Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-07-02
Murders on LONG Island.

One week ago, man cnOppmg WOOD IL
the woods near Patchogue, Suffolk Co., Oh
the south side of Long Island, found the
skeleton of a human being. II was in 9
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 man
named McGTegor, 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. 1t 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 so
strong appears to have been public con-
viction of McGregor's guilt, that after only
a few minutes deliberation thejury return
ed verdict that the skeleton was that of
George Miller, and that he came to his
death by violence at the hands of McGreg-
or. McGregor was Immediately arrested,
and committed to Jail. The fact that he
has remained in the neighborhood so long
may seem strange, but it is not nearly so
strange as that he should commit the mur-
der. People always express surprise that
criminals do as they do, seldom rejecting
that the most irrational act Of all connec-
ted with 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 so 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 is not the first singular
case of homicide that has occurred in Suf
folk county. A number of years ago, Q
gentleman of reputed wealth went from this
city to the Great South Bay of Long Isl
and, for a few days shooting. He was &C.
companied one day on ducking excursion
by several of the natives. They were sc
polite as to keep the stranger in sd
vance and give him the best chance il
shooting. The sport was rare, and many
birds were killed. Suddenly the gun O.
one of the party went of, and the stranger
fell to the ground, fatally wounded II
fact, the back part of his head was sho
off His companions alleged that it wai
accidental No investigation was evel
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 o
as matter about which there was nj
reasonable doubt. The New Yorker wa
said to have had a considerable amount o
money on his person, and the man sus
pected of killing him was noticed to b.
unusually flush of cash afterward.
This man fingered around the neighbor
hood for some time, freely spending hi
money. After while he disappeared. H,
was subsequently ascertained to be Living
South under an assumed name A few
years ago he was arrested in the state o
Virginia, and committed to Jail for tn
murder of ayoung girl. The circumstance
attending the crime were such that tn
populace became greatly incensed agains
him. A mob broke into the Jail, took hin
out and hung him to tree.