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MURDER IN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
IT HAPPENED IN WILMINGTON DELAWARE:
The following is/was one of Harry Anslinger’s prime Gore File Cases, consisting of examples of Bestial crimes committed with under the influence of Medicinal Marihuana. And thus the logic for the existence of the anti-Medical Cannabis Laws.
The State of Delaware may only have had one notable Gore file case, but (as can be seen from the following) be assured that Delaware had done us all proud.
Name: Walter Pettyjohn , John Rhodes , Cleveland Hodge - Location: - Wilmington, Del. - Date: - Jan 1936
What the Narc’s were claimingNEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS:
Jan 1936.- Walter Pettyjohn - John Rhodes Delaware - 1936 ---A man was killed in Wilmington, Del. by one Pettyjohn. When the police attempted to arrest Pettyjohn for the crime he attacked the police with a long knife. To protect their lives, the police officers shot and killed Pettyjohn. . . . .On the same date one Cleveland Hodge was arrested in Wilmington for possession of about 3 pounds of marihuana. Hodge said he had gathered the plant from a plot of ground used by Rhodes, the man who was murdered as above described, and further stated that Rhodes had told him about the weed, which he called "weaver weed"; that if a tea was made from it, it would cure rheumatism. Hodge said he used a cup of this tea three times a day and had done so for a long time; and both Rhodes and Pettyjohn were apparently under the influence of marihuana. This case was prosecuted in Delaware under the Uniform State Narcotic Act. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
Wilmington, Del. January 1936. Walter Pettyjohn Killed John Rhodes while under the influence marihuana. --- Marihuana 1938 by Frederick Merrill
1936 - W. Pettijohn, - Wilmington, Del.-Killed J. Rhodes while under influence marihuana. - Arrested -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
In Wilmington, Delaware, a man was brutally murdered by a marihuana addict named Pettyjohn. When police attempted to arrest the murderer, he attacked them with a long knife. So murderous was his assault upon the officers that in order to protect themselves they were forced to shoot him dead. On that same day a man named Hodge was arrested in the same city for possession of marihuana. Hodge said he gathered the plants from a plot of ground owned by the man who was killed by Pettyjohn. Both Pettyjohn and his victim were under the influence of marihuana at the time the murder was committed, according to Hodge, who confessed that he himself had used the drug every day for a long time. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
In Wilmington, Delaware, a man was brutally murdered by a marihuana addict named Pettyjohn. When police attempted to arrest the murderer, he attacked them with a long knife. So murderous was his assault upon the officers that in order to protect themselves they were forced to shoot him dead. On that same day a man named Hodge was arrested in the same city for possession of marihuana. Hodge said he gathered the plants from a plot of ground owned by the man who was killed by Pettyjohn. Both Pettyjohn and his victim were under the influence of marihuana at the time the murder was committed, according to Hodge, who confessed that he himself had used the drug every day for a long time. -- The Moloch of Marihuana (1945) By Robert James Devine
1936 Wilmington, Delaware - M Killed J. Rhodes while under influence marihuana. Arrested -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
In Wilmington, Delaware, a man was brutally murdered by an addict. When the officers tried to arrest him, he attacked them with a knife. They were forced to shoot him dead. Both he and his victim were marihuana addicts. ---Book 1939– Enemies Of Youth
I have noticed that many of these violators have a record of assault. In Wilmington, Delaware, there was the case of John Rhodes, who attacked an officer with a knife and was shot and killed resisting arrest. ----Marihuana Conference Held-- Dec. 5, 1938
DELAWARE - Wilmington On January 12, 1936, one John Rhodes, said to have been a Mexican, was killed in Wilmington Delaware, by Walter Pettyjohn. When police tried to arrest Pettyjohn he attacked the police with a long knife. His struggles with the officers became so violent that the police, to save their own lives, shot and killed Pettyjohn. Both Rhodes and Pettyjohn were under the influence of marihuana when these crimes took place. --- ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA - aka Gore File
Wilmington Morning New
[S]- Jan 13, 1936 p1 – “POLICEMEN KILL NEGRO SUSPECT IN DUMP MURDER”
[S]- Jan 14, 1936 p22 – “Manslaughter charge continued by court”
[S]- Jan 15, 1936 p 25 – “Patrolmen Commended in Shooting of Negro”
[S]- Jan 17, 1936 p32 – “”Charge Against Two Policemen is Dropped”
[S]- Jan 22, 1936 p15 – “Negro Imprisoned Fined for Assault”
Journal Every Evening
[S]- Jan 13, 1936 p6 – “Accused of Making Marihuana cigarettes”
[S]- Jan 13, 1936 p1 -- “Alleged man Killed Slain by Policeman”
Sunday morning Star
[S]- Jan 19, 1936 p1 –“Murder on the dump”
Wilmington Morning New
[S]- Jan 13, 1936 p1 – “POLICEMEN KILL NEGRO SUSPECT IN DUMP MURDER”
[S]- Jan 14, 1936 p22 – “Manslaughter charge continued by court”
[S]- Jan 15, 1936 p 25 – “Patrolmen Commended in Shooting of Negro”
[S]- Jan 17, 1936 p32 – “”Charge Against Two Policemen is Dropped”
[S]- Jan 22, 1936 p15 – “Negro Imprisoned Fined for Assault”
Journal Every Evening
[S]- Jan 13, 1936 p6 – “Accused of Making Marihuana cigarettes”
[S]- Jan 13, 1936 p1 -- “Alleged man Killed Slain by Policeman”
Sunday morning Star
[S]- Jan 19, 1936 p1 –“Murder on the dump”
WHAT THE NEWSPAPERS HAD TO SAY:
Jan 13, 1936 p1
POLICEMEN KILL NEGRO SUSPECT IN DUMP MURDER
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Shoot After Patrolman's Uniform Is Slashed With Butcher Knife
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Victim Wanted in slaying of Mexican Found Dead in shack in Marsh Area
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Walter Pettijohn, Negro, and the suspected murder of John Rhodes, Mexican Indian, a fellow resident of the South Market street dump, was slain by city police yesterday as he menaced them with a bloodstained knife.
Pettijohn, so—called “king of the dump,” fell before the pistols of Patrolmen Herman Hughes and Fred Cappodonna after he had slashed Cappondonna’s uniform with his knife. Both fired simultaneously but only one bullet reached its mark, Pettijohn’s chest.
The two policemen had been sent to the dump after Police captain Warren H. Adkins had received a telephone call about 8a.m., informing him that a man had been found dead in a shack there.
Body in Bag
Directed by Pearly Robinson Negro, of Johnson’s Lane, to a shack at C and Poplar streets, the patrolmen found the body of Rhodes lying face down with a bag pulled over the head and the upper part of the body. Removing the bag, they discovered that Rhodes had been slashed about the face and neck with a knife.
Louella Fahey, white, was found in another room in the shack.
Robinson told the police he thought he knew who committed the crime and they started with him toward Pettijohn’s shack. Suddenly, the men said, they saw Pettijohn coming toward them with a bloodstained butcher knife in his hand. Cappondonna ordered him to drop the knife but the Negro rushed toward him, brandishing it. He attempted to stab Cappondonna who leaped backward, the knife cutting through his uniform over the heart.
As the Negro started at him again Hughes and Cappondonna fired . . [unreadable -pital] in the police ambulance and pronounced dead. The body of Pettijohn and that of Rhodes were taken to the morgue where they are being held by deputy coroner Hearn.
Detectives Wallace and W.J. Warren were detailed to continue the investigation and they place technical charges of manslaughter against Hughes and Cappodonna.
Sixteen witnesses were questioned and are being held for the hearing in Municipal Court this morning.
Pettijohn is supposed to have killed Rhodes in a fight over the white woman who is said to have been living with Rhodes for some time.
Negro Heard Murder Threats
Solomon Laws Negro, of B and Market streets, told police that he had heard Pettijohn threaten to kill Rhodes during an argument in Rhodes shack Saturday night and had gone to a gas station to ask the attendant to call the police station. The attendant, however, refused to make the call, Laws said. Police believe the murder occurred shortly afterward as Rhodes had apparently been dead for about eight hours when found.
Ernest Powell Negro, told police that Pettijohn had asked him for a cigarette yesterday morning saying that he had just killed a man and would kill him if he refused the cigarette.
Rhodes death makes the fifth violate death to occur on the dump within three weeks, three men having been burned to death there on New Year's Eve.
Wilmington Morning News
Jan 14, 1936 p22 – “Manslaughter charge continued by court”
The hearing of Patrolmen Frederick Capononno and Herman R. Hughes, charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Walter Pettijohn Negro, suspected of the murder of John Rhodes, Mexican fellow resident of the South Market street dump, was continued by Judge Lynn in Municipal Court yesterday until Thursday.
C apondonno and Hughes are said to have fired at Pettijohn simultaneously after Pettijohn had attempted to stab Capondonno, cutting his uniform over the heart. Pettijohn is alleged to have killed Rhodes Saturday night in a quarrel over a white woman, Louella Fahey.
An inquest will be conducted in both cases by a coroner's jury tonight.
Cleveland Hodges, Negro, accused of violation of the narcotic act was held under $1,500 bail for a hearing Thursday. Police seized a quantity of marijuana in a raid on his home 230 Tatnall street, Sunday night.
Wilmington Morning News
Jan 15, 1936 p 25 – “Patrolmen Commended in Shooting of Negro”
Patrolmen Frederick Capodonno and Herman R. Hughes were commended by a coroner's jury last night for “efficient and faithful performance of their duty” after the jury had returned a verdict that Walter Pettyjohn, Negro, was shot by Patrolman Capondonno “in self defense and to protect his fellow officer, patrolman Hughes.”
The jury, called by Coroner Pedrick and Deputy Coroner Hearn, conducted the inquest into the death of Pettyjohn, who was shot on Sunday after he had refused to drop a butcher knife and had cut Patrolman Capodonno's coat at the breast. Both officers fired at the same time capondonno hitting him in the breast, and Hughes inflicting a grazing wound on the side of the head. The man is said to have killed John Rhodes, Mexican with the same knife he attempted to cut the officer with. The two officers were investigating this murder when attacked by the Negro.
Wilmington Morning New
Jan 17, 1936 p32 – “Charge Against Two Policemen is Dropped”
A nolle pro sequi was entered in the case of Patrolmen Fred Capadonna and Herman R. Hughes, charged with manslaughter, by Assistant City Solicit9or Healthy yesterday before Judge Lynn in Municipal Court.
Th patrolmen shot and killed Walter Pettyjohn, Negro, last Sunday when they went to the South Wilington dump to investigate the murder of John Rhodes, Mexican Indian, whom Pettyjohn is said to have stabbed to death.
The case of Cleveland Hodges. Negro, charged with violating the narcotic act, was continued until Tuesday and Hodges was held under $2,000 bail. Police said they seized a quantity of mariajuana in a raid on his home at 230 Tatnall street last Sunday.
Frank Myers and Louis Adams. Negroes, charged with breaking and entering, were held under $2,000 bail each for the Court of General Sessions: the men are said to have broken into a King street grocery store and to have stolen some groceries and meat.
Wilmington Morning New
Jan 22, 1936 p15 – “Negro Imprisoned Fined for Assault”
James Jones, Negro of 615 Poplar street, was fined $100 and costs and sentenced to the workhouse for one year by Judge Lynn in Municipal Court yesterday on a charge of assault and battery on Crawford Gibbs, Negro, of 400 East Sixth street.
Cleveland Hodges, Negro, of 230 Tatnall streets, charged with violating the narcotic act by having marijuana in his possession was given a continuance until Saturday.
[MORE, unrelated]
Wilmington Morning News
Jan 14, 1936 P8 “Editorial section --- Deal with Shantytown Now”
Five men have met violent death in Shantytown, the pitiful assemblage of shacks on the dump near the South market street causeway, since the first of the year.
Three men were burned to death in a fire New Year's eve when one of these collections of matchwood went up in flames.
On Sunday, when police went to the place to investigate a murder, the man suspected of the killing attacked the two patrolmen assigned to the job. Both officers fired. One shot went through the man's chest. He died a short time later.
Possibly the man was crazy with “blue flame” alcohol. At any rate there was a murder, and in the investigation of the murder the lives of two good men were endangered.
Shantytown is a reproach to the community. It is about time something were done about it.
Some of the men who live there are harmless enough, human derelicts though they may be. But others are not.
They are a danger not only to ordinary citizens, but to the other homeless men who inhabit the dump.
The place itself is unsafe and unsanitary. At any time it may become the breeding place of disease and pestilence.
It is all very well to say that Shantytown ought to be burned out. It was burned out once and it sprang up again.
Burning it out takes it out of sight, out of mind, and out of conscience---for a while. It does not solve anything.
We do not know the answer. But Wilmington's social agencies and its municipal authorities have the responsibility of finding the answer on their doorstep.
It is up to them to find a permanent solution, a constructive solution, and a humane solution.
Journal Every Evening
Jan 13, 1936 p6 – “Accused of Making Marihuana cigarettes”
Cleveland Hodges, Negro, arrested last night by Sergeant Jordan and Patrolmen Egnor and Rogerson on a charge of violation of the narcotic act, was held in $1,500 bail for a hearing on Thursday by Judge Lynn in Municipal Court today.
In a raid on Hodges' home the police said they discovered a quantity of marihuana, a Mexican weed used to make cigarettes. Two jars full of the weed ready to make into cigarettes and a small bag of unprepared weed was seized, the police said.
Hodges is said to have been making the cigarettes and selling them for 25 cents each. After smoking the cigarettes a person is said to receive a feeling of intoxication that lasts several hours.
Kendrick Armstrong, Negro, was fined $10 and costs on a charge of malicious mischief. But, after hearing testimony, Judge Lynn ordered the charge changed.
Journal Every Evening
Jan 13, 1936 p1 -- “Alleged man Killed Slain by Policeman”
Capondonno, Threatened, Kills Pettyjohn, Suspected of Murdering Rhodes
Patrolmen Frederick Capondonno and Herman R. Hughes, charged with . . [more]
MUSEUM EDITORIAL:
The following is from an email that was sent to those on the museum’s email mailing list.
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Marihuana Murder
As curator of this museum, I’ve seen some real sick, sick Reefer Madness cases, But this one would do even Harry Anslinger proud.
According to the narc’s:
Delaware - 1936 ---A man was killed in Wilmington, Del . by one Pettyjohn . When the police attempted to arrest Pettyjolin for the crime he attacked the police with a long knife. To protect their lives, the police officers shot and killed Pettyjohn. . . . .On the same date one Cleveland Hodge was arrested in Wilmington for possession of about 3 pounds of marihuana. Hodge said he had gathered the plant from a plot of ground used by Rhodes , the man who was murdered as above described, and further stated that Rhodes had told him about the weed, which he called "weaver weed"; that if a tea was made from it, it would cure rheumatism. Hodge said he used a cup of this tea three times a day and had done so for a long time; and both Rhodes and Pettyjohn were apparently under the influence of marihuana. This case was prosecuted in Delaware under the Uniform State Narcotic Act. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
OK, now here are the facts the way we see them:
According to the Newspaper accounts; On Jan 14, 1936 (in Wilmington Delaware), Walter Pettyjohn (a Negro) stabbed and killed John Rhodes (A Mexican Indian) in an argument over Lovella Faheey (a white women) who in turn was shot dead himself when a couple of cops came over to investigate the crime and he attacked them with a knife.
OK, so far so good -- that part is true. However, here's where the story turns into a fairy tale.
First, NONE of the newspaper accounts that this museum has been able to obtain, mention anything about Marihuana use, NONE. They do however, mention the fact that one Cleveland Hodges (A Negro) was arrested (elsewhere) on the same date for possession of Marihuana. Somehow the two incidents were merged together and Val-La , a Reefer Madness fairy tale was born. And after Harry Ansligner got a hold of it, it quickly turned into a legend.
But what was the legend based on? ------ It appears that Cleveland Hodge told the narc's that he was obtaining his supply from the same dump area where the Murder's took place – AND that John Rhodes, had told him that he was making a tea from it (aka an herbal medicine) as a treatment for his rheumatism. “Hodge said he used a cup of this tea three times a day and had done so for a long time.” Meaning that this in reality was a Medical Cannabis situation. ---- However, you won’t find the words “Medical Use” anywhere, instead Anslinger would use the term, ADDICT.
But what is really appalling about this situation is the fact that the cop’s (remember both incidents happened within hours of each other), had plenty of people to preform a reefer madness raid, but not enough cops to stop a murder.
List of Newspaper article obtained by this museum
Wilmington Morning New
Jan 13, 1936 p1 – “POLICEMEN KILL NEGRO SUSPECT IN DUMP MURDER”
Jan 14, 1936 p22 – “Manslaughter charge continued by court”
Jan 15, 1936 p 25 – “Patrolmen Commended in Shooting of Negro”
Jan 17, 1936 p32 – “”Charge Against Two Policemen is Dropped”
Jan 22, 1936 p15 – “Negro Imprisoned Fined for Assault” Journal Every Evening
Jan 13, 1936 p6 – “Accused of Making Marihuana cigarettes”
Jan 13, 1936 p1 -- “Alleged man Killed Slain by Policeman” Sunday morning Star
Jan 19, 1935 p1 –“Murder on the dump”
[note if anyone wants copies, feel free to ask, they can be emailed to you.]
Antique Andy
Museum Curator
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