Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-16

DOVER, Del. July 1k-The villages OF
Marydel and Temp1evi1le, about ten miles
from here, and Just over the Maryland
line In Caroline and Queen Anne counties,
were greatly excited Tuesday when it was
learned that the body OF William VIII
liams. aged sixty-fDur years, a prominent
farmer Of that community, had been
found prupped against the trunk OF a
tree. with a rope around the neck and
with an ugly scar on the top of the head.
1t was supposed at first that Williams had
been lynched. because In his pocket was
found a license to marry Elisabeth Walls,
the thirteen-year-o1d daughter OF one Of
his tenants. The prevalent belief now Is
that Williams was murdered by some Of
his relatives. who had been bitterly op-
posed TO his marrying the young girl
The facts brought out at the inquest held
1t Templeville yesterday afternoon do not
point TO any particular individual.
Tuesday shortly before noon Mr. John
Russum. a farmer, living at Barclay.
into the thicket near his house to gather
some blackberries. and 1t was at this
time that he discovered the body. He
had penetrated the thicket but a short
which was propped against q tree with a
small rope around the neck. The pres
ence Of this rope on the body is what
gives the case an air Of mystery and
makes it debatable question whether
the man was lynched for attempting to
marry the child, Elizabeth Walls, or was
murdered.
Body Found in Thicket.
When Russum found the body the feet
were on the ground and the body was in
an upright position. with one arm around
Ifv,.H of
the part of the friends Of the girl is
hooted at. because the body when found
was neither drawn up nor was the neck
broken. When Russum found the body
he did not wait to make an investigation,
but ran out to the road to get assistance.
and he met DR.. ]. r. Smith Of Temple
vile. DR.. Smith went into the thicket
and assisted in cutting the body down.
Relatives of the farmer were notified, and
his son. Thomas Williams, took charge of
the body.
DIR. Smith performed an autopsy and
found that Williams had been struck over
the head with some heavy implement,
presumably board. 1t was the discov-
cry of this wound by DR. Smith that dis
PEELED the idea in the minds of some that
Williams had been lynched. When DIR.
Smith and Russum cut the body down
they searched the pockets Of the clothes
and found the license for Williams to
marry the Walls girl
Discovery Of Marriage License.
On the discovery of the license it was
at once assumed that Williams had not
killed himself The girl had just passed
into her teens and is not particularly we'll
developed for her age. The fact that he
had any intention of marrying the girl
was surprise. The first conclusion was
that the members Of the girls family
had gotten wind of the affair and had
lynched him for his presumption.
This theory was accepted until DR..
Smith found the wound on the head. Then
the fact came to light that the members
of Williams family had been bitterly OPP
posed to the match They had taken the
ground. it is understood. that a relative
of the girl was pushing the match In or
der to get hold on Williams and eventu-
ally get some of the latter's money. The
old man and the girl did not move in the
same social circles.
Wednesday Coroner S. c. Faulkner
held an inquest. the jury finding that
Williams came to his death by being
struck on the head with some blunt in
strument In the hands of person or
persons unknown to the jury.
1t also developed at the inquest that.
In addition to Williams being struck on
the head with an instrument, he was
also struck on both hips, as there we're
blood marks on his clothing which had
soaked through his pocket and even
stained the marriage license he had pro-
cured and which was produced before
the jury yesterday afternoon.
Owned Fine Farm.
The last seen of I. Williams was Sat
urday afternoon of last week. when he
went to the home of his daughter, Mrs
John Vessel, near Barclay Vessel and
his wife both went away Saturday,
leaving Williams at home to look after
the children. According to the state
ment Of one Of the Vessel children
Mr.. Williams left the house on the pre-
tense that he was going to the orchard.
short distance away. This was the
last seen of Williams until his body was
found Tuesday In the position and con-
d!tion stated. Vessel, upon hearing of
his father-in-lax's tragic death, at once
came over to Marydel to investigate, be-
ing one OF the most interested. into the
death and circumstances leading up to
the death and finding of the body
Williams was the posseSsor of a fine
farm in Delaware near the MARYLAND
line. which will undoubtedly go to his
children.