Evening journal., 1913-10-11
GIVE VERDICT
THAT WTGGINS
KILLED SELF
Chief Black Says He Didn't
Know That Fugitive Had
Gold Tooth
CONFLICT OVER THE
STOPPING OF SHOTS

That Homer Cleveland Wiggins, the
young bandit, who shot and killed him
self after an exciting battle for over
an hour with an army OF policemen on
Sunday night, September %, after be-
ing trapped in bedroom in the lodging
house ct ,Baxter's Corner. Fourth and
shipley streets. died as the result of
self f-inhicted revolver shot, was the yer.
dict Of the jury drawn by Coroner John
r. Spring 70 hold an inquest in the
case. when they held their adjourned
meeting last night.
The verdict was not returned until
after the jury had heard much addi-
tional evidence concerning the details of
the case. Chief Black was the only
police official 10 be called TO the stand
again last evening. the other witnesses
, consisting Of private citizens, and the
widely y-conhicting statements Of these
witnesses was the feature Of the in
quest.
According TO the first two witnesses,
Mrs Martha T. Jack of No 405 Shipley
street and her daughter, Mrs Emma
Phillips. who resides with her, the fir
ing from the Fell Building, in which the
police officers were stationed, did not
stop for twenty minutes after the ar
rival Of Chief OF Police Black and Ser
geont Wardle, who, according to these
two witnesses crept along the street 20
the entrance OF the Fell Building on
Shipley street, hiding in doorways and
behind signs. Both women were poai-
tive that the firing continued for some
time after they came out of the Fell
, Building.
! This evidence was flatly contradict
! ed by the testimony that followed
J from eye witnesses who were actually
IN the building with the police. con
J sisting of two local reporters and a
woman lodger. at the Fell building,
and in addition 10 their testimony,
Chief Black positively denied all the
accusations made by the two women.
After hearing all Of the evidence
in the case, the jury returned the fol-
owing verdict, which was adopted
unanimously:
THAT il is the verdict Of this jury
that Homer Cleveland Wiggins came
to his death from pistol shot wound.
said pistol being fired by his own
hand. in the Baxter Building. at
Fourth and Shipley streets, Whining
ton. Delaware. on the morning Of Sep
tember %. 1913"
The jury had no comment 10 make
upon the affair, and no criticism for
anyone connected with It, Many
things developed at the inquest,
however. through the questions asked
by the Jurors, and. especially the fore
man. which will have 10 be explained
at the investigation to be made into
/ - hrs ~ Da1frr Dfarrl nj e IN
beginning on Monday.
Mrs Jack was the first witness
placed under oath. In answer 10
questions from George Carter, the fore
man. Mrs. Jack stated that she was in
% rear room in her home when the
fight began, and that FIVE shots had
been fired before she got 10 the front
window. From then on she witnessed
the entire affair until the body Of
lWiggins was carried from the house.
She did not know al that time that
lit was Virgins they we're after.
Il looked out Of the window" she
said. "and / saw some one shooting
. out OF the middle window Of the
J Baxter building. Whoever was in
! the room shot two OF three times and
, then l looked for the officers to come.
They came right after that"
: Who we're they?" asked Mr.. Carter.
! Il didn't know the first two"
} (Which way did they Gomez"
; They came down Shipley street
p with guns to 4O2 Shipley street. and
went up the steps. Then other Of
ficers came"
Did you know their names?"
No, / didn't know any Of the OFF,
Then what happenedi"
!, away"
= Who did you see nexti"
!, Chief Black and Sergeant Wardle."
= what time was that?"
4 When the shooting was about halt
over. They came down Shipley street
from Fifth, very close 20 the building
lline"
''who was in the leadg"
4 Sergeant Wardle
How far behind him was Chic
i Black ?"
d About five feet"
j. Tell US what happened them re
quested Mr.. Carter.
Mrs. Jack then stated that Sergean
u Wardle crept up behind a creamery sign
r near the corner and looked up 70 se'
D. that there was no danger. Then h
r shot into tho door Of No. 4O2 SIMPLE,
e street" she declared.
n "You mean he ran into the doori' ask
v. ed Mr. Carter.
swsll, he went in pretty fast"
where was Chief Black?'
q The witness then said that Will
be Sergeant Wardle was hiding hehin
n the sign Chief Black was standin
upon the Stats building steps. hidin
In the doorway. After Sergeant War
die had entered the building. sh
IN declared. "Chief Black came dow
Ds from the steps and he too locke
IN around the creamery sign Then b