Evening journal., 1916-12-27
4 ITALIANS CHARGED
With killing GUARD
Three Men, One Woman
Held Without Bail Follow
ing Coronor's Inquest
ACCUSED ARE NOW IN
SALEM COUNTY JAIL

Frank Nicklos, Constantine Antonio,
Charles PERI and the latters wife
we're committed to the Salem county.
n. j.. Jail without bail early this
morning, charged with the murder OF
Joseph r Westcott, a guard at the
Carney Point plant Of the dupont
Powder Company.
The body Of the guard was found
on the Bevis farm. near Pennsgrove,
on Sunday. near a shack where Peril
and his wife lived The other two
men were boarders in the same
house. When found the body and
head Of the guard contained several
bullet wounds and a sharp stick had
been jammed in his eye and driven
clear through his head.
The coroner OF Salem county held
an inquest last night and the jury
returned a verd CT that Westcott came
TO his death either by gun shot
wounds in his head and body or by
the stick that had penetrated his
head and recommended that the
three men and woman mentioned be
held IN connection with the murder
Immediately following the inquest
the coroner fled complaints against
( the four persons accused with Mag s.
tratc Duffy. who held them without
bail for the grand jury, which meets
the first week in April, on charges OF
murder.
The prisoners who had been con
fined i'm the lookup at Pennsgrove
since their arrest earlier in the day,
were removed to the Jail at Salem at
an early hour this morning.
According 10 the officials OF Salem
county, two OF the men suspects have
admitted a knowledge Of the murder
but blame each other for the actual
murder of the guard. AS far as could
be learned, however, no statement has
been made by any OF those under ar
rest as to the motive for the murder.
The county officials are still work
ing on the case and several theories
have been advanced as to the motive
One Of the most likely OF these is rob
berry The dead guards watch Na'
missing and also his money except
for a little change.
Suspicion was first directed towards
. the accused. Il is said, when the police
found wagon tracks leading from ;
Doint near where the body was founC
Ia the Peril shack. II was theI
learned that Westcott was seen rid
ing in a wagon along the road lat
Saturday. with one of the men unde
arrest II is supposed that this MAJ
passed Westcott on the road while tn
, latter was on his way to his home ant
invited the guard to ride with him
, Another theory Is that Westcott'
activity in trying TO solve the sudde'
disappearance OF a man by the nam
{ Of Morgan may have bearing on tn
case. He had been in Wilmington o
s Saturday. Il Is said, looking for ev
S dence in the Morgan case and wa
e probably on HIS way to his home whe
e murdered.
= c. A. Cropper. OF No. 2409 Madiso
t street had known Wescott since no!
{ hood and SAYS the murdered man We
born in AccomaC county. Virginia, nm
n has a wife living az Olney, that connt
h He is survived by three sons and on
r daughter. and has two sisters, one III
o ing at Painter Accomac county an
u another at Grangeville, Va.
Mr.. Chopper spoke highly OF n
u slain guard. whom he said was b
" tween 50 and 60 years OF age.
(, Each OF the men was put through
severe examination, an hour apiece
on the witness stand last night by u
Coroner and Prosecutor Summeri
The authorities were handicappe
: however. by the inability Of the lta
u ians to speak English. and the exam
n nations were through an interpretC
T. Mrs Peril was questioned for Il
e minutes. but the only answer 81
II would make was that she knew not
" ing about the crime.