares that Daniel Bending was
seen following LIearn with an ak over
his shoulder Tuesday morning. Asked
to account for the blood stains on his
shoes, Bending denied that there were
any. When told that his denial did not
alter the facts he stubbornly insisted
that if any stains were on the shoes
somebody had put them there. 81 never
had an AK, either" he declared. There
is no disputing the evidence TO the
contrary. however.
Bendng's mother supports her son in
his declaration that he procured 500
from her Tuesday. There is marked
difference in their statements though.
"Whchul heard that Mr.. Hearn had
Httll lbUHu hilH. i''iibiiis, says
Il sent for Daniel and told him he had
better take his money.
The inquest was begun today by the
jury which had been cmpanelcd by
Coroner Raynard and which is composed
Of the following: The Rev. W. Phillips,
T. $. MINER, ID. Il. Sawtclle, j. w.
Cam. W. |. Collins, j. II. IIorncy, II.
!. Smith, q. l.. Baird, John Sheldrakc,
William Simpson, James Porter and G.
$. Harrington.
Mr.. Phillips was chosen foreman.
The first witnSes called was Miss Fannie
Hickman, who discovered the body of
IIrarl. She testified TO the finding Of
the body on her way from school and
ran and Informed workmcn at Elem
ing's mill.
DR.. II. q. Riley testified to his being
summoned to the mill to care for Hearn,
and found him dead, having been so for
one or two hours. He left the body in
charge Of an undertaken.
J. A. Harrington, Il workman at Elem
ing's mill. testified to seeing the body.
Shortly after being notified he found a
25-crnt piece near the body. He saw
Daniel Bending rs he came in the MILL
Just as the u o'clock whistle blew
Bending alt"rward helped carry in the
body.
DR.. b. ]. Lewis. who with Drs. Riley
and Money made IN autopsy, testified to
finding bullet wound on the left side
of the neck, which struck the lower part
Of the inwbonc, passing through the
teeth, and coming out on the opposite
side. Death would not necessarily have
been caused by bullet alone, as both
jaws were broken, which indicated that
death had resulted from being struck
with blunt instrument, such as an axe
or bar. Ills brain and heart were found
in normal condition. The evidence Of
tn" other physicians was similar to that
iof Dr. Lewis.
The testimony was not concluded. there
being several witnesses to hear when the
jury took a recess. The investigation by
til" jury will be continued this morning.