The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-11-28
TEE BLUE GSAsS REGION.


tends Doing with LonefeIlow Next senson-
Tho Murderer of Betsy and Jacob Harper
still mt Large, bal l. Supposed 10 10
Known.
SPRING STATION, woodford County. Ky,)
Nov. "a, 1871.
This ncghborhood ana for miles around It ls
known as the Blue Grass Region, but why It was
called by such name the Oldest inhabilant
knoweth not Nowhere on eartn Is the grass more
green or more abundant, ana the counties OF
Fayctte and Woodiord produce more line race
horses, short-horne1 cattle. fine sheep and fat hogs
than any other two counties in America. Thee
counties also produce much corn and 80 few''
Bourbon whiskey.
In company with Mr.. Droadhead, the overscer
and agent OF Mr. Aleyander's great breeding estab-
lishment, 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 OF Joan Har-
per expected to find him In q tumblc.down old
howell, With the surroundings In miserable srate
OF dllapidatlon On the contrary, on entering his
domain, the drst thing that engaged my attention
was fine, new and commodlOus stable, In winch
were the famous racers Longfel!ow AMI Lyttclton,
besides two splendid tw0-year-o lds, passing which
soon came to the residence or Cd Joan, COM
Portable, unpretentous two story dwelling. Passing
over his fence by rather original style
OF stars there being 10 gatel made
from sturdy oak three 1eet In dlameter, sawed
into different lengths and set on end approached
the house and knocked ut the door. The first rap
was not answered, but after another and harder
one l heard some one inside drawing bolts and
turning keys. Then the door was partially opened
and there stood old John Harper lie aning on crutcn,
In his drawers and stocking feet, with rough over
coat thrown over him. He appeared very feeble. l
told hun who was, ani he invited me INTO the
house, and al once frightened up and commenced
talking OF the last summers racing Campaign. lie
was full OF excuses ior the defeat OF Lonseliow as
Saratoga by Helmbold, the principal one being that
he hal held the latter horse SO lightly that he did
not think 1t worth while giving Longfe-
low any WORK at all. as he supposed him
capable OF beating Helmbod at any hmo at
any distance anu under any circumstances. lie
said also that one OF Longiehow's noois was
cracked In TWO places at the ume, out thai ne PAID
no attention eYen to that not even taxing tho
shoes OH until lie removed them 10 put On plates on
the morning o. The race. That rcin The time he nad
heard OF klaglsners breakdown until Just before
the start for the race with He mood Longieilow
mad never had gallop nor scrapc. Ihis neglect
Alter Istelnr to old john I"r some tune about
the great mers OF Longiell0w as race horse
propounded several questlons about his lature de-
Signs, winch were as fOlloW5:-
VUEsrIoN-Do you intend training and running
LOngfellow tie coming sprngr
ANswEa-Yes, Sir; not only intend TO train HIM
when recover rom my Injury, but VIII take Nun
North and run hin against Harry bassett or any
other horse the woril, tnk he IS the fastest
horse alive waen ID condition. Will take more
pains VAN him next sprlnx than ever did before
QUE5rIoN-Wll YOa nave your horses on la time
for the hrst meeting at jerome Parkr
AN5wER-TAat cannot say. l have my young
ones entered In the u that place, anu Wal try
ana have taem there 10 run; but 40 not intend
running Lonsieiiow nniM ! get 70 Long Brancn:
q
QUEsTioN.Do you really THINK Loasieuow can
ANswER-Harry Bassett is . great nag. yet I
think LOlgieilOw has Inc loot OF MIN Is ar as he
can co. l do not Know how lar he eau go, but
believe that can put him in cond tlon 70 last as
iong as harry Bassett, or any o'ner horse IL the
world.
ANswER-Want OF condition. He was In no con-
di.lon 60 run. pidHt you see now ne irotaed alter
to be shaved. That Is not tie way wei-con-
dilioned horse should look alter race. The sweat
should come from nm IKE pure spring water, and
cone freeiy; hut 40 Not care mach apvut the
quantity oil waer IL 1t 40 ons pure. IA snow You
what horse lie Il II 4 on.y have my health next
summer. larry Bassett ealt run Win him, led
Characterization We may expect you In New York
In may or June next with your staocY should
Long elbow anu larry baSsett meet 10 Contend Tor
the cup az two miles and half ald Lonsieliow
prove the winner. yon can MAKE money enough 10
guy all The land III WoodfVrd county.
ANswER-I don't Let mucn money; have
land nero the Old man dropped his mead on the
handle OF his cruten and mutIefed something 10
nlmsef)
had any clue TO VINO was the murderer of your
brOBner and sister,
ANSWERING, Sir, nothing sure. Some OF the ''dc-
tectersn point TO some oil my own relatives; but
thought that any Of my people were guilty Of H.
would thioW IL that stove all am worm In the
world aud purn IL up, SO that they would not get
cent. tninK, however, tune viii discover the val
lain. / would nay well to have MN disco vered and
believe could go and see HIN hung
then closed the catecnfsn and prepared 10 leave,
when he very urgently pressed me 10 stop all nllnt,
so that we could have some more horse talk, but
after explaining to him the necessity VI my moving
on we shook hands and parted.
The universal impression here ls that Miss Betsy
and Jacob harper wee murdered by one or their
relatives, and the reasons they give are tat the two
above named mad made their wills, leavihR ali their
property to old john ana the OBJECT OF the murderer
or muruerers WAS to make way with Betsy and
Jake In absence OF Johl, then to secure ana de-
sroy tne Wills which w9ala . MAKE MAKE
OF the family. Public opinion points 10 nephew
Of rather dssolute habits as the perpetratOr Of the
crime; but, as there Is no positive proof, ne -
allowed to run large for the present. The negroes
who were at first suspected OF the murder have all
been released IRON confinement and the excitement
occasloaed by foul deed has almos! entirely SUI
sided among Mr.. Harpcr's neiGhbors.
lave learned IRON persons here, who are SUP.
posed 10 know, that John Harper IS not the very
wealthy man that he has been represented. Tie
unired property Oi Betsy, jacob ana iona Was not
more than $780, 600. They owned together, aud now
John Is lie possess0r Of the Whole s tue murderer
did not nnd, aud, therefore, did not Destroy the
wills OF the deceased brother and sister, niteen
hundred OF land. worth $lUu an acre, ami MS
personal enects, horses and all, Will not amount TO
$4,000 more all told. But $50 900 Is considered
huge fortune here. and n Old John does not Keep a
strong body guard around him he may meet with The
same late that beell ms brother and sister,
will visit Mr.. Alexander great breeding esta5.
lishment tomorrow ana ave an account vi H..