Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-01-13
MURDER ADDED TO
LIST or CRIMES OF
DAVID MORRIS, NECR
Continued from page

Edward NJ. Vaughn and Richard Il.
sparr.
The man will doubtless be sent to
the State Hospital nj Farnhurst.
Witnesses Mt the herring this morn
Ing were Mrs. Annie l.. Donovan OF
Clayton. whose farm buildings, valued
Mt $4,000, We're burned. Edward Nor
ria, tho prisoners brother: william
Stanley. George b. Keifcr. John ~.
Fisher and J. r. Timmons, all Of
whom live In the vicinity OF Smyrna
and Green Spring. They testified that
the Negro had been insane for num-
Der OF years. but had never shown
previous to Tuesday night tendencies
toward violence.
Thought He Was Pursued.
Judging from the murderous
Negroes statements In the Magis-
trates Office this morning. ne has been
haunted all his life by the fear that
some one was seeking to XII. him, and
the only reason that could , e cleaned
for his actions on Tuesday tight was
that he believed he was protecting
himself lie int!mated this by saying
] tiiiA WV Niit y al A'i me-
When asked 10 state why he had
shot the two children and burned the
/ buildings. Morris would give no in
/ telligent answer, simply saying that
the people had been after him all his
4 life, and were going TO kill him" 1t
1 was taken from this by the authori-
ties that he believed on Tuesday night
that he was defending himself from
lar attack. He has acted az IL on the
4 defensive all his life, II was stated.
4 1t was testified today that this has
always been his attitude though he
never before had attempted to hurt
ANYONE. lie would never. il is said
! drink or eat after anyone else, believ-
ing that the food or drink might have
been poisoned Everyone was looked
on as his enemy.
On Tuesday night. Il is believed, hi,
nervous fears reached their china,
,, while he was left alone in the house
while the family drove TO Smyrna
about four miles from Green Spring
to buy groceries. When they returned
about 10 o'clock that night. Morris
had taken a loaded shot gun and sta
toned himself back Of one Of the farm
buildings and as the wagon approach
, cd his hiding place, without warning
he jumped out and discharged the gur
; toward the wagon, evidently at tn
E whole party. The shot struck the tw'
children about the faces. Irene wa
e the 'most seriously injured, her eye
: and face Icing pitifully mutilated.
While the Brlscoes were trying q
0 compose themselves and attend to tn
two wounded children, the half-craz
ed Negro set fire to the .outbuilding
on their property and then rushel
across the field to the Donovan farm
and set fire to e.
, Apparently shrewd enough 10 know
that ne had done wrong. the Negr
Immediately disappeared, taking wit
him the shot gun and two boxes o
shells. He was not found until yester
day. when a member of searchin
party which had been organized 4
the vicinity, came across him at NeN
Discovery, a colored settlement nea
Townsend, after he had been force
by cold and hunger to leave the woods
He was placed under arrest by Con
. stable John b. Tipamons Of TOWNSEND
one Of the witnesses at this morn
e ing's hearing. and later brought her,
where he was placed in charge {
!, Chief OF Police John II. Fisher.
0 The injured colored girl was take
e to Smyrna on Tuesday night. an
I given first aid by DR.. c. G.. Harmon
son. On Wednesday she was take
: 10 the Delaware Hospital. sufferin
$ greatly from her injuries. II We
found necessary TO operate on III
eyes, and she gradually became wors
dying this morning. Her brother
Y being cared for by a neighbor of Il
Briscoes. and is not in serious COZ
: dition, although his face is badly c
N by the shot.
:. Morris was examined during Z
n afternoon, pronounced insane and a
q rsngements made 10 have him col
I mitted to the State Hospital.