Aston Murder
The Lancaster Weekly Examiner
Wednesday, October 10, 1888
Was She Murdered ?
Dead Body Found Friday Morning
It was that of a young woman, Shapely and Pretty - Evidence of a Desperate Struggle on the Bank of the Little Conestoga Creek
Cal Dellinger Placed in Prison
The Ghastly Sight Which Met the Gaze of P.R.H. Trackmen Friday Morning While on the Way to Work
The Coroner's Inquest
Another horrible and mysterious tragedy has been added to the revolting crime record of Lancaster county. Another life has been ended by violence and one more name is added to the long list of persons who have met death at the hands of the murderer during the past decade.
Murder most foul and fiendish was committed last night or in the early hours of this morning. A young woman in the full bloom of womanhood came to a sad and untimely end and her death is surrounded in the darkest and seemingly unfathomable mystery. It is the famous Jennie Cramer and Rahway Mysteries again repeated.
The news reached Lancaster about seven o'clock Friday morning that the body of a young woman had been found lying on the bank of the Little Conestoga creek, near the P.R.R. bridge. It was put down as only a case of suicide of some unfortunate female, who was weary of breath and had cast herself into the stream to end her troubled life.
But an investigation showed undoubted proofs that murder had been committed and that the crime was one of the blackest which has ever been put on record of murders unparalleled in the history of Lancaster county.
A Ghastly Find
Twenty minutes before seven o'clock Friday morning Section Boss Kenealy of the Pennsylvania Railroad,. was among a party of eight men who were going to work on a hand car. The car was going to Rohrerstown. When at the east end of the bridge one of the men made the startling exclamation, "There's the body of a man down there."
The car was propelled forward and the men peered over the bridge through the trees and plainly saw a dark object lying near the water's edge. When the west end of the bridge was reached Ambrose Gans, one of the workmen, jumped from the car and made his way down the steep bank. His companions heard his excited cry when he reached the dark object:
"It's not a man; it's a woman and she's dead!"
How the Body was Found
The whole party at once went to the spot and looked on the ghastly sight which confronted their startled gaze. It was a dead and rigid body, and was that of a young woman, who did not look more than twenty years of age. She lay there with eyes partly open displaying the light gray orbs. The hands were at the sides covered with dirt. The hair was disheveled and lay in a tangled mass on the wet grass. The ends of the tresses contained a number of hairpins and looked as if the hair had been torn with violent hands from the position it had been fixed.
Undoubted Murder
Signs of a Struggle-Buttons Found Which Were Torn From the Coat.
From the open mouth with its purpled lips, froth was oozing and from the nostrils, trickled sand and water. The features were regular, the face round and possessed of considerable beauty. The countenance was stained with dirt, and the long, dark brown hair was filled with sand. The body was stretched at full length on the back, and the feet were about four feet from the cold, shallow water of the Little Conestoga. The bloom had not yet faded from the cheeks, and the features were calm and natural; and from appearance death had been attended with no agony.
The body was found about seventy-five yards from the railroad bridge in the meadow to the south. It was lying near a big, decaying tree trunk, which was fallen may years ago. The land is owned by the Dunn estate, and the farm is tenanted by John Gamber, who lives in a large farm house about a quarter mile from the place where the young woman met her death. it is a lonely spot and is much frequented by tramps. It is the place for a dark deed.
On the discovery of the body a message was sent to Dillerville and Augustus Jeffries, who has charge of the interlocking switches at that point responded. When he arrived where the body was lying he examined the surrounding ground. Fifteen feet east of the body a red silk handkerchief, which had seen much usage, was picked from the damp grass. Near by were three metal buttons, and four others were picked up within a radius of several feet. Concealed in the grass and leaves where it has fallen, near where the handkerchiefs was found, was a small necklet pin, of cheap manufacture, having seven white stones, their brilliancy dulled, set in a gold plated, horse shoe.
The buttons found were made of metal, with a black coating, and with raised leaves and bunch of grapes on each. From the eyelets of some of the buttons still clung a portion of the material from the article of apparel from which they were torn. They had evidently been thrown in the struggle which the victim had with her fiendish assailant. The little shreds of cloth gave positive evidence that's desperate struggle had taken place in the darkness.
THE BODY EXAMINED
The Clothing is Disorder, But No Marks of Violence Found.
Coroner Henaman was notified of the finding of the body and accompanied by Dr. R.M. Bolenius he visited the scene of the terrible tragedy. A score of people had gathered about the body, some being from the city and others from the neighborhood. All looked upon the face, but none could recognize it, although the features seemed familiar to several of those gathered about.
Dr. Botenius examined the body. No marks of violence were found upon it. The abdomen was pressed and water ran from the mouth and nose. The physician pronounced that death had been caused by drowning. Whether insensibility was produced by violent means before the body was cast into the water is not known.
The body was clad in a dress of a soft inexpensive woolen material of a solid blue-gray color, and fit her figure neatly. Down the front of the bodice on the breast and on the skirt from the waist to the lower part was a facing of silk a shade darker than the color of the dress. The silk was crossed in parallel bands an inch wide with lines of velvet. The dress looked as if it might belong to a working girl. The back of the dress was made in a series of puffs from the woolen material. Covering the bodice or bisque was a black coat of wooly jersey cloth, and it was from this which the buttons had been torn. The coat was drawn up tight under the chin, and a pin, which was in the neck of the basueq, had produced a red mark on the white throat. The lower part of the dress was open and the corset was parted. There were a couple of buttons missing from the Basque, which were similar to those on the jersey coat. The lower limbs were encased in black stockings, the tops of which had been drawn down. The heels of the shoes were of the high French style, and had been worn crooked. Nothing was found in the pocket of the dress which could lead to identification. The hands were slender and soft. At the base of the palm on the left hand was a wart. The fingers contained no rings and there were no articles of jewelry on the person. The ears were pierced, but did not contain any ornament. The hair was ganged and was brushed aside in a tangled mass.
THE NAME IN THE HAT
"C. W. Dellinger" Written in a Scrawling Hand in Pencil.
Fifty yards below the body in the stream the victim's hat was found. It had evidently floated to that point and had become fastened to the low hanging branches of an old tree. The hat was made of fine white straw, with tall crown, the rim being turned up behind. It was tastefully trimmed with white plush and silk ribbon, in two big bows, which covered the crown entirely in front. Two white feathers ornamented the side. A minute examination was made of the saturated head gear. In the top of the crown was a small piece of paper, which contained some scrawling characters written in pencil. The writing was almost illegible from the action of the water and the uneducated hand which had written it. The name was finally made out to be "C. W. Dellinger," although it had the appearance of being "Cora Hellinger" Pellinger" or "Killinger".
The hat was taken in charge by the Coroner, as were also the buttons, handkerchief and horseshoe pin.
The Coroner selected the following jury: Harry M. Hernsel, Benj. Breitegan, John Hughes, John Wahl, Harry W. Buckius and William Wittick. After viewing the body and the examination had been made, the jury adjourned to meet to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock at the coroner's office in the courthouse.
The witnesses examined were John Kneasly, Bankson Smith and John Gamber, but nothing was elicited which could enlighten the terrible mystery. None of Mr. Gamber's household had heard any unusual sounds coming from the direction of the creek last night.
The Boot-heel Marks and Finger Prints.
A thorough examination was made by the reporters and Constable Wittick, of the banks of the stream. There were plainly-defined marks where the body had been drawn up the gentle incline from the water to where it was found. Closer inspection showed two boot-heel imprints in the soft soil, which were made by a man's foot. At the water's edge could be seen the impressions of four fingers, which either the victim or her murdered had made.
These were the only marks found, but this silent evidence is conclusive of foul play.
WHO COMMITTED THE MURDER ?
Who Was the Man Who Drew the Body From the Water ?
The dead woman is a trifle over five feet tall, slenderly built, but with a shapely form. Her complexion is fair and rosy, with regular teeth. Her weight will probably be 120 pounds. The questions arise:
"Did she go there in company with her murderer ?"
"Who was the man who dragged the body from the creek ? Was he the murderer or another?"
When the body was examined a peculiar circumstance was developed. The back of the dress and Jersey coat was not saturated with water, as was the front.
The water of the creek at this point is not more than three feed deep in the middle. Close to shore it is not more than twelve or fourteen inches deep. The most reasonable supposition is that the couple went there in company. He attempted to ravish his victim and a desperate struggle ensued. The woman was finally overpowered. Perhaps during the struggle she fainted or was choked into insensibility. Whether the fiend accomplished his hellish design is not known. The body was then thrown forward into the stream, where it struck the sand bottom on the face. Suffocation then quickly ensued. The murderer then drew the body from the water, without the back of the dress becoming wet, and then fled from the scene of his fearful crime.
Many persons believe that it was a case of suicide, but this seems hardly probably in the face of the facts as gathered above.
The Body Taken to the Dead House.
The body was taken to the dead house of the County Hospital in Farmer Gamber's wagon about ten o'clock, where it was placed to await identification.
The physicians will make a thorough examination, and an investigation will be made. This afternoon a postmortem examination is being made on the body by Dr. Bolenius. The finding of the body has caused much excitement in the city and all sorts of reports are afloat concerning her identity. Some of the persons who have visited the scene of the tragedy are of opinion that more than one man had a hand in the tragic affair. The idea is entertained that the woman committed suicide and that she was removed form the creek by some person, who became frightened, and did not report the finding of the body.
THE WOMAN IDENTIFIED
Friday afternoon the dead woman was identified as Mrs. Mary Dellinger, wife of Calvin Dellinger, a young farmer, living on the Fruitville pike. The bereaved husband went to the deadhouse at the hospital and there identified the body. He tearfully released the story of her leaving home. He saw her last alive on Tuesday morning.
On that morning Mr. Dellinger left his wife pleasantly and went into the cornfield. She said she was going to Reist's grocery store, this city, to make some purchases.
Instead of going to the store Mrs. Dellinger went to the home of William Aston, her brother at Conestoga Centre. She remained there all day and was brought to Lancaster, Wednesday by her brother. She was taken to her father's home, 637 South Prince street, where she remained during Wednesday night. On Thursday she visited Mrs. Christian Bauer, living at No. 25 West New street, whom she was well acquainted with, having been neighbor ors at Conestoga Centre.
At half-past two o'clock on Thursday afternoon, Mrs. Dellinger bade Mrs. Bauer good bye; and said she was going to her husband's home on the Fruitville pike.
When she got there her husband was not home. She gained an entrance to the house by forcing open the shutter. Before leaving the house she took a small gold watch, a gift from her husband, and some articles of baby-wearing apparel.
It is supposed she came to town. Her husband did not see her again until he looked at her dead body in the dead house this afternoon.
The dead woman will be nineteen years of age on November 23. She is a daughter of Isaac Aston, well digger, living at 637 South Prince street. She was married to Calvin Dellinger on August last. She leaves a girl babe thirteen months old.
Mr. Dellinger said he does not know what should have caused his wife to leave her house in the manner she did. She has frequently come to Lancaster, but never before has she left her home on the pretense of going elsewhere than where she stated.
Their family relations were happy and they did not have any quarrel prior to her leaving home.
Mr. Dellinger recognized the horseshoe pin which was found near the body, as belonging to his wife, it having been used to fasten the baby's shawl. he says he had not noticed anything peculiar in her actions lately. He is nearly heart-broken over the affair.
The mystery remains as deep as ever. How the woman got to the railroad bridge is unexplainable, but the authorities will leave nothing undone to clear up the mystery.
The husband does not think it was suicide.
CAL DELLINGER PLACED IN PRISON
.
The Mysterious Murder Being Unraveled.
The Post-mortem Examination.
The mysterious tragedy at the Little Conestoga has thrown Lancaster into a state of excitement such as has never before been equaled. Of all the dark and bloody deeds which have blotted the pages of Lancaster county's history, none are there which possess the deep mystery of this terrible crime. The murder of the girl-wife was the all absorbing topic on Friday evening, and when the report became circulated extensively that the husband had been placed under arrest on the charge of murder. It served as new food for discussion on the streets and in every household.
The arrest of Calvin M. Dellinger about seven o'clock in the evening was the reigning sensation. It was not without due deliberation that the husband was taken into custody, and it was then at the instance of County Commissioners Leber and Gingrich, who were at the dead house when Dr. Bolenius was conducting the examination.
While the physician was examining the body, Dellinger sat on the low coping of the stone fence in front of the dead house. His head rested in his hands and he spoke not a word, save to answer questions, which he did in a low voice. He appeared deeply agitated over the terrible affair.
Interviewing the Husband
Interviewing a man whose wife lies dead a few feet from him, with her death surrounded with deep mystery, and the finger of suspicion fronting directly at him as her murderer, is a task surrounded with difficulties. The state of mind which Dellinger was in when a reporter of the EXAMINER took a seat beside him Friday afternoon, was not conducive of clear answers to all questions. The first question of the reporter was:
"Did your wife ever leave her home before without your knowledge?"
"Yes; she went away in that manner a number of times."
"What were the circumstances of your leave-taking on Tuesday morning?"
"My wife made breakfast and after we had finished eating she dressed herself in the dress which is on her now, and said she was going to J. Frank Reist's grocery store. She said she would return in time to make dinner, and in the afternoon she said she would do the family washing. Before she left the house she asked me to kiss her and I did. She took the baby after I left for the field and that's the last I saw of her alive. When I returned to dinner the house was locked. I went to work again and found at supper time that she had not yet returned."
Delllinger then cut corn until after dark on Tuesday evening, when he came to Lancaster and learned that his wife had gone on a visit to her brother's in Conestoga He then related to the reporter of her whereabouts on Wednesday. Mrs. Dellinger was at her brother's until early Wednesday evening. Dellinger went to the home of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Aston, at half-past two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon and then walked to the stone quarry to meet the expected team which was to bring his wife. He remained there a short time and then went to his home on the Fruitville pike, being sick and tired.
He has One Enemy
"I came to town on Thursday afternoon about half-past two o'clock and went to Mrs. Aston's, where I learned that Mary had been there. She had left the baby behind, and said she was going to visit Mrs. Bauer on New street."
"Have you any enemies who would be likely to do you or your wife any harm ?"
"There is only one man who would do such a thing. He is a worthless fellow. He said to my wife's brother that he would get Mary some day. He knew her when she lived in Conestoga Center long before I did."
{The way the case at present stands the name of the man whom Dellinger mentioned will not be divulged.}
Dellinger said he became acquainted with Mary Aston at a party.
When asked what he intended doing with the body of his wife, he said eh would go to town and get an undertaker.
"How do you know your wife was at her home on Thursday and that she broke open the shutters ?"
"When I got home I found some meat and butter which Mary had placed in the cellar. her mother had given her the things."
The interview then concluded. Dellinger took no interest in what was passing about him, but sat with his eyes staring into vacancy, swaying his body to and fro.
The physicians examination was concluded about this time and the doors of the dead house were thrown open. The reporter accompanied him inside where the body was lying on a rough table. The face had been washed. It was white, with the eyes and mouth partly open.
As Dellinger entered the door he appeared to hesitate. Constable Barnholt was at his side. Something was said to him. He looked about in a strange, vacant manner, and then turned. he was beside the body of his murdered wife. At this moment he was watched keenly. The expression of his face was closely noticed. he stood a moment looking sadly at the cold, white face. He then placed one hand on her forehead, brushed back the hair. Covering his eyes with the other hand he bowed his head and his body shook with emotion, while the tears trickled down his cheeks.
The scene was heart-affecting and more than one of the spectators was moved. The weeping husband was drawn away, placed in the carriage containing Constables Barnhold and Wittick and driven away.
At the Scene of the Crime
Dellinger was driven swiftly to the spot where the dead body was found. he had little to say on the way. He did not ask where he was being taken. The detectives and Dellinger arrived at the Little Conestoga bridge about five o'clock. Wittick remained behind, while Barnholt accompanied the man to the spot.
Barnholt did not know the exact location of the spot, as he had not been there during the day, but he saw where the body had been drawn out. He asked Dellinger how far the place was from the bridge.
"About a hundred yards, "said Dellinger.
"How do you know ?"
"I saw it in the paper."
Dellinger then walked to the stone abutment of the bridge, and stepped off sixty six paces and it brought him to the trampled grass on which the body was lying.
The detectives then measured the boot heel imprints in the soil at the water's edge. Dellinger was asked to take off his left shoe. he did so, but before he did so he said: "It's not the left shoe; it's the right one."
The heel of the right shoe fit the imprint closely. The heels of the shoes had been repaired by Dellinger, and the surface piece of leather was slightly larger than the other portion of the heel, which made a broad, deep impression.
The Little Gold Ring
Before the detectives took Dellinger to the city they searched him and took from his pockets a lady's collar and a gold ring. The ring belonged to his wife. It is a plain gold band.
"Where did you get this ?" Asked Barnholt, turning suddenly to Dellinger, who quietly submitted to the search.
"I got it from her last night. No, no, I didn't, I got it from the shelf."
Barnhaolt took possession of the collar and ring and an hour later Dellinger was taken to the stationhouse, a warrant having been sworn out for his arrest on the terrible charge of murder.
What Was Found on His Person
At the stationhouse the following articles were taken from his person: Watch, chain and charm, lead pencil, two keys, one large and the other small, two rings which he wore on one finger, a pocket glass in clasp case, with glove buttoner and tooth pick, a small oval shaped Catholic charm, with figure of the Virgin Mary on one side and the letters "M" and two hearts on the other, a Spanish coin, a small bangle, a napkin with red and white border, and a handkerchief with orange and white border.
What Dellinger Said
At two o'clock on Friday afternoon Dellinger was on the principal streets of the city, pushing his carriage which contained his thirteen-month-old child. He was accompanied by Mrs. Aston. Afterward he went to the offices of the New Era with a piece of the material from which his wife's dress was made. He had learned of the dead woman being found, and said he believed it to be his wife.
Dellinger remarked to Mrs. Aston on Friday that he did not expect to see his wife alive again. He said that she had ran away with another man and would never return.
Tollgate Keeper Shenk, of the Petersburg pike, relates the following story:
"Dellinger stopped at the gate on Thursday afternoon and asked me if I had seen his wife. I said I had seen her pass sometime before his arrival, going in the direction of Lancaster. Dellinger said his wife promised to meet him at the tollgate in the evening. Dellinger then went in the direction his wife had taken. At midnight on Thursday I was aroused from bed by a loud rapping at the door. I responded to the knock and found Dellinger. He asked me if I had seen his wife. I answered in the negative and he went on the way to his home."
The Torn Necktie and Vest
A minute examination of Dellinger's clothing was made on Friday evening. A suspicious looking circumstance is the torn vest which he wore. When the detectives made the discovery, Dellinger said that the vest was torn a week ago. He wore a gaudy necktie about his neck, and this was found to have been roughly handled. It was torn. The horseshoe pin which many persons have seen him wear, was missing. he said he gave the pin to his wife to use to fasten the baby's shawl. He said he parted with the pin because it was becoming tarnished.
On the right side of his neck is a scratch a bout an inch and a-half in length and a sixteenth of an inch in-width. It is an irregular mark, just such as would be made by a finger nail.
The post-mortem Examinations
At the County Hospital, on Friday afternoon, a post mortem examination was made by Dr. R. M. Bolenius who confined his examination to the lower organs of Mrs. Dellinger's body, but discovered nothing to indicate violence. Another and more thorough examination was made this morning. Coroner Honamean had directed that this examination be made and he had fixed eleven o'clock this morning as the hour of the giving of testimony before the coroner's jury, but had failed to notify District Attorney Weaver of the affair. When Mr. Weaver heard of the case and realized how serious it was, he, after consulting with Judge Livingston, directed that the hearing of further testimony be postponed until Monday morning at eleven o'clock, and that another examination be made. He also suggested that Dr. Bolenius call in another physician in order that there might be corroborative testimony. Dr. M. L. Davis was chosen, and Dr. Bolemius and he made the second examination this morning. The lungs were found to be congested, but not more than would have resulted from drowning. It was Mr. Weaver's desire that the stomach be examined for traces of poison and the stomach was taken out for analysis last evening. Thus far there seems to be no doubt that death was caused by drowning.
DELLINGER AS A TORTURER
Placing a Hot Poker in His Babe's Hands and Whipping It for Crying
When Mrs. Dellinger was at the home of Mrs. Bauers on Thursday, she stated that she had left her home because her husband had given her a terrible beating, and then related a story of cruelty which would do credit to the days of the thumbscrew and rack. On the slightest pretext Dellinger would punish his wife, using fist and feet, and jumping on the prostrate form when the woman fell. He would order her to bed at night, and almost immediately tell her to get up again assisting the woman to rise with a brutal kick or stunning blow. When every other mode of picking a fight with his wife failed the thirteen month-old babe became a never failing means through which a whipping could be administered to his wife.
The man's brutality and cruelty are almost beyond credence, and, if the mother's story is true, are crimes which would merit the severest punishment that man could administer. It is a horrible story, the fiendish punishment to which the helpless babe was compelled to submit showing the man to be brute enough to commit the highest crime.
When the babe had reached the age at which it tried to catch everything within reach, the inhuman father would place the poker into the stove until it was hot when he would hold it to the child, who would clasp it in its tiny hand. The hot iron would sear the little one's finger, and then the babe child cried from the painful burns, the father whipped it for crying.
Mrs. Dellinger interfered and endeavored to protect her babe both from the hot poker and her husband's blows, and this was an enormity which Dellinger punished as severely as he could. At times he changed his mode of torture by placing a hot lamp chimney against the babe's face, but the result was always the same-the baby whipped for crying and his wife for attempting to protect her child.
Several months ago Dellinger's last wife brought suit against him for surety of the peace, for which he served a term in the county jail.
He was also indicted in York county for stealing two steers, but ran away, and was never tried. This latter case he related to detectives Barnhold and Wittick, on Friday.
A FEARFUL RETRIBUTION
A wife's Devotion, a Husband's Duplicity and a Scheming Girl
This stranger and mysterious case is slowly being unraveled, and every new development seems to strengthen the chain of evidence which is being woven around the husband of the dead woman.
Facts which were discovered by a reporter of the EXAMINER this morning place Dellinger and the murdered woman in a peculiar light, and it almost appears as though the girl's horrible and untimely end was a fitting punishment for the misery she caused a loving and devoted woman-the wife of Dellinger when he first met and became infatuated with the Aston girl at Conestoga-an infatuation which changed him from a kind husband to a devil incarnate.
A representative of the EXAMINER learned that the lady who was Dellinger's former wife and who secured a divorce on account of his intimacy with the Aston girl, was married to Christian Deen, who resides at 21 Middlestreet, and called upon the lady, who did not wish to say anything about Dellinger, stating that her thoughts were centered in her present family.
A Sensational Story
"Did Dellinger ever make any attempt on your life" inquired the reporter.
"I have nothing to say," replied the lady.
"Didn't he attempt to shoot you when you lived on Water street ?"
"Yes, I ran from the house and screamed for help. He threatened to shoot me and then himself."
"Did he ever beat you?"
"One night I was in bed when he came in, and not waking when he spoke, he jumped on my breast with his knees. I broke away from him and went out and sat in the lumber yard all night."
"Was that the only time he assaulted you ?"
"No. From the time he met the Aston girl until we were divorced he frequently beat me."
"Where did he meet the Aston girl ?"
"At a Sunday School picnic at Conestoga; she asked him to take her home. The Aston girl told me that herself."
"When did you first find out that he was going to see this girl ?"
"When I was mending his coat one day a bundle of letters fell out of the pocket. I read them. They were from Mary Aston. She proposed that he run off from me and go West to a certain point, and she would meet him there and they would get married. I also fixed his hat at that time, and found that he had both his and Mary Aston's pictures pasted in the crown of his had."
"Did you say anything to him about this ?"
"Yes, I upbraided him and he told me he loved the girl and was going to marry her."
"Did you ever meet Mary Aston?"
"Only once before they were married."
"Where was that ?"
"One night he ordered me to go to bed early. I went,. He said he would come pretty soon. I waited until 4 o'clock in the morning, and then looked for him. He was not in the house. It struck me at once that he had going to see Mary Aston at Conestoga. I hurriedly threw on not more than half of my clothing and started for the Aston house at Conestoga, on foot."
"That Man is My Husband."
"When did you get there ?"
"It was about six o'clock in the morning. I asked Mr. Aston if Mary was in; stating that I was an old friend, had heard she was going to get married, and desired to see her. Mr. Aston said Mary was out driving, but would return soon. She was going to marry a Mr. Dellinger from Lancaster."
"What did you say ?"
"I told him Dellinger was my husband, and he said he would order him to stay away from his daughter in the future. Just at this point my husband and Mary Aston drove up to the door, and I faced them and told Mary the man was my husband. He jumped into the buggy and drove off, and I walked home. That night he returned to Conestoga and spent the night at Mary Aston's home."
"Did you sue your husband for a divorce at that time ?"
"No, not until sometime later when he told me that Mary Aston was in a delicate condition and was going to charge him with the paternity of her unborn child."
"You had some money which he tried to get; did he succeed ?"
"He got some on one pretext or another. One Christmas he said if I would give him $100. he would buy me a gold watch as a Christmas present. I gave him the money; he bought the watch, but instead of giving it to me as a Christmas present he gave it to Mary Aston.
"How did he treat you before he met Mary Aston ?"
"He was good and kind, and we lived very happily. All our troubles came through his infatuation of that girl."
"Was he in the habit of partaking of intoxicating liquor ?"
"No, he never drank anything intoxicating."
"Did he marry Mary Aston soon after you secured a divorce ?"
"No; he was sickly at the time and unable to work. I hired out receiving two dollars a week, and this sum I sent to him every week to pay his board-yes every cent I sent."
"Was this after you secured a divorce ?"
"Yes, sir. We were endeavoring to arrange our difficulties and again live together."
The Act of a Scoundrel.
"Did Mary Aston bring suit against your husband, charging him with being the father of her child ?"
"No, sir. Several months after the divorce was secured he came to me on a Thursday and said he was in great trouble; that Mary Aston was about to bring suit but was willing to settle for $125. He asked me for the money and I gave it to him."
"Did he settle with her ?"
"Yes sir; but not in the manner he stated to me. On Sunday- three days after he got the money from me to settle the case he and Mary Aston were married."
"I don't suppose he ever returned the money ?"
"No, indeed. He bought the stage route from Lancaster to Conestoga with it."
"Did you ever meet Mary Aston after she was married ?"
"I did and told her that as surely as there was a God in Heaven she would be punished for the misery and trouble she caused me."
"What did she say?"
"She only laughed about it, and said she got lots of mashes when her husband was away."
"Did they live happily together ?"
"I don't know; she frequently ran away from him and was gone several days. He usually went in search of her.
Another Mystery.
"After Mary Aston was married did she ever say anything to you about Dellinger ?"
"She said she intended to run away from him someday and go with the man who was the father of her child."
"Then Dellinger was not the father of Mary Aston's child ?"
"Mary Aston told me after she was married to Dellinger that he was not the father of her child, but she accused him because she thought he had some money.
"Did she state who was the father of the child."
"A gentleman who was teaching school in Conestoga at that time. She said she loved the school teacher and intended to run off with him as soon as the could make the necessary arrangements."
"Did Dellinger know that he was not the father of Mary Aston's child ?"
"I don't know."
Mrs. Deen is suffering from a complication of diseases, among them rheumatism of the heart, and expressed the opinion that Dellinger was not entirely sane.
Inquiry among the people living in the vicinity of the home formerly occupied by the Dellingers, on Water Street, found the woman in a terrible state of excitement, the cruel treatment of the wife being well known to them, and they unhesitatingly said that a man who was capable of the brutality displayed by him would commit murder also.
A Startling Discovery
A Suit of Clothing Found in the House Saturated with Water
One by one the connection links in this chain of evidence are being forged against Dellinger. This afternoon a startling discovery was made. Detectives Barnhold and Wittick thoroughly searched the house in which Dellinger and his wife had lived unhappily, on the Fruitville pike. In one of the rooms was found a suit of clothing, such as a farm hand might wear. They were lying heaped on the floor, and had the appearance of being hastily taken off. The clothing was still wet. A pair of socks and shoes were lying among the clothing.
The damp garments were brought to Lancaster by the detectives. Outside the window was found a pair of woman's drawers, which were torn. When the body was found that article of wearing apparel was missing.
In one corner of the room was found three or four photographs of Dellinger and his young wife, taken together. They had been thrown there, and on examination of the album the vacant places, where the photographs had been, were found.
This seems to point conclusively to a quarrel on Tuesday morning, and either husband or wife threw the pictures where they were found.
The case is increasing in strangeness and mystery, but the web of guilt seems to be closing around the man who is now behind the bars.
MRS. DELLINGER BURIED
The alleged Murderer Attacked with Convulsions while Listening to the Sermon.
The atrocity of the famous Whitechapel murders, and the horrible butchery of the female victims in that quarter of London, has not been equaled in the killing of young Mrs. Mary Katharine Dellinger, but that series of fearful London tragedies, however, is not more deeply clouded in mystery that the terrible affair which has thrown Lancaster County into a state of intense commotion throughout its length and breadth and has excited extraordinary interest throughout Pennsylvania and adjoining states. Within the city nothing has been talked about since the finding of the body. Everything has been overshadowed by the discussion of the crime in the public mind;. Public opinion ran high against young farmer Dellinger, after the publication of the frightful charges made against the accused man in Saturday night's EXAMINER. His past career is a terrible blot-one which can be scarcely realized as the whole truth. It seems like a frightful dream, which proves to be but a fanciful freak of the imagination on the awakening. The horrified reader asks "Can such inhuman cruelty be possible in a man ?" As the facts which were given in this journal on Saturday night set forth. There was not one among the thousands who read the story of fiendish brutality, who did not come to the instant conclusion that Dellinger was guilty - that his heart was stone, his conscience dead, and that his crime was the most revolting in the crime-filled history of the garden spot of the United States.
The net of damning evidence, seems closing about the prisoner. The specter of guilt appears to be abroad and pointing his dread hand at Dellinger. The finding of the dampened clothes and the discovery of the torn article of female underwear, as published exclusively in the EXAMINER, was a strong point against the accused man. The photographs of the murdered woman and her husband found scattered about the floor of the house on the Fruitville pike showed plainly that the pair had quarreled, and was in direct contradiction of Dellinger's statement that his wife had asked him to kiss her before he left her for the harvest field on Tuesday morning, the day of her disappearance. This, however, is but conjecture. Man and wife may have smoothed their differences, but the weight is on the other side.
His Past Life and Hers
Nine out of every half score people who are asked concerning their opinion of the tragic ending of one young life, are emphatic in their belief that Dellinger is the murderer. The remaining one scouts the belief that the young farmer committed the deed. Dellingers past life has been wicked. That of his murdered wife has been little better-if any. She, with wickedness in her heart, employed the arts of the siren to get him to leave his home and wife. He, weak minded fool that he was, succumbed to her witchery and became crazily infatuated with the girl, who already had become known as a loose character. He cruelly treated the wife he was divorced from. He administered kicks and cuffs, which one with a grain of compassion in his composition would not administer to the lowest cur. It seems to be a fearful, just retribution to Mary Aston, for the part she took in the parting of husband and wife, who until her appearance on the scene, had been living a life of happiness and felicity. And when Mary Aston did succeed in winning the affections of Calvin Dellinger and he had secured a divorce and became her husband, her fidelity to her marriage vows soon after the birth of her child was seriously questioned ? Her's was a fearful end to some to, but the pity for her tragic death is modified largely by the stories of undoubted authenticity concerning her life.
AT THE FUNERAL
Dellinger Stands Beside the Dead Body of His Wife.
Saturday night, J. Hay Brown, one of the counsel for the supposed murderer, visited the prison. He had an interview of considerable length with Dellinger. The accused man was in cell 59, upper tier. It was an ironclad. During his counsel's visit Dellinger expressed a desire to attend the funeral of his wife. Mr. Brown advised him not to carry out his intention. Dellinger insisted, however, and would not listen to aught else. He passed a restless night on his first night in the gloomy prison. He passed up and down the narrow cell, and his eyes closed in slumber but little. He arose unrepressed Sunday morning, and he appeared a much broken up individual. In the afternoon he put on his overcoat and was placed in a closed cab, and taken to the home of Isaac Aston, 637 South Queen street, where the dead body of his wife was lying. The prisoner was accompanied by Prison keeper Smith and Underkeeper Murr. His eyes were red with weeping.
The humble home of the Astons was besieged at an early hour in the morning by persons who sought admittance to look upon the dead girl-wife. All callers were informed that the remains could not be seen until noon. At that hour hundreds had assembled in front of the two story brick dwelling. In single file the crowd mounted the high steps and passed by the side of the casket, which contained the body. The coffin was placed in the middle of the front room. Pitying glances fell on the calm features of the young woman. The lips had become swollen slightly and the face had a flushed appearance. The hair was brushed back and coiled on top. The hands were crossed at her waist, and between them was a bunch of fragrant yellow roses. The body was enveloped in a plain white shroud.
Rest
About the throat was a lace ruche and a satin bow. The casket was lined with white satin. At the head of the coffin was a small pillow, made from straw flowers on which was the word "Rest." A small white card bore the following:
From the Employees of
H L. Stehman's
Cigar Manufactory
Mary Aston at one time was employed at that factory and her companions thus kindly remembered her. The simple straw pillow was the only decoration about the coffin.
A constant stream of people poured into the house until shortly before two o'clock. Many wanted to linger at the side of the dead woman, but quick passage of all by the coffin was requested. A thousand people-perhaps more-gazed as the silent figure in the black casket, with its inexpensive ornaments of metal.
Dellinger at the Coffin
A thousand people had gathered outside when the closed carriage containing Dellinger and the prison officials rolled up to the curb. The assemblage surged closer when the hushed exclamation went about that Dellinger was in the cab. The people in the front room, where the corpse was lying, were cleared away. With bowed head and tearful eyes Dellinger mounted the steps. He seemed unable to support himself. He was led into the presence of his murdered wife by the prison officials. Anguish was written on every lineament of his face. He looked on the cold face and burst into a fit of sobbing. The scene was exceedingly affecting. Dellinger's body shook with emotion. He said not a word, and when the lid had been placed on the coffin and the form of Mary Katharine shot our from view, he sunk on a settee and scalding tears ran down his cheeks. He did not look like a cold-blooded murderer. He did not act like one. He seemed bereft of his senses and took no cognizance of what was passing about him.
Dellinger heeded not the gaping, curious crowd, who craned their necks to get a sight at him. He was led down the steps and placed in the cab. He caught the tears on his handkerchief and he looked the picture of a man, tortured by mental suffering. The prison officials also entered the cab, which was driven swiftly away to escape the crowd, who made a movement as if to crowd about the vehicle. The cab awaited the hearse a short distance down the road.
The straw pillow, emblematic of rest was placed on the coffin, which was placed in the hearse by undertaker C.S. Herr and three other gentlemen. A dozen carriages filed in front of the door and were occupied by near relatives and friends. The funeral cort�ge then moved slowly away in the direction of Conestoga Centre, where the body was interred. Rev. Charles Roads, of St. Paul's M.E. church, conducted impressive but simple services at the home of the Astons. He delivered a prayer, eloquent and affecting, and many a silent tear was dropped.
At Conestoga Centre
The funeral procession wended its way slowing to the little village, which was crowded with people. Several hundred carriages were lined about the Methodist church. Conestoga Centre had not witnessed such a gathering in a long time. The services were held in the Methodist church, which was packed to the walls with people. Several hundred persons could not gain admittance. There was no disorder among the assemblage. The prisoner was led inside the church. He was crying bitterly. The coffin was carried near the pulpit and Dellinger took his seat near by. The lid was removed and the people who knew the murdered woman from babyhood and her companions in girlhood gazed on her face.
Seated on either side of Dellinger was Prisonkeeper Smith and Underkeeper Murr. Rev. Charles Roads announced the text of his funeral sermon. He preached an impressive and eloquent discourse. When the minister had proceeded on his sermon a short way, Dellinger created a sensation. He threw up his hands, a sound escaped from his mouth, and he rolled to the floor. He struggled desperately, and froth oozed from his mouth. He was a frightful looking object. He had been attacked with violent convulsions, and three of the spasms followed. He was lifted on the bench, and it required the united efforts of the prison officials to hold him down. Water was dashed in his face. The services were interrupted briefly and everybody pressed forward. There was no disorder and the minister continued with the sermon, while Dellinger was lying on the bench. Dellinger recovered and had a recurrence of the convulsions, but only a slight attack.
At the conclusion of the sermon the coffin was taken to the burying ground and lowered into the grave in the presence of a great multitude. The earth was thrown in and the victim of the tragedy of the Little Conestoga was beyond the gaze of mortals. At the grave Dellinger moaned and cried piteously. Everybody's touched with the impressiveness of the scene and the grief of the young husband charged with murder.
A Lesson to Parents
The sermon was founded on Matthew vii. 13: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many thereby which go in threat". These words of Christ give earnest counsel to seek the life of righteousness, and are in the same time his warning of the nature and consequence of sin. They were appropriate for this sad occasion. This large congregation, drawn as much and more by sympathy for the overwhelming trouble of former neighbor as by curiosity, knows the particulars of this terrible death.
The way to a manly, Christ like character is not broad and easy. But excludes nothing except sin. It is a way of light and peace, of sweetest joy and prosperity. No such troubles as the sad event are found upon it. And the concentration of purpose, self-denial and struggles are repaid a thousand-fold in the love of friends and the happiness of the highest success in life.
Now, what warnings are here. First a lesson of fearful import for parents. How amazing the indifference and folly of parents in careless rearing of children,. So little regard is paid to the moral development. Boys and girls are old in sin. They are given loosest reign when passions are fierce and impulses ungoverned by calm reason. We meet country boys in Lancaster city staggering half-intoxicated from saloon to saloon, and by contact with evil companions, hardening into criminals. What are parents doing to save them ? What pains are they taking to give daughters wiser ideas of life and duty in keeping company with loose young men ? How sad the calamity of this household! Let every father and mother learn renewed zeal in bringing their children to Christ. And for ungodly parents what a new reason to lead the way.
What a warning for young men is here. The broad way leads surely to destruction. It may be an easier way to begin and to travel for a time, but how terrible its outcome. It is the way of momentary pleasure and life-long remorse; of wild and unrestrained indulgence which must be paid for in agonizing suffering; the way of sin is a way of thorns and sharp rocks, of pitfalls and darkness. Have you, young man, started in it ? Are you spending the days of pleasure ? Be assured its end is destruction, be warned by the event of today.
What a sad lesson for young woman. Here is a wrecked life in this poor creature, hardly more than a girl. Far better remain all your life in your father's house than to marry in folly. There is no trouble like that of joining your hand with a depraved and reckless young man. Learn how great the peril of encouraging a lewd or drunken man to visit you. Have nothing to do with him further.
We comfort the distressed friends and especially the parents by directing them to Christ, the sympathizer and help. He comforts and sustains. We urge the husband to come to Christ. God knows his heart and life whatever men may think or do and God is merciful. Turn to him heartily repenting all sin and accept the Savior. Let us all be wiser and better because this awful tragedy has thrown its shadow across our lives.
The prisoner was returned to the Lancaster County prison about half-past seven o'clock.
THE CORONER'S INQUEST
A Verdict of Death from Drowning is Rendered
The jury in the adjourned investigation by Coroner Honaman into the cause of the death of Mrs. Mary Katharine Dellinger, met in the Orphan's Court room at ten o'clock this morning. The jury was composed of the following persons: John Wahl, John Hughes, Benjamin Breitegan, William Wittick, H. H. Hensei and H. W. Buckius. Mrs. Keziah F. Aston, the mother of the deceased woman, pale and unhappy-looking and clad in deep black, was conspicuous among those present. She, her husband and a son were witnesses before the jury. The other witnesses were Drs. R.M. Bolenius and M. L. Davis, Charles H. Leonard, son of the janitor of Franklin and Marshall College, and Mrs. Margaret Bauer.
Dr. Bolenius testified that in his judgment the deceased came to her death by drowning, all the evidence of her condition indicating that such was the case. There was no evidence that she was outraged. Her clothing was in much disarranged, the dress torn open in front, showing that a struggle had ensued. Dr. Davis, who made a microscopic examination of the deceased, corroborated Dr. Bolenius in relation to absence of any evidence of rape.
Charles H. Leonard testified to the discovery of Mrs. Dellinger dead body on the bank of the creek. He lives a mile from the spot, and on Thursday afternoon he went fishing, and at the time he saw no one along the creek. He put in his lines in Landes's dam and returning to the spot, and still saw no one Friday morning at 6 o'clock he went to lift his lines, walking through plowed fields to the railroad bridge over the Little Conestoga, arriving there about half-past 6 as he lives a mile from the bridge. He walked along, whistling and stepping over a fallen tree or stump that lay near the creek he saw the woman's dead body. He was shocked at the sight, and remained there only long enough to notice that the clothing on the body was wet and that there was sand in the woman's hair. The witness went on and lifted his lines, and on his return saw a man running away from the creek, on the west side. The man who did not know whether he was running to give the alarm or hurrying away from the dead woman to escape from sight. He was a tall man. The witness said he did not think it was his place to make the discovery of the body known, but it was subsequently seen by some railroad men who made the announcement of the death.
Mrs. Keziah F. Aston took the stand, "I won't kiss the book," she said. "I will affirm." After her affirmation she told her story in a dramatic way, as follows:
The dead woman was my daughter. I saw her last Thursday evening between 6 and 7 o'clock. She ate supper with me and then said she would start for her home on the Fruitville pike, hoping to meet Cal (her husband) on the way. "I will go as far as Shenk's toll-gate." she said. "and if I meet him I will get the poor fellow some supper. If I don't meet him I will be back at 9 o'clock." She left her child with me. I have her yet, and intend to keep her. She nursed her child before going away, and seemed in good heart, I never saw her again until I looked on her dead face in the ice box. She came to my house first at 11 in the forenoon, and returned to her own house about 2 in the afternoon. Her husband came in at three o'clock and asked for her. I told him she had gone home. He remained at my house half an hour. He came back again at a quarter to ten, and staid till a quarter past eleven. He seemed much distressed because he couldn't meet his wife and go home with her. Friday morning he came again, between 7 and 8 o'clock. "Mother," he said, hasn't Kate come yet ?" I told him that she had not, and the news seem to distress him more and more, He was dressed in his every day knock-around suit, the same that he had on when he called on Tuesday.
In relation to the pin that was found near Mrs. Dellinger's body, Mrs. Aston said that she had not noticed whether her daughter wore such a pin or not, nor whether the baby had. She said that Dellinger had four or five pins. At this point the Coroner showed the witness the pin that was found. "That is not a pin that I ever saw. That is not his." "He acknowledged it to be his," said the Coroner. "Did he?" replied the witness. Well, I don't know, Mrs. Aston failed to identity a handkerchief that was found on her daughter's person.
Mrs. Margaret Bauers was sworn. He said that Mrs. Dellinger came to her house, at 24 New Street, about school time on Tuesday morning. She had her baby in its coach. The witness asked her where she was going, and she replied that she was going to the country to see her brother Will. She then went away, and came back at 11:30, and ate dinner with Mrs. Bauers, leaving at 2:30 and saying that she was going home. Never saw her again until I saw her dead. "Her husband was at my house Tuesday night, but if he was I did not see him. He did not say a word on Friday about his wife being dead, but asked me if she had been in my house. While Mrs. Dellinger was at my house, in the course of conversation her domestic difficulties came up. I asked her if her husband licked her. "Yes, "she said, "he licked me Monday night, and I left him Tuesday. Must I live with him ? I cannot do it, she said. I asked her if she was in the habit of doing that, and she replied, "He licks me every other day. Every other day I get a peg. Whenever he runs me into a corner, I know what I am getting. He takes a red hot poker and puts it against my baby's little hand and when she cries he licks her. He holds a hot lamp chimney against her little face, and whips her when she cries from it. I will fight for my baby and when I do I catch it, too:. I noticed no rings or pin on Mrs. Dellinger nor on the baby, and remember no shawl."
Isaac Aston, the father of the dead woman, and her brother Joseph were called, but had no material evidence bearing on the case to give.
The jury rendered the following verdict:
That Mary Katharine Dellinger came to her death on the fifth day of October, from drowning in the little Conestoga creek, having been thrown into the stream by some person unknown to the jury." It has been learned from the second post mortem examination of the stomach that Mrs. Dellinger died shortly after nine o'clock on Thursday night. The food in the stomach, which was in process of digestion shows this. Dellinger claims he can prove positively where he was at that hour.
Hundreds of people visited the spot where the body was found Sunday.