Evening journal., 1902-05-02
OTHERS! SAY
They saw WAITE
Declare Negro Was in
Smyrna on April Y
HIS ALIBI STRENGTHENED
Twelve. Persons Will Swear They Saw
Accused Man in.Smyrna on Morn
ing Of Murder
speeIal 70 the EvenIng Journal.

Special TO the Evening Journal.
Smyrna, May 2.-The complete alibi
established in Smyrna for William
Waite. or Waite Sipple, which is the
proper name of the demented colored
man who was forced TO. confess that he
murdered Mrs Ida Collins near
Laurel on April ~, which was an i'm
possibility, as the man was in Smyrna
on that date, has aroused considerable
interest here in behalf of the crazy
cyclist, and now attention has
been called to the fellow, many prOmi-
nent citizens remember seeing Sip
pie in this town on THE day all Sussex
was startled. as well as the entire
State. by the most brutal crime in the
history of Delaware.
The citizens Of Smyrna have no in
terest in the murder, further than that
felt by all citizens of this common
wealth-that the murderer Of Mrs. Col
Inns shall suffer the penalty of his
crime. and that the real culprit, who
ever he may be. shall not escape JUS
tice.
The Evening Journals exclusive
story was read with great interest by
citizens of this community, and now
many business men remember seeing
Sipple in this town the day of the Sus-
sex murder. No matter what friends
of Collins may say to the contrary
there are enough citizens of Smyrna
who will swear that Sipple was here on
Saturday, April u, to clear tine man
from any connection with this
crime. The Evening Journals
correspondent yesterday learned of
others who can testify that
Sipple was here on April 12, as stated
in the Evening journal.
When Joseph R. Cummins was seen,
lIe said:
Il cannot fix the date of that Satur-
day by any other incident than the fu-
neral of Mrs. Alexander Wilson. You
know l do not go on duty on Saturday
night until o'clock, and was not act
ing in the capacity OF policeman when
/ took Chief of Police Benjamin Tur-
ner to Lake Como in my wagon. How
ever. | was with him when he told the
darkey TO get out of town, as the peo-
pie were afraid of him. | wanted 1'ur-
ner to arrest the man, but he was of
the opinion he would not have any
trouble with him, so simply ordered
the man to move on. l certainly can
testify this was on April -, Saturday
afternoon, about o'clock"
Howard Boyer the young man who
took Sipple's wheel while the latter
was resting at Abraham Wortenberry's
home, when questioned yesterday by
the Journal man, said: Yes, sir; took
Waite Sipple's Wheel but only in a bit
of fun"
What day was that, BOyer?"
Saturday afternoon, two weeks
ago"
''How do you fix the timer"
1T was the day Mrs Wilson was
buried. as / drove a carriage to the fu-
neral-Al. Hudson's carriage. After
the funeral | went to my home in South
Main street. and was teasing Sipple.
offered him 81 for the bike, but he said
he could not do that, as he had to ride
a long ways down the State. I first
saw that man on the Friday before at
sun up. when l was leaving home to
come to Mr.. Hudson's to work. My
mother Mrs. Frank Boyer also saw
him. He was riding down Main street
toward the pond as we went to the
door. / can swear to this statement,
if have TO-"
Half an hour later Mr.. Hudson, Boy
er's employer, was seen and when asked
if he had sent Boyer to Mrs. Wilson's
funeral to drive a team he said he had.
There can be no question about the date
Of Mrs Wilson's burial, as the records Of
FAIRIES & Son, undertakers, of Smyrna,
show she died Wednesday, April ., in
Philadelphia, and was buried in Smyrna,
on Saturday, April 12
Abraham Wortenberry at whose home
Sipple rested and was given food to eat.
was seen last night and in brief stated TO
your correspondent that Sipple was at his
home two weeks ago last Saturday, April
~. When asked how he knew it was on
the 18th, he replied Because the first
time l saw this man whom l believe to
be crazy, was on the evening of the morn
ing my brother William went to Philadel-
phia and that was Friday, April II. That
night l saw Sipple, who is a step-son of
old man Franklin, who lives on Fisher
street, about sundown and the next day,
Saturday, he was at my home"
William Wortenberry was found last
night at the postofice and when asked if
he had seen his brother Abraham today,
said he had not.
civilian, were you in Philadelphia
any time recently"
"Yes, sir; 1 went up on the Brady
three weeks ago tomorrow The boat
was to leave at 10 in the morning, but as
there was so much freight it was nearly
II when she got away"
"What date was thatT
1T was on Friday, April H."
Wortenberry further stated he did
not see Waite Sipple nor did he know
him. William Jorden, one Of the best
known colored men in Smyrna. a leader
among his fellows, was interviewed and
said he saw Sipple on East street, also on
Main street, on Saturday, April y, in the
morning, but did not see him that after
noon.
How do you fix the dates"
"Yery easily, sir, as it was Gilbert