The New York herald., 1871-11-28
TIE BLUE GSA:S REGION.

tcnds Doing with LOnefeIlow Next Sens0n-
Tho Murderer of Betsy nnd Jacob Harper
still mt Large, bat Is Supposed 40 Be
Knowa.
SPRING STATION, woodiord County. Ky..}
Nov. "a, 1871. I
This neighborhood ana for miles around 1t Is
known as the Blue Grass Region, but why IL was
called by such name the Oldest inhabitant
knoweth not. Nowhere on earth Is the grass more
green or more abundant and the counties OF
Fayctte and WoodtOrd produce more line race
horses short-horrei cattle. fine sheep and fat hogs
than any other two counties In America. These
counties also produce much corn and 80 few'
Bourbon whiskey.
In company with Mr.. Broadhead, the overseer
and agent OF Mr. AleXander's great breeding estab.
llsnment, visited Old John Harper at his farm,
which Is situated fourteen miles west OF Lexington.
From the many accounts and descriptions Of this
place which have appeared In the newspapers since
the murder Of tae brother and sister oil Joan Har-
per expected to find him In tumble. down old
nOvel, with the surroundings In miserable stato
OF dIapidetlOn. On tho contrary, on entering his
domain, the drst thing that engaged my attention
was fine, new and cOmmodiOus stable, In which
were the famous racers Longfellow ANA Lyttclton,
besides two splendid two-yearo olds, passing which
soon came to the residence OF Cd J0nn q COM
Portable, unprctentous two story dwelling Passing
over MS renee Dy r1tncr original style
OF stars there being no gateh made
from sturdy oak three 1eet In diameter, sawed
into different lengths and set on end. approached
the house and Knocked at the door, The FIRST rap
was not answered, but after another and harder
one l heard some one inside drawing bolts and
turning keys. TAen the door was partially opened
and there stood old John Harper lie anlng on crutcn,
In his drawers and stocking feet, VITA rough over
coat thrown over him. He appeared very feeble.
told him who was, and he invited me into the
house, and al once Drigntened up and commenced
talking OF the last summers racing campaign. lie
was iull or excuses Tor the defeat OF Longieow at
Saratoga py Helmbold, the prnclpal one being that
he hal held the latter horse lightly tnat he did
not think It worth while giving LOngfe-
low any work at all. as he supposed him
capable OF beating Hembold at any hlno, ut
any distance and under any circumstances. He
said also that one OF Longiehow's noOls was
cracked In Two places at the tlme out thai ne pau
no attention en- even TO tnat not even takins Tue
the morning o. the race. That iroln the time he nad
heard Oh kinghsners breakdown until just before
the start for the race Win hemuOid Longen0w
mad never had gallOp nor q scrapc. Ills neglect
he saId lost min tue race, ana notAinS else.
After listening To Old John Tor some tune about
the great meris OF Longieilow as q race horse
propOunded several quesblonS about hls lnture de-
Signs, winch were as fOilows:
QUEsrIoN-Do you intend training and running
ANswER-Yes. sir; l not only intend TO train HIM
when recover rom my INJURY, but VIII take nun
North and run hlin against Harry Bassett or any
0.her tne woria. tnink he ~ the fastest
horse alive Wnen conaitiOn will take moro
pains WIN min next sprnx tnan ever ana before.
QUEsrIoN-Wnl YOa nave your horses on In time
for the flrst meetlng at Jerome Park1
ANswEn-Tnat cannot say. have my young
entered III tile STAKES Ut that place, ana VIII try
running Long1eliow unlM / get 10 Long Bralcn.
Alter that VIII run hum VI every race coarse Al the
North, and there rill De none 10 b.Lt nun.
QUEsTioN.Do you really think LolSielloW can
AHswER-Harry Bassett Is . great nag. yet I
think LOlgieilOw has Inc loot OF hin Is lar as he
can go. l do not KNOW how lar he eau CO. but
beileve that l can put him in condition 70 last Us
iOng as harry Bassett or any oiner horse IL the
world.
ANswER-Want Of condition. He was In no con-
diIlon run. Ddn'C you seo how he frotned alter
every run. he lOoAed always as II he was ixinered
To be shaved. That Is not tie way wecon-
ditioned horse snOdld look after q race. The sweat
co.ne ireely; hut 40 not care so mach aoout the
quantity OF Haer IL 1t 10 on, pure. Fil snow You
wnat horse he Ii II on.y nave my AeaiIn next
summer. Aarry Bassett eant run with him. ted
UUEsrIoN--Then we may expect you in New York
In May or June next with your staoeS should
Long elbow anu larry baSse.t meet ~ contend Tor
the cup AZ TWO miles and naA and Lonsieliow
prove tne winner. you make money enough 10
Duy all The land III WoodfOrd county.
ANswER-I don't let mucn money; have
enoagnmore, prooabl, aan = II Is saie & 70 have We
handle OF his crutcn and mutIered something To
nlmsef)
had any clue TO VINO was the murderer VI your
br0tner ana s3lery
ANswER-No sir, nothing sure. Some Of the ''de-
tcctcrsn point 10 some oil my own relatives; Dut
thought that any 0i my people were guilty Of II,
would thiow III that stove all am worth In tne
world aud Durn II up, SO that they would not get q
cent. lnlnx, however time win discover the vl.
lain. would pay well to have nlm discovered, and
1 believe could go and see him hung.
then closed the catecni3n and prepared TO leave,
when he very urgently pressed me ~ stop all nl1nt,
SO that we could have some more horse talk, but
after explaining to him the necessity VI my moving
on we shook hands aud parted.
The universal Impression here s that Miss Betsy
and jacob harper wee murdered 0y one OF their
relatives ana the they are thas the two
above named mad made their wills, ieaviHR ali their
property old John. ana the Onect of the murderer
or muruerers to make way with Betsy and
Jake In the absence OF Joh, then TO secure and de-
stroy the willis, which would MAKE distribution OF
their effects among the other more needy members
OF The family. Public opinion points 10 nephew
OF rather dlssouc habits as the perpetraOr Of the
crime; but there II no positive proof, ne is
allowed TO run at large for me present. Inc negroes
been released from confinement, nnd tue excitement
occasoaed by the foul deed has alnos. entirely suU
sided among Mr.. Harpers nelanoor'. -
lave learned from persons here. VINO are SUI.
posed 10 know, that John Harper ~ not the very
wealthy man that he has been represented. Ine
united property OF bessy. JACOB and Johl was NOT
John Is the possessor OF the whole ts tue murderer
did not nad, aud, Therefore, did not destroy, the
willis OF inc deceased brother and sister. nltecu
hnnored acres oil land. worth $luv acre. and MS
personal enects, horses and all Will not amount 10
Sl50Ouo more all told. But $50 100 Is considered
huge fortune here and N Old John does not Keep
strong body guard around him he may meet Win Ihe
same late tnat Deiell Ms orotner and sister.
I will visit Mr. Alexander great breeding estac.
iishment tomorrow ana aiye an account oi a..