The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-24
STRUCK HIS WIFE
WITH A SWITCH
DICKERSoN UNDER ARREST.
HELD PENDING INVESTIGATION OF
MRS. ELIZA DICKERSON's DEATH.

Coroner and SheriR's Posse Visited
DickersOp's Home With Intention
of Holding Inquest, But Jurors
Could Not Be Secured-BOdy of
Woman Was Buried Friday, and
Will Not Be Exhumed as Coroner
Has Already Made Thorough Ex-
aminatiOn-Inques VIII he Held
at Police Barracks Tomorrow.
Admitting that he struck his wife
with switch, but denying that he
inflicted wounds that caused her death,
Benjamin Dickerson is held a prisoner
in the county jail.
Coronel Keller will hold an investi-
cation some time tomorrow at police
headquarters over the body Of Mrs.
Elizabeth Dickerson. The coroner, &C
companied by Chief Deputy T. ].
Sweeny, Deputy Sheriff Meldrim and
Deputy Sheriff Fogarty, left Savannah
at noon yesterday to visit the scene
and hold an inquest over the remains.
The investigation was instituted at the
direct request of Henry ]. Toles, a
brother of the woman.
On arriving at the Dickerson home
it was found impossible to get enough
disinterested parties to serve as jury
and it was decided to wait until Mon
day to hold the inquest. 1t was also
found that the remains of Mrs. Dick
erson had been inferred at the family
burying grounds the day before.
VT0IIxad Tran Miles tn Get
After hearing the evidence of num-
Der of the witnesses summoned to APP
pear at the coroner's investigation,
Chief Deputy Sweeny decided that Ben
jamin Dickerson, the husband of the
deceased, should be placed under ar
rest.
On going to his home it was found
that Dickerson had not been there since
early morning, and the officers at once
started out to search for him. After
following him for ten miles on foot
they came up with him at a house of
a friend. He was surprised when told
that he was wanted. He did not
know that he had been followed, and
Offered no resistance when the officers
sought to put him under arrest.
The party returned to Savannah last
night, bringing Dickerson with them.
He talked freely, and admitted that he
had struck his wife, but said
it was with a small switch,
and that this could not have
possibly caused her DEATH The switch
with which he claims to have hit her
was brought back by the officers.
The exact nature of the evidence
against Dickerson was not divulged by
OaS1 hax
been summoned to appear at the inves-
tigation. According to statements
made by some of these, it is expected
that there will be sensational develop
ments in the case, involving others in
the neighborhood Chief Deputy
Sweeny will return to the scene of the
occurrence before the inquest, and col
lect evidence, which may implicate
others.
Body VIII Not BE Exhumed.
Coroner Keller has decided that it
will not be necessary to exhume the
body of the dead woman, as he has
already made an official examina ton.
He stated that while the injuries he
found on the body might have been
accidental the evidence would point
to the fact that they were inflicted
with intent to do harm.
One of the ribs was cracked, not
torn from the spinal column, as has
been stated, and there were several
bruises about the head and other parts
of the body. These injuries could not
have been inflicted with the small
switch which Benjamin Dickerson
claims is all he used on her, in the
opinion of the officers.
DickersOn Talked Freely.
When taken to the jail Dickerson an
swered all questions put to him read
lily. He is 49 years of age. and is en-
gagged in the shad fishing industry. He
and his wife lived at the 16-mile post,
directly on the banks of the Ogeechee
canal in a desolate looking old struc-
ture of ancient architectural design.
Dickerson was emphatic in his de-
NAL that he did anything that could
have possibly produced the death of
his wife. He had been cautioned
about making statements which would
implicate others until the officers could
make a thorough investigation.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dickerson had six
children, two of whom are grown, one
married daughter and a grown son.
The married daughter and Mrs. Horn
ing. who lives near the Dickerson
home, are the most important wit
nesses in the case. Mrs. Dickerson
died at her daughters home.
VIII Make Thorough Investigation.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Sweeny will
leave early this morning for the Dick
erson home, where ne will make d
thorough investigation If the causes
that led to the deaf - Mrs. DECKER
son.
Deputy Sweeny said that he was In
possession of information which he
was not at liberty to divulge, that
might cause sensational developments,
and other arrests may follow