Evening journal., 1904-09-05
MURDERER TOOK
SIMON s ADVICE
Man Wanted in Boston for
Shooting Was in Business
in This City
TOLO LOCAL MAN HIS STORY

After living here for almost a month
.practicing as chiropodst. "Dr. f. 7.
Howard" or as he was rightly known,
Eugene Stafford, walked into a Boston
police station and gave himself up to
answer the charge of murder. He was
indicted in March last for the murder
of NJ. B. Trussell. at No. 2OS West
Springfield street on February Is. He
told a remarkable story Of his wander
ings since the crime was committed.
Stafford came to Wilmington twice,
once as a representative of the Layton
Carnival Company and the second time
as practicing chiropodist. on each
occasion he made his home with
George H. Simon, at No. 52S West
Fourth street.
July 3 was the date of Stafford's first
visit here, and he remained one week,
leaving with the carnival company. He
next appeared three weeks later. In
speaking of the case last night. Mr..
Simon said: zone night went into his
room and found him wringing his
hands, and putting his hands to his
head and the back OF his neck. as if
he had some trouble. I asked him IL
could do anything for him. and he
told me it was all over his wife. I told
him to put his shoulder to the wheel, to
forget the past and try to push ahead.
That seemed TO brighten him a little,
but often he became melancholy.
About the night before he left, when
came home he was sitting here on the
porch. AS 1 passed him / remarked
We'll. Howard. how is it going?
About as bad as ever. and if anything
worse. he replied. 1 went into the
house, and he came in shortly after
ward and told me that he was sorry
he did not have money to pay me the
two weeks board he owed. He thought
if he could go over to Coney Island he
could get employment there. He was
an aeronaut and general Snowman. and
he told me he would leave some of hi,
trunks and grips of clothing and cos.
tunes, and / could ship them to hin
after he had sent me the money e
pay his board. l told him that if hl
thought he could make out all right a
Coney Island to go there and to TAX
3 his trunks and grips with him. l knew
) he was in hard luck and l believed hin
3 honest.
e That seemed to brighten him up. H
/ patted me on the back and said
George you don't know ALL We sa
E down together and he told me abou
I killing the man in Boston. We sat 70
e three hours and he told me a complet
s story. At first I was not inclined L
9 believe 1t. but toward the close I knew
4 it must be true. He asked my advice
and I told him If what he said wa
F., true he ought to go back and surren
der. as I think he has a very goo
= chance of going free. He said he woul
go to Coney, to try to get some employ
ment, and would surrender in about
: month. / see he has given himself up.
= Il believe if he had not surrendere
= he would have ended at Farnhurst, h
" worried so much. He left my house tn
70 next morning. Many of his trunks cor
: tanning the finest clothing and cos
tunes for his acts are here at my hous
a now, and as soon as hear from som
a of his friends I will send them on. w
e never suspected any such thing {
e Howard. as we knew him, and had n
If fear of him after he told me of KILN
the man."
It Stafford caught Trussell in the san
ie room with his wife and shot him dea
N Stafford and his wife had not lived t
5. gether FOR a year.