Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-07-31
THE DELAWARE CITY DROWNING.
Body Identified as That of william A
nar,nun

Douy tuentineu as Ihht Oh nbthui hs
Dorman.
The body of the man found in the Dela-
ware d Chesapeake Canal yesterday week
was that of William A. Dorman. He was
about 2G years of ago and was a cattle
tender on board of sbipe.
The body was discovered by William
Ennis, colored, driver Of John Roberts Ice
wagon, and was floating in the centre of the
canal. Alfred Hughes was notified, and,
entering small boat, fastened line about
the body and towed it ashore. William
Hagan then towed the body to the place
where 1t was taken out and placed in case.
William M. Householder, funeral director,
took charge of the body and removed 1t 20
his establishment.
search of the clothing revealed diary
neatly kept and recording his movements
every day. Thus on Sunday he arrived at
the dock, Philadelphia, at 1.30 p. m. The
last entry was boarded the Ericsson liner
letter was found from his sister, Mrs. Kate
Shields, Whitneyville, Conn.,, in which she
wrote Of Dorothy receiving the pin be sent
her and over which she was greatly pleased.
In one pocket pipe was found There was
no money. Deceased had an q9ht in Balti-
more.
DIR. Bastian made an examination of the
body and found that death resulted from
drowning.
| Foreman Smith presided and Norris Will
kinson was secretary at the coroner's inquest
held at Delaware City Friday 10 inquire
into the cause of the death of William A.
| Dorman, late of Baltimore, whose body was
found floating in the Delaware q Chesa-
peake Canal yesterday week. The verdict
rendered was as follows:
| Resolved, That William A. Dorman,
whose body was found in the waters of the
Delaware & chesapeake Canal, at Delaware
| City, Del, on Wednesday morning, July
23d, 1902, came to his death by causes un-
known TO the jury"
Mayor Collins of Delaware City was the
| first witness. He described the finding of
The body and produced the contents of the
/ pockets of the deceased. He gave the names
| of relatives of the deceased, as follows !:
| William Higgins, 244 Arch street, Philadel-
4 phia; his aunt, Mrs. A. Ledley, Baltimore,
| and his sister, Mrs. Kate Dorman Shields,
| Whitneyville, Conn. The affidavit OF
| coroner 8 physician, DIR. Joseph w. Bastian,
4 was read in which he attributed death to
/ drowning.
Miss Laura Householder, daughter OF
William Householder, stated that she had
i seen the deceased leave the steamboat
Ericsson on Monday evening and go toward
the hotel. She did not see him return to
4 the boat.
The Ericsson, which the man boarded on
Monday evening in Philadelphia, was al
Delaware CiIy during the inquest, and Capt.
John w. Grace of Baltimore, master OF the
boat, and the purser, O. Edwin Clarke oi
Chesapeake City, were called upon TO testify
as to what they knew Of Dorman and his
death. They each stated they knew that 9
man answering Dorman's description had
been on board the boat.
In January, 1898, deceased was in Co. +,
First Florida Regiment, o. s. ", al
Tampa, Fla. His place of residence priol
TO enlisting was 313 South Eutaw street
Baltimore. The diary showed careful
| record of each day, mentioning his leaving
Glasgow, Scotland, July 1th, on the steam
ship Siberia, arrival in Philadelphia on July
10Th, and his purchasing a ticket on thu
steamboat Ericsson for Baltimore. This wal
4 his last entry. r s-.F !.
As no further evidence could be obtained
the jury rendered the verdict quoted above
1t is supposed that the unfortunate mar
was accidentally drowned either by falling
off the boat or the wharf near the locks.
N The body was buried Friday. Services
were conducted at the Catholic Church b.
the pastor, Father McSweeney, and inter
ment was made at the Catholic cemetery
The pRllbearers were James A. Mulligan
Daniel O'Neill, Capt. John Long and Danie
Downey. 1t is expected that the body will
be moved to Baltimore at the convenience
of the fnmily.