Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-15
HAD BEEN DRIVING
WITH HIS SON OLLIE
The Boy is Reported Missing and
Fear is Entertained for His
Safety.
HIS GARMENTS FOUND
IN THE CARRIAGE
Railroad Engineer Saw a Man
Leading the Horse on
the Track.
WILMINGTON COUNCIL
LOOKING AFTER BILLS
spoc,al Dispatch TO Every Evening

CEORGETOwN, APRIL 10.
Opinions are divided as 70 the motive
for the shocking murder OF Derrick Is.
Morris. a prominent farmer, which occur
"a near Milsboro early last evening As
S60 was found in the mans clothing. the
theory Of robbery first advanced, IS
doubted.
Morris had evidently been stabbed TO
death. while driving in a carriage, for the
body was in such vehicle and the horse
drawing il vas being led 10y man onto
a railroad track near Milsboro, shortly
after z o'clock, just as a passenger train
was approaching. The purpose was evil
IDENTIFY 10 cause the rIT 10 be struck by
the locomotive, thus to cover up the crime.
When the body was found it had fallen
into the body Of the carriage. The throat
was cut almost from ear 10 ear, evidently
with a razor, several fingers were broken
and the body was bruised, showing evl-
dence OF severe struggle.
Ollie Morris, 20 years old, son oil the
deceased, who is said to have been driving
with his father a little while before the
tragedy Was discovered, IS missing and an
effort IL being made to locate him, with the
hope that he can throw some light on the
crime
Morris, who WIS a prosperous farmer
and also active in politics, being Demo-
crat, lived between Milleboro and LAUREL,
about four miles from the former place.
He had lived in this locality about Is
wears He was about 65 years OF age and
leaves family, comprising hIs wife,
FIVE sons and two daughters.
DISCOVERED BY ENGINEER MILLS.
The tragedy was discovered by A. Z.
Mills, engineer of a mail and express train
running south on the lower division OF the
ID, NJ. q V railroad. According TO Mills
the plaring headlights Of his engine dis
closed the supposed murderer holding the
horse on the tracks by the br die Just be-
fore the train rounded curve to the
crossing When he had drawn the horse TO
the center OF the tracks, the man held il
Their. waiting for the train 20 destroy the
sridence OF his crime. The engineer threw
nn the brakes and stopped bis tram Just
m time 10 avoid striking the carriage. Then
ihr mysterious stranger fled.
The crew of the train ran forward and
found Morris body in the bottom of the
carriage. Ii was wrapped IN a blanket,
and the throat was found TO be cut and
the body otherwise dishgured, as indi-
Gated above. The back cover OF the car
rage had been ripped into shreds and some
of the framework supporting the top was
broken, as If recently done. 1t Is believed
that the murderer either was riding with
Morris and jumped out the back. following
a fight, or that he stole up back of the
carriage and cut his way through the top
and approached the victim from the back.
II was reported that Morris had been
TO Georgetown and had collected $500 on
3 note. bu. this has not been verified, and
il is believed that he did not come as far
as Georgetown
Because of the absence of the son, some
saw he NAV have been murdered also, but
this opinion is not generally shared. In
the carriage with the body were found an
overcoat and hat. which are said TO have
belonged to the son.
MURDERED NEAR HEARN's MILL.
The murder is believed to have been
committed while the carriage was on the
road near Hearns Mill, about two miles
from the railroad crossing, where an effort
8as made to have the carriage wrecked by
the train. for blood stains have been
found along the road for almost two miles
The supposition is that Morris had driven
from his home 10 point near where he
met his death. on an errand. and that he
did not get started back home.
The crow Of the engine. who saw the
supposed murderer running away from
the rig got good view Of him, though it
Was not very light, and they have a
general idea Of his appearance, which
ought 10 help IN the fiatter Of iden.ifca-
tion If the assassin is caught.
Immediately after the tragedy was re-
ported the county authorities. including
the coroner. started an investigation
They were aided by posses Of men from
here and also from Millsboro and Laurel
with the hope Of finding the murderer.
The first thought is to try to find the
missing son. He ought to know some
thing about his father doings after they
left home yesterday afternoon. The son
l. described as weighing about l65
pounds with brown eyes and dark hair.
He also had a reddish face. When last
seen yesterday he was wearing overalls
There is belief here that be has been
subject TO some sort OF fits. 1t is said also
that he and his father had had differences
recently
A brother-in-law OF the elder Morris,
according 10 a report received here. is said
u have seen Morris and another man
driving III the formers carriage, past
his place, about two miles from Nillsboro,
about dusk last night The identity Of the
second man does not seem to have been
definitely established.
Following the finding Of the body it was
turned over to Undertaken II. Il. Hickman
Continued to page 8