Evening journal., 1910-06-23
TELL STORY
OF MURDER
COlOred Lads Tell How Young
Rogers Was BrutalIy
Slain
SHOT AS HE SLEPT
UNDER A TREE
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.

I NA~NNeA ~ AAAlt n v ANAANG JO0AklNAAa
GEORGETOWN, Del, June 23.--No
motive can be ascribed for the murder
of fifteen-yeer-old John e. Rogers. with
in sight OF his fathers home. late Tues
day afternoon, by Henry williams and
George Sharp both colored. unless there
were old grudges agsinst him on the
part OF the colored boys Sharp alias
Short, who was an aooompllce IN the
murder, was apprehended by state De-
tective walls yesterday and lodged IN
jail. The two we're taken before Justice
Of the Peace william A. Warrington
and confessed. after which they were
committed to Jail without bail
News OF the tragedy was sent Cor
oner Grifhth, OF Blades. who came here
and summoned his jury. and conducted
an inquisition at the home Of the boys
father abut noon yesterday.
The murderer and his accomplice.
Sharp. were taken out TO the Rogers
farm. about three miles from this town
where they pioted the jury over the
entire route taken by them after COM
mittlng the deed. They were examined
by Frank NJ Jones. acting for Deputy
Attorney General whitley. before the
jury The story told by each one at
the Jail and inquest was about the
same. Williams aaid that Tuesday while
they were IN the field thinning corn
that a dispute arose between the white
boy and Sharp and that the latter sug-
gested 20 him that they strike him.
+ (meaning Rogers) over the head but
Williams said he told Sharp n he would
hit him first he would then give him
blow. They abandoned the idea and
! he Thought that Sharp had made up
with him. az least II appeared 50 to
r him Williams said they worked until
: lunch time when they went up 10 tho
: house and after concluding their meal
? went back 10 work
= In the morning. he said. they noticed
that "hickers" had been damaging the
corn. 40 young Rogers when he went
out IN the afternoon decided 10 take
Z along his gun and shoot some Of them
= They worked untn between three and
four o'clock when Rogers laid dowr
; down on a ditch hank under large
p oak tree Tho colored boys also went
for q rest. and Rogers asked Williams
n he would not 60 down the edge Of
the woods a short ways and XIII one
Of the birds which he heard singing
az the same time handing him two
shells Williams went down and kill
. ed the bird while sharp and Rogers
remainder under the tree, the latter
being a few feet away.
Rogers was lying on mis- left side
and had his back TO Sharp when Will
llams returned Loading he gun and
cooking f. williams said ne walked
up to within a yard Of Rogers. who
4 appeared 10 be asleep or about half
asleep and discharged the frearm
t, which took effect IN the back Of his
I neck and penetrated 30 far as FOR some
: Of the shots 10 lodge IN his lower lip
= williams said Sharp was looking al
i, him when he fired. but Sharp said he
a turned his head
o After the shooting williams told
Sharp 20 go up 10 the barn and pro-
cure two shovels so that they might
4 bury the body. At first they decided
n 10 drag the remains a short distance
L IN the woods and bury Il, but think.
= ing that Il would be more easily found
8 so near the edge they buried the CUR
s. AID took the body on the other side
% Of the woods and buried Il at the edg,
n in an old sedge field. Both OF the
e boys then returned to their labor and
a worked until supper time when they
u went up 10 the house.
s When the Rogers lad didn't return
r searchers started out. oliver Kitchens
Is a hired hand and Carl Parker. a neigh
Dor went to the edge or the wood
u saw the fresh dirt and found the body
(. Mr. Rogers procured the colore,
10 boys from detention home IN Phil
70 adelphia about four or FIVE years ago
n and ever since they have been liviul
Ie with him and from what he saws havl
ls always acted all right and have beei
faithful workers on his farm Shar1
gave his age as fifteen years. and sal,
he was born in Philadelphia; William
y is a Kentuckian. having been bor1
n about fourteen years ago at Louisville
but later going to Kansas City. wher
10 he said he received his limited edu
= cation.
N The coroner's jury rendered a yer
ar dict that John Z. Rogers came TO hi
X death from gun-shot wound fron
= the hands of Henry Williams"
The remains OF the boy will be in
TERED this afternoon in Asbury M. !
=. Church burying- ground.