On March 16, 1870, around 50-year-old Thomas Hogan (white) stopped by the home of either Edward Darnell Young or Bill Loper (both black). Thomas was from Philidephia and it wasn't stated on why he was visiting the home.
They discovered that Thomas was carrying a large amount of money with him. This was when they lured him to an isolated place near Kersey's Mill Dam in Kent County Delaware. They bludgeoned him in the back of the head with a fence rail. This did not kill him. Edward claimed he was scared of William and they brought Thomas to the pond where he may have drowned.
On March 26 some men were fishing in Kersey's Mill Dam located on the road from Canterberry to Fredrica. They discovered Thomas's body caught in their net. Soon the two men were suspected of the murder. Edward confessed to the deed and they were taken to trial. It was believed that William was the instigator, but he was acquitted in court. Edward was convicted and hanged in Dover on June 24, 1870.
SOURCES:
Middletown Transcript April 2, 1870
Middletown Transcript June 25, 1870
Deleware Tribune July 14, 1870
Legal Executions in Delaware, The District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia page 7
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