Evening journal., 1904-05-20
VAN TRUMP DIES
IN HOSPITAL
Knocked Down by Blow Ad-
ministered by Charles
Armstrong With Fist
EXPIRES ON OPERATING TABLE
Post Mortem Examination Reveals
- That Dead Mans Skull Was Frae-
tured--Armstrons Charged with Muir
der in City Court This Morning.

Charged with murder, Charles Arm
strong an employe of the Wilmington
City Railway Company. was arraigned in
city Court this morning and he'd without
bail for a hearing tomorrow morning. He
Is charged with causing the death OF
Howell II. Van Trump. superintendent of
construction Of the Wilmington City Rail-
way Company.
Died in Hospital.
Van Trump died at the Homeopathic
Hospital last evening presumably from
the effects Of blow he received at the
hanls OF the prisoner
The deceased was a brother Of c. Regin-
aid Van Trump. who recently retired from
the position of superintendent Of the VIII
mington City Railway Company. He was
2S years old. and married, his wife being
a daugber Of Giles Lambson.
The prisoner is a.so a young married
man and always bore a good reputation.
His wife ana child were in court this
morning.
Knocked Van Trump Down.
According TO Witnesses OF the assault
Van Trump and several nnemen were driv
ing out West Fourth street ON Tuesday
afternoon last, and as they started uI
the hill leading from Harrison stree
westward Van Trump told the men they
had better alight to lessen the load foi
the horse to draw. Armstrong did no
alight Immediately and Van Trump spok'
to him rather SHARPLY. Armstrong afte
getting out of the wagon at Franklin
street, said he was not accustomed t
being spoken to In that manner, where
upon Van Trump told him he was dis
charged and could 50 TO the office to draw
his money Armstrong then struck Val
Trump knocking him down. AS qbickl.
as Inc struck him. Armstrong reache'
down and assisted Van Trump TO his feet
later washing the blood from his face "a
Policeman Saw Assault.
the spring On Tie corner VI Fourth an
Franklin street
Patrolmsn Snyder, who was of duty q
the t.me Witnessed the assault and place
Armstrong under arrest. Van Trump r,
turned TO the Office OF the railway con
pany and Or. Irvine Al. Finn was calle
"a 10 drcss MS wounds.
Armstrong was released on 500 ba
shortly after his arrest for a further heal
ing.
Became Friends Again.
Van Trump WOUNDS at tns ume wer
not considered serious and on Wednesdd
abternoon Armstrong called upon him
They parted good friends, Van Trum
telling Armstrong TO return TO work d
his old job as II nothing mad happene
between them. Armstrong also toid IN
l r-Hf,- tl.t Va, ffr,tr,.r. -afl IA. IaT t,.t ff
tend to prosecute the case.
Sudden Turn For the Worse.
Van Trump condition yesterday morn
n ing suddenly changed Tor the worse an
at DR.. Films suggestion, he was r,
moved 10 the Homeopathic Hospital. !
the afternoon when the surgeons were pr
pairing 70 operate, TO determine wheths
the injured mans skull was fractured IN
latter suddenly began 10 sink and viii
still under the influence Of ether, died q
the operating table
Skull Was Fractured.
The surgeons received permission fro
Coroner Samuel Mccormick to make
post mortem examination TO determh
where the fracture existed and as a resu
Of this examination. It was discovered tn
! the dead mans skull was fractured at Il
base OF the brain.
A Pitiful Case.
The case is one Of the most pltiful tn
5 has yer come to the notice o. the po ic
5 Van Trump was young married ma
: and had host of friends. Armstrong @
, ways bore a good reputation and was al
only recently married. Since Van Trun
= died, he has sat in "A kind of a stupor al
cried pitifully I'm his cell at the police st
tion last night. His wife and little bal
sat within several feet Of the dock
which he was confined this morning, b
he saw neither OF them. The baby laugh
and cooed and occasionally looked in 4
direction of the dock and lavished
! smiles on the policemen standing aroun
The office of The Wilmington City Ra
way Company will be closed from ] tc
O'Clock tomorrow afternoon so the ei
ployes can attend the funeral. The pa
bearers will be selected from the employ
n Of the company.