The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-11-21
The Long Island Murder.

n.
every feature, as the one committed a few nights
ago Ia the vicinity OF our village. We do not re-
member TO have heard OF one so appalling, for ma
nyyears .at
On Sunday evening last, Mr.. Alexander Smith.
extensively known as worthy and wealthy farmer.
residing at Old Fields, and his WIFE, were murdered
Ihelr bodies were discovered on the following
morning, lying on the hearth; that of Mr. Smith
nearly consumed by the fire in which il had fallen
on receiving blow from the assassin; and that OF
Mrs smith, near by, welterlng in blood which had
howed from several wounds inflicted on The head
AUerman, named Antoine Kelsler, who had been
In the employ OF the deceased about two weeks is
supposed TO be the fiend who perpelrated the act
ne was seen at the house on Sunday alernoon--but
had absconded when the murder was discovered
the next morning His object PROFESSIONALLY was
plunder, as Mr. Smith was u man of wealth. and is
supposed to have kept large quantity of money al
Waysln the mouse; IL was proved before the coro
ner slnques that kcIsler had enquired of man in
the neighbourhood, on Sunday, whether Mr.. Smith
was not very rich But the villain, alter ALL did not
obtain that tor which he destroyed his employers
tor 1t is supposed that after he had commtpd the
murder, and before he could rifle the drawers and
chests in the house, he became alarmed at the
noise occasioncd by some wagons passing and made
precIrate retreat through an end window. A
pocket book containing the remnants of several
Dlils, which had been burnt, was found in pocket
OF the coat which Mr.. Smith had al the time; and
watch belonging TO Mr.. Smith was found in a
desk in his bedroom, which had been left unlocked.
1t is quite probable, that the wretch was frightened
| away before he had commenced his search for mo-
ney: IL was undoubtedly his design to set fire to
he house. as the finishing scene to his atrocity, had
ne not became alarmed. A canister of powder was
| found on the step OF the front door, where he had
placed II, to accomplish his purpose.
Mr. Smith kept large dog about his premises,
| which he always permitted TO sleep in his bed room
at night and the German, dreading the ferocty of
The dog took the precautlon to commit the decide
| tore the old gentleman had retired to bed-and in
order TO avoid the interference of the animal, had
him secured In an clubhouse. fa
mason's hammer was found in an adjoining
| room (Mr. Smiths bed room] where it had been
used to break out sash for the villains escape. 1t
Is supposed that this, or similar weapon had been
used IN ,psrpetraung the murder, The usual place
Tor this hammer was the outbuilding in which the
| dog was ioanf to be confined on Monday morning
II Is very probable that the murder COMM, ted
snort Tune after TIA, between and o'clock, as
the tea tabe was found In the floor, partly cleared
OIL As no other person resided with Mr. Smith and
vile at the time OF the murder, except kesler, of
course nothing positive can be known respecting the
manner in which it was perpetrated bat from The
| position In which the bodies were discovered the
nature and situation of the wounds, as ell as from
various other considerations, the following deduc-
lions may be depended upon nearly correct, viz !:
| mat the murder was commit ed by the German
| that his object was money-and that he designed to
burn the house, TO destroy all evidence of his guilt
| In vain may this wretch attempt to escape-he
will be taken bafore the week expires. The report
OF his unparalleled crime will reach from lone end
OF the Union TO the other-Long Island is already
| arms to capture the demon. reward of $500
| mas been offered Tor his capture-he had on small
green cloth cap, green frock coat, green paniaoons
coarse boots cracked open on the SIDES a kind OF
cheqnered vest, Is of German descent, about feet
orr nches hlgh stout biilt, light compile Xion, light
| hair and large eyes, wears his beard on his upper
] lip unshaven, and his clothes considerably soed.
| The funeral was attended at the dwelling OF the
deceased on Tuesday afternoon, and impress
| slye discourse was delivered by the Rev. JAS Me-
Dougall, when all that remained of the aged couple
was followed 10 the narrow house by a very large
eoncourse OF the inhabitants OF this and the neigh
INr los al.
quest OF the Coroner, made post mortem exami.
nation OF the bodies, has supplied with additional
information. On entering the room where the ia
| mlly took their meals, the remains of Mr. Smith
were found lying the left side OF the fire place;
| the legs, abdomen, one half of the chest, and the
| arms above the elbows were burned to mass of
shapeless clnders. Nothing scarcely renamed of
his identity except the head. On examining the
head, three large wounds were discovered One on
the left ear, cutting through the cartilage and pro-
ducing a large incislon behind it; a second on the
| upper part OF the skull, fracturlng the bone, and
| driving portions OF II In the brain; and third,
about two inches from the latter, towards the right
side OF the head, also fracturing the bone. Each
wound was about two inches in extent and APP
| peared to be inflicted with a blunt weapon as The
| face OF hammer, or the eye of hatchet and not
| with cutting edge, the incisions OF the skin
! were ragged. II is probable that Mr.. Smith was
| sitting in his accustomed place the left side of
| the fire place, with his feet resting on the crotch
OF the crane. when he received on his lett ear the
| first blow Of the assassin. His chair was found
/ turned on one SQe near MIN, from which he had
| fallen, on being stunned; and his feet becoming
| engaged in the crotch of the crane he was drawn
into the fire, and remained there while he received
| the first and second blow, and was consumed as
described. His face was not disfgured, but wore a
look of natural composure, considering the violence
OF his death.
| The body of Mrs Smith was discovered lying on
the right side of the fire place, with her face down
ward and the hearth, while her body lay partly
on the floor, being somew hat beyond the reach of
the fire. Her right arm aypartly under her head.
Six distinct wounds were discovered on her head,
each one of which was sufficient to produce death
| The wounds were large, and similar to those of Mr..
Smiths, and In every instance attended with frac-
ture Of the bone On investigation it appeared that
| Mrs Smith was IN the middle of the room, when
she received the first blow, and that second one
| instantly followed These blows were about two
three inches above the right eye, and each pene-
rated to the brain; they had bled proiusely. When
| Mr.. Smith had fallen from his chair Mrs. Smith
| had probably advanced towards him, when the
sassn met her in the middle OF the room and struck
her twice in front before she fell Here her wounds
bed copousy; she then, il would seem, struggled to
rise, and in doing So hitched along upon her knees
and elbows towards the hearth where she received
the other four blows upon the upper and back part of
/ the head. Mrs. Smith must have struggled some
] time before death, as the knees appeared much
bruised and denuded OF skin in several places;
| probably in making considerable effort 10 move
| along towards the hearth.
II was testified before the Coroners jury that Mrs.
Smith bad an ln1amed eye, and that she had sent
Keisler before dinner on the day of the murder TO
neighbours to get her something TO apply to i-that
KeIsler had inquired OF fellow -countryman, resid-
ing at the place to which he had been sent whether
| MIR. Smith was not very rch-and how far il was
from there TO the nearest riverand that Kesler had
observed TO his friend in the conversation, that
Mr.. Smith was very good man, and that he
had then one of Mr.. Smith shirts on which
Mrs. Smith had given hun. That he was on that
occasion accompanied by Mr.. Smiths dog-that he
invited his teow-counryman TO come and see him
at Mr.. Smiths after dinner tfurlher appeared that
Henry, his countryman came TO Mr.. Smiths about
hali-pas one and remained I'LL three o'clock, p NJ,
during which time, Mr. and Mrs Smith and the two
Germans entered into friendly conversation toge-
Their.
Such are the leading particulars Of this dreadful