Smyrna times., 1923-07-11
LONG FOUND GUILTY BY SUSSEX
JURY FOR KILLING HUDSON
w. L. LONG CONVICTED OF TAX
ING LIFE STEP GRANDFATHER
Case Which Has Excited Much Inter-
est Thru State Since April, Ends
After a Fair Trial

After a Fair Trial
Walter L. Long of 300 French
street, Wilmington, on trial at George
town for the murder of his step
grandfather, Elisha w. Hudson, of
near Williamsville, whom he is alleged
to have beaten to death with a ham,
mer on the night of April 10, along
the dupont boulevard a short dis
tance from Selbyville, was found gull
ty of murder in the first degree by
the jury that has been sitting in the
case. A recommendation for mercy
was returned. The verdict was reach
ed Tuesday about 11.25 o'clock after
the jurors had deliberated three hours.
Long heard the verdict in the same
calm manner that has characterized
his conduct throughout the trial, show
ing no signs of emotion. James NJ.
Tunnel, his counsel, Immediately
moved for a new trial and he was
given time by the court to file his rea-
sons. One of the interesting develop
ments during the closing hours of the
trial was the testimony of Long him
self who was put on the witness stand
after the State had concluded its case
against him. He endeavored to es-
tablish an alibi. He told of going to
his grandfather's home on Wednesday
night where he and DiSalvo stayed
claiming that they reached there
about 1890 o'clock. He said he knew
DiSalvo as "Smith" and introduced
him as such to his grandfather. The
grandfather, however, did not remem'
Der what name was given when Long
introduced DiSalvo. The Italian, hC
stated, was dirty from working on the
automobile and as consequence slepr
on the floor during the night. Th'
next day, he stated, they started t.
make the return trip to Wilmington
but the car gave them trouble nearl!
all day and as result DiSalvo had t,
be working on it most of the time
Long said his mission in lower Della
ware was to deliver some cases o
whiskey to a man at Ocean City, No
The two, he said, left BishopvillC
Md, about 8 o'clock on Thursda
morning and had left Selbyville, nea
where the murder took place abou
5 o'clock in the afternoon. They ha
machine trouble, he said, all the wa
to Wilmington and when they arrive
in Wilmington they continued the tri
through to Philadelphia. He though
it was about o'clock when the
reached Dover where they bought els
arettes and upon reaching a poir
near Smyrna they had two tires fixe,
He testified about seeing Miss Dorc
thy Jones who then was living
Philadelphia but now resides at IL
West Fifth street, Wilmington, abOl
II o'clock, at Sixtieth and Mark
streets, Philadelphia, and having
short conversation with her. Lor
stated that when he left WilmingtC
on Wednesday afternoon to make Il
trip to Ocean City, Md, to deliver Il
liquor that he left two one hundrt
dollar notes back of the radiator
his home and that his wife knew tn,
were there. He was saving them,
said, to help pay for some furnitu
as they proposed to make home
themselves. He also said he gave /
wife SO. When placed on the star
his wife corroborated his testimor
He said he obtained money fro
Harry Shultz, of Ocean City, Nd.
Long EmphaticalIy Makes Deni al
On Friday afternoon Long said
went to Philadelphia in his touri
car, accompanied by his father-in-la
George Davis. He emphatically