Evening journal., 1913-07-07
DEATH RECALLS
WEST MURDER
Doctor Who COnVulSed State
by Carving Up Black Man
Dies in Texas
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.


Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del, July 7.-Memories OF
Dclaware's most noted murder were re.
viyed here with the receipt OF word from
oallas, Tex, OF the death there OF Dr.
Isaac c. West, June 80, aged II.
West was a native OF Sussex county
aud formerly practitioner here. lie
gained undying notoriety and convulsed
the whole state by killing n. c. rur-
ner, a negro in November, 1872 The
colored man was slain in the doctors
Office with an iron bar. Many OF the
mans bones were broken, his head and
arms and feet were cut of. and the body
was skinned by Dr.. West with pen.
knife. Dr. West then fired the build
ing, in the hope the body would be burn.
ed and nobody be the wiser as TO what
became OF the negro.
West lay in the country church yard
across from the Office and watched it
burn. Later he He'd to Salisbury. Md,
but returned. surrendered and confessed
He claimed he had killed the negro in
self defense, and said the negro first
struck him with a hammer with intent 10
rob him. Some time before the crime
he had tried to lure various people to his
office under the pretense OF examining
them for lite insurance.
The trial OF West was one of the most
exciting ever known in Kent county,
and but for the cloquence of the late
Chancellor Willard Salisbury. who de-
Tended him, he very likely would have
suffered the death penalty. He was ac-
quilted of murder. but was convicted OF
arson and served a term in the Kent
county jail.
BY some OF Dover's citizens IL Is
remembered that at the trial. quite an
argument took place between Vests
counsel, Willard salisbury and Judge
lGilpin as well as other members Of
the bench, which Is believed in a
large measure had its effect on the
jury In influencing .hem with their
verdict. The verdict I'm the case was
an acquittal without any plea Of in
sanity whatever, as mas been stated by
some. Tho foreman OF the jury, Bon
Jhmin +. Hurlook told one Of Dover's
citizens that mad they known
that they could have brought in such
Ia verdict, that OF acquittal because OF
their belief that he was insane. they
would have done IT,
The jury empanelod to try Vests
case included the following, and so
far as is known, but two are now
living OF said jury: Benjamin f.
! lflurlock, Henry Harrington, w. c.
Longfcnow. Obediah Voshel. James H.
Salevan. Nathaniel Harrington, John
Nv. Graham. Philemon Scotch, Will
! liam Graham. William NJ. Satterfeld
John w. Jones, Lewis Schabinger. the
last two named being the only two
that are known to he living. Mr.
Schabinger is now resident of
Dover, and when seen here Saturday
evening, readily recalled the incidents
ATTENDING the trial.
At the conclusion Of the trial and
1.-THE reading of the verdict, which was
a surprise 20 everyone and especi-
ially TO the Court. Chief Justice Gilpin
lis said TO have made the remark, after
hearing the verdict There are some
strange men in Kent county
After the murder trial. West was
sent back 10 Jail, and az the October
term Of court he was indicted for
arson, there being two bills found
against him. To one he entered a
plea OF guilty and was sentenced TO
two years Imprisonment in the Kent
county Jail and pay a fine OF $500 Tho
second case against him for arson
was nolle pressed by the attorney
general
The West case WAS the last case
tried by willard Salisbury, Sr., as he
was shortly afterwards appointed
chancellor Of Delaware.
West served his term in the Kent
county jail. Notwithstanding the ef-
forts made by his relatives here by
a petition to the governor to pardon
him. After his release from the
keKnt county Jail here he remained
in Dover, but a very short time, his
presence at large, however. being
sufficient caution for the Dover ne
groes to remain in doors at night,
so great was their fear OF West, and
that he might repeat his experience
with Turner. and not for many years
afterwards would the negroes OF
Dover venture out after dark.
After leaving Dover Dr. West
went south, finally landing in Dallas
Texas, where he lived for many
years
The storehouse and dwelling as il
now is, where the Turner tragedy
occurred, is occupied by John J
Scanlon, on Loockerman street, be-
tween Governors avenue and New
street For several years II Is claim
ed the blood stains from the murder
remained In the wood on the iool
of the room in which the affair oc
CURED, the owners finally having tn,
boards removed and new ones placeC
therein.
PERSONALS.