The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-09
THE LONG BRANCH MYSTERY.


Nothing definite has % yet been ascertained in refe
renee the supposed murder at Long Branch and
Is obtaining any clue the perpetrator or his VICTIM
the whole AFFAIR Ia shroudsd In a. much mystery as be-
fore. That foul deed Of some terrible nature was com.
mitted on Monday night or Tuesday morning, on
the beach near the Monmouth House, there can
scarcely be doubt when the mass Of proof
b taken into consideration There are some at Long
Branch who are disposed to treat the matter grand
hoax got up by some one as practical joke either for
the purpose Of alarming the vsters ct the beach and the
community, or a. . method OF gratifying personal
gudge against the propreors OF the public houses the
vicinity but TO the minds Of those who cognant OF
the facts OF the case and who have the club SAIL
blood and the other silent but speaking witnesses to the
deed the matter the shape Of terrible reality
Throughout Tuesday large numbers Of people visited
the scene Of the MURDER and considerable excitement
manifested but the Coroner has possession the
club SAIL and other articles found the ground and the
tide having washed away all traces Of tho deed the
element has very much subsidized. Tuesday morning
II was thought that by the name Of Joe
West, q resident OF Long Branch, might be the
victim, as he ives unaccountably missing but
after asceraned that he at the lower end Of the
beach fishing
Mr. Mclean, District Attorney for the county. arrived
at Long branch yesterday and company with Coroner
Norris busy in investigating the mystery. Or. T. T.
Chattle has analysed the blood and pronounces human
The following detailed account Of the affair and in
cludes all the facts which have thus far to light
About half past twelve the night OF Monday the 9th
instant Mr. Donaldson stage agent OF the Long Branch
and Keyport line, was at the Monmouth House. and saw
two men come down from the National Hotel (Which is
further back from the beach than the Monmouth the
beach, fire two pistol shots, and then return. Seve
raj others heard the pistol Shots About hour
after this Mr.. Donaldson started to 60 to Congress
Hall, situated beyond the National and he then
three coming from the latter house, one
OF whom white coat Soon after he had entered
the bar Of Congress Hall he heard another and third
pistol shot, but thought nothing OF it at the time.
Monday night about nine o'clock party of excursion
lists from Newark, numbering three hundred per-
sons, came to Long Branch With these excursionists
three men, of them described being q tall,
muscular, rufhanly looking fellow, who wore q white
coat. These observed to inquire the way to
the National Hotel four times in succession of different
parties, and that when within a short distances OF
the house They did not inquire like those who wished
for information, but rather IL they wished to make
sport Of the questioned. Nothing thought Of
this occurrence however until after the discovery Of the
murder.
Tuesday morning, about half past four, William Smith,
an old and well known fisherman, started in company
with sther fisherman, pamed Peter slocum, for bis
boat, intending as usual to 60 out fishing. On
arriving at his boat he at once saw that II not in
the place where he had left 1t the night before. The
Of place. He however proceeding TO put out to sea-
when James God, another fisherman who had followed
They then went along back up the beach, and discovered
traces OF the struggthe club the blood and hair &c
was at this time just daybreak which accounts for the
marks of the deed escaped their when they
nrst went down. The club 10 split pine stick about
three feet In length, and was covered at one
darker than auburn, and is short. A curious
circumstance 10 reference to the hair s that roots
can be found SO that must have been either wrenched
Of cut with the club Part Of gunwaie Of the boat
also covered with hair and blood and the head Of
the sail there large round spot Of bleod, as mans
into the SAIL and then covered with it, avoid
detection in the murderer murderers should meet
coincob two inches and half in length wa. found near
the club one end of IT saturated with blood and the
other looking as It had been compressed in the hand
as would be by person trying TO gag another with IT,
At the place where the blood ceases on the cob
the nden.atons of upper and lower teeth plainly
the only marks on the since the last tide
Of two persons bareooed the other wearing stock
ngs, or something which prevented the impress Of the
These footsteps led from the place where ID II sup
posed the struggle took place to where the boat lay
high on the beach, thence down to the waters
showing Of boat. From the place Of the struggle the
footsteps Of the were seen In such way
such would be made in dragging person By his head
and allowing his heels 10 ndent the sand The sail
ss%P and bad tns OF Sas Dssn sn
wash the stains from H. II may, however, have been
by the and had its crumped appearance from not
RIGS had been made word was Immediately conveyed to
the Coroner, who was at the village, mile and .
I s and he sns
of the matter but could find 10 possible clue to the mys
terry.
Tuesday morning about four O'clock farmer living
in the vcinty met two horse top wagon going toward
s 'ne ~ two men "v rhe
This white coated Individual Afterwards
beard the steamboat Alice Price bound for New fork,
and IT noticed that hrs psntaoons, also white were
stained with something very Ike, IL not In reality, blood
The Coroner also informed that Of the colored
the Na,ional Hot bad been showing two
men, one Of whom carried his shoes in his hand out Of
the house with lantern mt very late hour that night
On questioning the nan. however, II was ascersained
that the two fellow walters Of his now
In the hocse Who had been visiting Of their fellows
In the main building and fearful Of disturbing the
sa ' vs. S. none Of III. guests ws
servants, missing, and this occurrence pro-
baby what gave rise to the rumor that two Of bis negroes
had gone of.
report some way got into circulation that the vic
tim Of this foul deed was wealthy Southern planter
stopping at the National, and that efforts were being
mace suppress the fact OF his disappearance but hl
appears TO be entitled TO credit than the thou
and and Que rumors which are aoat In reference TO tito
my stery.
One thing appears to be settled in the mind Of all the
scafariDg people Of LDng Branch, and IL is that no
but experienced waterman, aud familiar with
the coast at that place could have iua he'd and brought
back the boat. II was suggested that the boat
foun In almost the place from which started, IL
might have been let cut with Of the long bathing
ropes which are on the beach, one man remaining on
shore 20 pull in. But, will be seen, Mr.. smith re-
CARDS IL as impossible that any unused 10 his boat
could have thrown BODY out Of without capsizing
her.
= AS as District Attorney Mclean had arrived In
Ov he m Su m he Of fho
boat and the dscoverer 81 the deed 10 give the Coro
and himself account Of all he knew OF the matter
The following 10
THr STATEMENT or wIIIiAM SMITH
When came down on the morning Of tuesday TO 20 10
my woik saw that my boat rot 10 the place where
had lett her bot supposed that Of the fishermen had
taken Der 10 the night 20 msckerel ashng Peter So
cum was with me al the time. On arriving al he boat
found that the souls and other things not order
The sail rolled up and not spread out bad left H.
When took up the sail saw the blood upon II, but
thought nothing Of at rs as frequently occurs that
nsh blood gets on our sas. But on taking hold OF the
head Of the sail the large round spot and
red o. that ID did not feel like hsh blood still was