Evening journal., 1913-09-17
DEAD
BEFORE CAR
CRUSHED HIM
This the Opinion Of Some Al
though COrOner'S Jury Re-
turns Open Verdict
STATE WILL PROBE
FACTS OF CASE

That John Wesley Gordon. colored.
aged about 40 years. of State Road,
was murdered and his lody then plac-
cd on the tracks of the Wilmington
e. Southern Traction Company to hide
the crime, developed from the evil
dence at the inquest in the case, held
in the office of Coroner James 4.
Spring last night.
The body of the negro was found
lying on the tracks in a mangled con-
dition, on August 80, car having
passed over the body. The jury sum-
moned by the coroner to hear the case
returned a verdict to the effect that
Gordon's death was due to causes un-
known to them. and some % the evil
dence submitted was of such a ma
ture that the attOrney-generaps Office
and the State detective force will
likely take a hand i'm the matter. Al
though no definite evidence could be
obtained as to the reason for the al
legged murder. il is believed that rob
berry must have been the object.
The evidence brought out the fact
that although the trolley car had
passed over the nogro's body as it lay
on the rails. and caused wounds about
the face and head large enough to
cause copious bleeding yet the
wounds were clogged and what lit
1 tie blood there was in evidence was
dry. Il Is believed that this evidence
lshows that the man was dead when
the car passed over his body, and as
there was no evidence 10 show what
( had caused the mans death the YER
dict Of death by an unknown cause
was returned.
Irwin Duncan. who lives at the
/ rear range lighthouse below New
Castle was on the front end of the
/ car that ran over Gordon and saw the
body. but thought IL was piece OF
white paper lying between the tracks.
He felt no jar or jolt when the car
passed over the object.
William e. Myers. general manager
Of the traction company, said he
was notified that the body had been
found.
DR.. william Wertenbaker. now OF
New York. happened TO arrive on
the scene before the body was taken
away, and he pronounced ;he man
dead after he had examined 5ho
body.
Nlr. Myers stated that ON the night
the ear ran over the body. and also the
uo,t dav he had carefully examined tho
car hut could not find such mark on
lhlood.tain under II or on the sides that
would indicate that the ear had struck
/, body.
.lohr NJ Burris. the motorman Of the
car that passed over the body was INC
most important witness lie said he was
ooinr toward Dohbinsvillc about H.S'
O'Clock saturday night august 30. Nher
p AT seventh street. New Castle, he saw ~
object between the rails about three feet
!, ahead of the car. but he could not stol
: in time 10 avoid II. After he passet
, over the object he did stop and wen
hack and found Inc body Of Gordon
). Rurris said the body seemed TO hn
J. IN have been dead for some time, a.
twas cold. \ car coming toword NeV
s Castle had passed over the same spo
s inst eight minutes before he Ieaehe'
i tbere the witness said. and It did no
r strike any one and the crew did not Sc
r any one. n. A.
:. George n. Paxson. Of New Castle, th
4 conductor corroboratod the motormai
= William T. Cell. Of DohbnsVille, Wn
q was on the car. testified to the finding o
Q the body ,...,,- ..
Elmer Wallnc, Of DobblnsNine' an
:. other passenger on the car. said ne tel
d the dead mans body. where his shift wa
n torn. and IL was cold.
|. The Jury included 5. !. Allen ior'
l. man: !. Dawson Artis, secretary; >.
p Morris. II. P. Bowers. Niiham JONI
SON and Walter B. Reddon, the iast wv
negroes. 80 ....;,,,o,,,- Al
From the nature Of the testimony "
iurv could not do otherwise than fetu'
= verdict Of death by unknoWn cauS
\ and the case will be suomlt'eu 10 q
y authorities for further action