Evening journal., 1902-04-30

insanity.
Tied Him to Tree
One day. according to Franklins
story. told your correspondent yester-
day afternoon, when interviewed. in
his rag shop on Fisher street, in the
presence of two or three companions,
while he was at work, man who
boarded with him came home to get
his axe, having obtained a days work
in the woods. Sipples mother asked
him to tie the boy to the tree in the
yard. as she was going to whip the lad
for disobeying her. Thinking the boy
too much for his mother, the boarder
compiled with the request, and went
about his business. For several hours
the woman beat the child with poker
and billets of wood. While engaged in
venting her spite upon the already
half dead boy, Dover physician
chanced TO pass that way, and at
glance took in the situation. He had
a warrant issued for the mother and
she was placed in Dover Jail for a
term. The Rev. George Dean, a col
ored preacher at Lockwood Chapel,
six miles from Cheswold a man who
owns his little farm and has consider
able influence in that neighborhood,
took young Sipple home with him and
supported the boy until he was 16
years old. Gradually the lads mind
began to grow duller, and he was sent
to Philadelphia hospital, but was not
there but week when the physicians
said he was a hopeless imbecile. A
little while after his return 10 Lock-
woods Chapel, Sipple left for parts
unknown. and was not seen in this
vicinity until Friday, April II. After
his mother was released from Dover
Jail. she married a man named Will
liam Thompson. She was also known
as Gracey Pratt and Gracey Collins,
having kept house for men of those
names. which accounts for the differ
ent aliases assumed by Waite, OF Sip
pie
Continuing the conversation, Frank
lin said: Two weeks ago last Friday
was in my shop when l heard a man
ask if Clayton Franklin lived here
came out and saw a colored man hold
ing a bicycle He was without a coat
and asked: Uncle Clate. don't you
know me. don't you know Waite Sip
pie? How is ViolaY / recognized my
stepson. who always called me uncle,
and wanted him to come in for a few
minutes. but he said he had little time.
as he was on his way below. The
weather was cool. and when I ques-
toned him about his coat, Bill said
he was not cold. He said people said
he was crazy, but he was not and won
dered he could not get them to go with
him, as he Travelled around a great
deal at night"
Sipple left Franklin's house and
later was seen lettering on East street.
1t is supposed the "hack near the mill
pond where he spent the night" was
vehicle belonging to China Potts,
across the "show lot" from Frank
Inns home. where the fire occurred
Sunday night.
On Saturday morning, April 70, Sip
pie was scorching on East street. He
was seen by Mary Fisher, Susan
Thomas. Amy HUT, Mabel Viney,
Edith Bumm and others. He tried to
force an entrance into Mary Fishers
home and nearly frightened the woman
to death. She. stated to the correspond
ent for the Evening journal that at
that time Sipple wore a c6at of a check
or plaid material. He afterwards
picked up board and made
believe it was a gun and pretended to
shoot the windows of the Fishers
home in pieces. Sipple also entered
the home of Edith Lumm, but did not
modest the children.
Chief OF Police Saw Him
Chief of Police Benjamin Turner
was sent for. but as Sipple was work
ing upon his wheel and not disturbing
the peace, the officer refused to arrest
him unless a warrant was sworn out
for the crazy man. This was not done
4 When questioned. Mary Fisher could
not fix the exact Saturday in her mind,
but knew it was the Saturday before
the Thursday she was at the home OF
a former employe, who was sick in
bed. at which time she told the daugh-
tier of the house to lock the doors and
bolt the windows. as a crazy man had
been in town the Friday and Saturday
previous. II was learned that the
Il Thursday referred to was April IL
which would again indicate that Sip
pie was in Smyrna on the morning OF
April II. Your correspondent can
vOuch that it was April II that this
conversation took place between this
servant and the young girl who was
caring for her mother. The Fisher
woman. while being interviewed al
her home. produced a picture taken
from a Philadelphia paper that she
claimed was an excellent likeness o.
Sirple. In this she was corroborated
by W. W. Beamer. a colored schoo
teacher. who was in the room.
On Saturday afternoon. shortly af
ter the dinner hour, William Johnson
a well-known colored teamster o
Smyrna. informed Officers Turner ant
lCummins that a colored man riding a
wheel had been annoying the residents
'of "Lewistown." near Lake Como