Evening journal., 1920-02-21
Wells KILLED
BY UNKNOWN
Coroner's Jury Finds Mys-
terry in Shooting of Former
Sussex Treasurer
WIFE UNABLE TO
TELL HER STORY
speclaI 10 Do EvenIng Ionrnnl

Specia' 70 The Evening Journal
| DELMAR. Feb. q Coroner War
rinston's jury after an inquiry into the
death Of Jesse T. Wells. OF Whitesville.
former treasurer OF SUSSEX county.
who was found dad in his bedroom
! with a gunshot wound IN the back Of
( MS head, returned a verdict that leaves
I me case as much Of a mystery as ever.
The coroner's jury decided last night
mat Mr. w Us came to bis death as a
result Of having been shot with a gun
in the hands Of some person TO the
Jurors unknown"
Members OF tho family discovered
That Mr. Wells had met his untimelv
death between midnight and 4 o'clock
yesterday morning. Coroner Warning
ton, residing between GEORGETOWN and
Bridgevllle, accompanied by his aitor-
ney and deputy, Howard Cooke. went 10
Whitesville and conducted the innlesf
The jury consisted Of Roy G. HuI
Frank White Isaac B Norris. lanes p
houston. Charles d Cordrey, Henry
WoOtten and George w Dennis The
inquest required nearly all OF the afterA
noon and 10 was early in The evening
before the officers returned to their
homes.
In the house az the time Mr.. Wells
was shot there were four members Of
the family--Nirs. Sallle Ella Wells. his
wifel Thomas Briitlngham. a son-in-
law; Daniel Wells and wife Jennie
Wells. Mr. and Mrs Daniel Wells and
Mr. Brittingham occupied rooms on the
upper floor and Mr. Wells, who was
found dead, and his wife slept down
stairs
According 20 the story told 10 the
jury by members Of the family, Mr.
Wells retired between 10 and a O'Clock.
He had been talking TO his son and
iaughter-iu-law Thomas Brlttlngham,
The son-in-law, was upstairs. being
confined 10 Dhis bed with influenza. A
'ew days aeo his wife died Between
l2 and 1 o'clock those In the house
we're awakened by a shot from a gun.
Before they could get downstairs Mrs.
Nells had come upslains % them. The
physical condition OF Mrs. Wells, IL
vas said, has been such for a long time
hat she has been unable TO talk and
lear but little. and realizing that they
would lose time II they stopped 20
make inquiry Of her Whist had hap
lened they went down 10 the bedroom
II Mr.. Wells where thev found he had
,een shot IN the head He was lying on
IFS left side ard leaning on the side Of q
ne bed was a shotgun.
70 was not until II. 3. Hickman an 7
Indertaker of. Millsboro and Dr. Oliver ]
:. James, Of Gumboro. were called !
hat an examination was made Of the T
wound. which disclosed that the shot I
lad evidently penetrated from the |
'ack OF the head S
William p Parsons. a uaighbor tes- {
iled that he was called by members v
Z the family shortly after Mr. Wells II
,as shot and told tho position in n
ihlch ne found him, where The gun 8
'as found. etc n
Mrs Wells because Of her physics \
nd mental condition. could not be ex- I,
mined by the coroner's jury. She is 7,
nable to eiyo any coherent story OF ,y
hat took place in the bedroom. =,
Nr Wells was about 60 years Old :,
! active Democratic political worker .
his district and was regarded as one -
the most influential and wealthy far a.
erS in The southern part Of the -
,unty. He was father OF Rev z W. !,
ellis pastor Of Welsely NJ. e Church "
'ilmington. ~