Evening journal., 1913-11-24
DESPERATE IS
SLAIN; WOULD
BURN CORPSE
Davis, ASSaIIant Of Women,
is Shot Down While At
taCklnG Again
DEPUTY CORONER
HALTS HUMAN PYRE

Alter long career or CRIME. uul-
ing which he thoroughly terrorized
residents in the vicinity. OF Prices
Corner. by his frequent attacks upon
women ana children, James Davis,
notorious negro oesperado, was shoe
and killed on Saturday night He was
riddled with shot from guns IN the
hands OF c. Ellsworth Longland,
White farmer and Elijah Hilton,
negro farm hand, the latter firing the
missiles that killed. after Longland
had disabled Davis. Davis had at
tackled the wife OF Hilton, while she
and her three small children were
alone in their nome, short distance
from the Ferris Industrial School,
and in the neighborhood where
George White, negro assailant Of a
white girl. some years ago, was burn
ed at a stake. Longland and Hill
ton were arrested and released on
$500 bail The news of the shooting
quickly spread throughout the yicin-
ity ana crowd quickly collected,
comprised mostly of negroes, who
b soon evidenced that they entertained
little regard for the dead man
OF their race When they learn
ed the circumstances of his death. a
crowd OF negroes attempted To
seize the body with the intention Of
burning it The timely arrival OF
Coroner John T. Spring and his dep
uty, Harvey +. Nichols. however, pre-
vented the men from carrying out
their purpose One of those present
when burning of the body was urged.
was Mrs. Mary Elliott, a negress,
aged 45 years, whom Davis a short
al NH
he attempted to cut with a knife
when she fought him.
Davis had been in the country
about Prices Corner for several
weeks but despite his many attacks
upon women that constantly occur
red, the negro was never apprehend-
ed His reputation as a bad man
seemed TO have stayed the hand OF the
law against him, and on several oc-
casions when he was seen by citi-
zens he was permitted to escape. The
police on numerous occasions receiv-
cd word that Davis had been seen in
certain places. but always BY the
time they had arrived there he had
disappeared. He was even reported
to have visited Wilmington unmolest
ed at intervals
Davis was seen in this city early
Saturday evening. Shortly before
O'Clock he boarded a Brandywine
Springs car which passes Prices. Cor
ner. Mr. Longland, who is the ten
ant on the Mary Chandler farm on
the Lancaster turnpike about a mile
west of the Masonic Home. and who
was just returning home from z
weeks cunning trip, carrying his guI
with him, was passenger on th'
same car. Longland thought hl
recognized Davis and he decided &
follow him. When the negro left tn
car at Prices Corner Longland alsl
got on, and be asked Davis # be wa
going up the road. Gaming the rOal
towards the Ferris school
The negro informed him that Wherl
he was going was his own business
and Longland replied that If he wal
going the same Way he would like L
get him to carry his suit case. whicl
he had with him in addition to thl
shot gun. Davis showed by his man
ner that he did not care to talk &
him. LoRgland decided to follow
him. The negro crossed Armstrong
field to the Hilton house got the doc
opened on pretense that he wantei
some sugar, and attacked Mrs. Hill
ton, who was alone with her thre
children. When her 10-year-old sol
attempted to defend her, Davis knock
ed him unconscious by striking hir
in the face with the butt OF a re
Yolver. making two ugly wounds o.
his head. Mrs. Hilton ran to the sec
ond story and screamed murder.
Davis had followed her. but he jump
ed from the second-story window I
the yard and started to run ava,
Longland was hiding less than fft
yards away and ran toward the hous
when he heard the screams.
When Davis struck the groun
Longland opened fire with the shotgu
he carried. The charge OF sh,
struck Davis in the back and he droJ
ped to the ground and never move
Hilton in the meantime had been e
corting two women friends of N
family to the trolley car at Price
Corner. He heard his wifes scream
and hurried back. Seeing Davis Doc
lying in the yard, he poured the col
tents OF HIS shotgun into the falle
mans back
Davis never moved again. and whs
the body was taken TO the morg,
Yesterday, post mCrtem examin
ton showed that death must ha'
been instantaneous. his back, hea
arms and hands being riddled wi
shot. 1t is not known whether Dav
has any relatives in this section
the country.
Coroner Spring was notified ii
mediately after the shooting. and
and the deputy fastened to the seer
When they arrived there a horde
negroes surrounded the corpse as
lay upon the ground.
Set him on fire" and ehurn hi
up, some were shouting when tn
arrived, and it was with difficulty th
they forced their way to the hoe
Leave the body alone. will Ia
charge of it," exclaimed Coron
Spring, but It was not without dit
Guilty that they persuaded the men
desist from any violence to the corn,
Several months ago Davis twice
saulted Mrs. Hilton in her home wh
her husband was absent To prot
himself and family Hilton had b,
carrying a gun night and day since
attack Davis heard OF this and. thre
ened to kin Hilton. who works as
farm hand Tor William j Ai,nstro
who gives Hilton a. good reputati
Longland works on the Mary Chand
farm. on the Lancaster turnpike. Da
is believed to be the same negro "
several weeks ago attacked a wll
woman near Chadd's Ford His rel
tation was bad.
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