The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-06-25
Murders on Long Island.

Ono week ago, a man chopping wood in
the woods near Patchogue, Suffolk Co, on
the south side of Long Island, found the
skeleton of q human being. II was in q
state of preservation, and is believed by the
people of that section TO be the skeleton of
George Miller who disappeared suddenly
and mysteriously eighteen years ago. II
was supposed at the time Of his disappear
ance that he had been killed by a man
named McGregor, with whom he had had
some difficulty. On the very night when
Miller was last seen, and in the woods
where the skeleton was found, cries Of
murder were heard. Miller's widow mar
ried again. It is said that her second hus-
band, when in his cups, had often stated
that McGregor was the murderer. Not
withstanding this, no arrest was made;
and no trace Of the lost man was found dur
ing the eighteen years which elapsed be-
tween his disappearance and the discovery
of the skeleton.
The bones were taken to the village of
Patchogue. An inquest was held and 80
strong appears TO have been public con-
viction Of McGregor's guilt, that after only
q few minutes deliberation the Jury return
ed a verdict that tho skeleton was that of
George Miller, and that he came 10 his
death by violsnce at the hands of McGreg-
or. McGregor was Immediately arrested,
and committed 10 Jail. The fact that he
has remained in the neighborhood 80 long
may seom strange, but Il is not nearly so
strange as that he should commit the muir
der. People always express surprise that
criminals do rs they do, seldom rejecting
that the most irrational act of all connec-
ted with n crime is its commission. Men
who are foolish enough to commit great
crimes, are apt TO do other foolish things
subsequently.
1t is remarkable, that with an impression
existing 80 general and so strong that the
missing man had been murdered, and by
the very person who is now under arrest,
that efficient means were not taken TO fer
ret out the evidence of his guilt.
However, this il not the first singular
case of homicide that has occurred in Suf-
folk county. A number Of yenrs ago, n
gentleman of reputed wealth went from this
city TO the Great South Bay of Long ISL
and, for n few days shooting. He was ac-
companied one day ON n ducking excursion
by several of the natives. They were 30
polite IN TO keep the stranger in adj
vance and give him the best chance in
shooting. The sport was rare, and many
birds were killed. Suddenly the gun Of
n OF the party went on, and the stranger
fell TO the ground, fatally wounded. In
fact, tho back part of his head was shot
of. His companions alleged hat il was
accidental. No investigation wal ever
made into the circumstances; but the gen
eral belief in the neighborhood has always
been that he was killed purposely, and il
has been openly and commonly spoken of
AZ II matter about which there was no
reasonable doubt. The New Yorker was
said TO have had a considerable amount of
money on his person, and the man sus-
pected of killing him was noticed to be
unusually flush of cash afterward.
This man fingered around the neighbor-
hood for some time, freely spending his
money. After a while he disappeared. He
was subsequently ascertained to be living
South under al assumed name. A few
years ago he was arrested in the state of
Virginia, and committed TO jail for the
murder of young girl. The circumstances
attending the crime were such that the
populace became greatly incensed against
him. A mob broke into the jail, took him
out and hung him to Il tree.