Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-15
DERRICK B. MORRIS
BRUTALLY MURDERED
Continued from palge l

of Millsboro. who is looking after the
funeral arrangements.
The attorney-gcncral' = Office is excrting
every effort to run down the murderer,
who, it is believed, is hiding in Cypress
swamp.
State Detective Elijah Lynch OF George
town is in charge Of the investigation. lie
is working under the direction of the
attorney-gencrals office. Attorney Cen
eral Reinhardt's Office in Wilmington
stated today TINT il had no definite in-
formation regarding the murderer, Mt
this time.
According to information reaching the
authorities here, there is a woman IN the
case. Young Morris is said 20 have been
paying attention to "a woman to whom ms
father objected, and the latter is said to
have warned relatives of the woman
against harboring the son. There IL said
TO have been some trouble over this matter
yesterday.
THUMB WAS GhsHEp.
The murdered mans hand was gashed
in several places and thumb nearly
severed, thus showing that an effort was
being made on his part to prevent the
assaiant cutting him.
When found, Morris was in n heap In
the bottom of the carriage with one arm
resting on the seat, leading one To be-
lievc at first sight that he was asleep.
Sheriff William y. Johnson, Constable
Charles T. Jester and Deputy Attorney
General Howard J. Cooke were notified
shortly after the body was discovered and
within short time rushed TO Millsboro
and got busy on the chase. A son of
Morris identified the ovcrcoat and hat
found in the carriage with the body as
that of his brother
Coroner Joseph Warrington, accom-
panied by Deputy Sheriff Lee Mitchell
who during the early part of the evening
had been to Bridgeville on business III
connection with the office, left George
town about | o'clock this morning for
Millsboro TO hold an inquest IN order
that the mangled body might be fixed
up by Undertaken Hickman. Deputy
sheriff Mitchell went down in order 20
assist the other officers and posse of
citizens of Millsboro. who are securing
the woods in that vicinity for young
Morris.
SEARCH ~ COUNTY WIDE
Special Dispatch TO Every Evening
Laurel April l5.-Ollie Morris, aged
20, is being hunted all over the the county
to sec if he can throw any light on the
murder of his father, Derrick Morris,
near Mlisboro. last night. From what
can be learned here, young Morris and
his father left the Morris home, ten miles
east of Laurel, at q O'Clock last night. to
drive 10 Swan Creek. xmIes from home
at Godwins = mill. What followed has not
been learned, except that the elder Morris
was stabbed to death The murderer then
drove the carriage containing the body To
| the railroad track and when he heard the
Z o'clock mail train approaching. turned
the horse up the track and jumped from
/ the carriage. The engineer fortunately
/ saw the obstruction, also a man running,
+ IN time TO stop the train.
Possess were immediately started in per-
suit of the murderer, who. II was thought,
was making for Laurel. So far he has not
/ been apprehended II IS supposed he ls
+ Kidding in old Cypress swamp and will
/ have to be starved out
/ The murder was one of tho most cold
/ blooded in the annals of crime.
/ Young Morris and father are SAID To have
i had many quarrels since last fall, when
when the young mans Inlatuatlon Tor a
woman much older than he greatly dis
pleased the parent. Ten days ago. II Is
/ said Ollie Morris left home. driving oil
with his fathers best rlg, going To Swan
/ Creek and taking up his home with the
woman referred to. On Sunday the elder
/ Morris went after the team and is said 10
have pleaded with his son To return, but
To no avail Wednesday night the boy re-
turned. saving he was through with the
woman and happy reconciliation took
place. Yesterday afternoon young Morris
is alleged TO have persuaded his father
10 take him back to Swan Creek. that he
might get his belongings The old gentle
man gladly consented and started on the
errand that he believed to be the ending
OF his domestic troubles, but which turnec
out otherwise.
Derrick Morris drew $500 from banl
before starting on his fatal trip. Only S6t
| was found on the body.