UNIDENTIFIED: 1924 Kent County, Delaware Doe

In 1924 skeletal remains were found on the beach in Little Creek Hundred, Delaware. There is little information in this case.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave

UNIDENTIFIED: March 9, 1924 Aston, Delaware John Doe

 On March 9, 1924, a man's body was found on Concord and Bridgewater Rd in Aston, Delaware. He was frozen to death due to exposure.

John Doe was a black male around 55 years old.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave

UNIDENTIFIE: September 28, 1942 Wilmington, Delaware John Doe

 On September 28, 1942, the skeleton of a man was found  Along the south bank of the Christiana River at Commerce in Wilmington, Deleware.  He had been dead for several months. 

John Doe was found with a belt around his waist, buckle with initial C. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

The Morning News September 29, 1942

Murder of Lena and Wilhelm Riedel

In 1888 36-year-old Charles Henry Riedel his wife 37-year-old  Lena and their son 7-year-old Wilhelm "Willie" moved to Wilmington, Delaware from Philadelphia. Charles was German and spoke broken English. Unbeknownst to those around him he was depressed due to a lack of work and prospective want. 

On the morning of September 17, 1887, both mother and child were sleeping in the same bed. Lena was sleeping on her back facing up and Wilhelm was on his side facing away from his mother. Charles would go up to both. He first shot at the wall twice, but neither woke up. He would then shoot Lena and then Wilhelm in the head.  Witnesses heard Lena moaning and saying "Willie". Even if she talked evidence showed that she did not move after being shot but could have lived up to 3 hours afterward. 

Charles tried to kill himself by shooting himself in the temple, but he failed. Later that morning he would go to his door and shout that he would shoot everyone. He would then yell at Mrs. Gottilieb Wachter to see what he had done upstairs. This scared her and she rushed to her husband who was working at the mill at the time. 

The two would return and enter the home. Upstairs they would see the bodies of the mother and child still in bed. He would then be asked what he had done by them. "Just what I said I would." When they left the house Charles locked the door behind him. This was when someone was sent to get an officer. 

Later that morning Officer Sherry and Gustave Kolock would go to the home. The front door to the house was locked so the back of the house to peer in to see Charles smoking. The officer wanted someone to distract Charles briefly as he snuck in through the back to arrest him. Gustave's brother did so as he joined the party. They did this  and Charles willingly went with the officer and only asked to get his money before leaving. It was $21.70 (Around $667) one of the $5 bills was stained with blood. He grabbed it from the mantel and left with the officers. As he was put in the carriage Charles stated "I shot my wife. I shot my child. I'll shoot everybody."

He was found guilty and on August 10, 1888, Charles would be executed. He was welcoming the execution. One reporter would ask how Charles would feel if the governor would let him live a little longer. Charles would respond with "I will kill myself. I do not want to live this way. " He was religious but refused spiritual consolation. 

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Deleware, The District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Page 9

The Morning News September 19, 1887

Daily Republican September 21, 1887

Daily Republican May 16, 1888

The Morning News August 10, 1888

Murder of Ida Crummell

In  1896 New Castle, Delaware 19-year-old Edward Wright (colored) and 23-year-old Ida Crummell (colored) were sweethearts. It was said that the two were practically married and even got furniture together, but the relationship would sour by July. It's not stated why Ida wanted to separate from Edward, but Edward was furious. He confronted Ida when she was with Mrs. Boyer and told her along the lines if he can't go with her that he would kill her. Ida did not want anything to do with him. After this altercation, he went and bought a revolver to kill her with.

On July 30th  Ida and Mrs. Boyer would go to the Wilmington and Northern Railroad Station on Water and French St. They had gone to see the colored excursion from Reading. While waiting for the train the two would walk to the P W & B station. This was when Edward would try to speak to Ida, but she would turn away and ignore him. The two would return to W&N.

Edward would leave and see Mr. Boyer and talk to him. He told him that he had a present for Ida and if he saw her tell her. He also told him that if he caught her with another man he would fix her. 

After the excursion train arrived Ida, Mary Thomas, and Joe Welch would walk along the railroad to Market St. Mrs. Boyer was not with them because she went to look for her husband. Mrs. Boyer would pass by Edward who walking the same way Ida and her group was. 

Edward would approach the group and call out to her. While Ida turned to her name being called Edward would shoot. The first bullet would hit her behind the ear and then the second would hit her in the forehead. She would fall down face first and as she lay there he would shoot her for the third time hitting her at the base of the brain. Edward would then walk away. 

Captain Champers was in the vicinity and had her carried to Front and Market Streets. She would then be taken to Delaware Hospital where she would pass away as she passed through the doors. 

Officers were quick to respond and found Edward near Water and Shipley Streets. He would be arrested for the murder. He had no remorse for the murder. After he was locked up he stated that he had killed her and planned on doing so since Saturday. He was extremely jealous and did not care to live without her. He was satisfied when he heard that she had died. 

In September Edward would go to trial. He would plead guilty due to insanity. Witnesses would come forward saying in 1895 he became ill and afterward complained of pain in the head. On October 2nd he would be found guilty of first-degree murder and would be set to hang.

On January 1, 1897, Edward would hang at 10:30 a.m. He was welcoming to the execution as he wanted to be with Ida. 

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Page 10

The News Journal July 31, 1896

Delaware Gazette and State Journal January 7, 1897

Missing: Marion Alice Morton

2010 photo of Marion's home she was believed to be last seen alive.

On December 30, 1937, 52/52-year-old Marion Morton was reported missing from Georgetown, Delaware. THere's very little information in this case.

Her ex-husband was Bennet Carlton Morton. In the April 12 1930 Federal Census Marion was listed as the head of the house with her son Ralph (19 at the time) and school teacher Lewella Cain was a tenant in her home in Newark, New Jersey.

SOURCES:
NamUs

Murder of Thomas Hogan

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