The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-12
THE SCHCFIELD MASSACRE.
No Chew Received ms to Who Murdered
and Burned the Remains Of the I'm
happy Storekeeper in st. Mary's
County, Maryland.

ST. MARY's COUNTY, Nd, April 5, 1873.
The States Attorney for st. Mary's county has
just returned from the theatre OF the Schohed out
rage, but is able to throw little further light on the
matter, the mystery as to the author or authors of
this most horrible murder. robbery and arson at
present being as impenetrabe ever. Before
this officer who resides in q distant part OF the
county, had arrived at Fairfield, the place OF the
outrage the Coroners quest had been held aud its
verdict rendered. 1t found that Schoheld had been
murdered by party or parties unknown, but no evil
dence was elected seriously duplicating or con-
Meeting any particular person or persons with the
triple crime which had been committed. In
deed, the condition OF the remains was found
10 be such that 1t Is feared legal
identification will now be impossible, notwIth-
standing the verdict Of the inquest. Only the
larger bones were found, the Others being
sumed or rendered ndistlhgushabe by the action
OF the fire. Though dog and cat are known TO
have perlshed in the Names DR.. Bronze, who at
tended the inquest, readily identified these larger
bones as the remains of u human being; and there
OF james SchOneld The skull was found broken
into many pieces, and 1t Is consequently impossible
to tell whether IL was fractured by blow or shat
tered by the action OF the fire.
Schoheld was last seen by Mr.. F. NJ Goddard
about hail.past ten O'Clock on the night OF the
murder. He was then alone and engaged in writ
ing, and he told Goddard that he was writing
communication to the county paper. The same
night but previous to this, however, he is known
to have sent his little daughter, who was IN the
habit OF sleeping with him at the store
company, to mis- dwelling, about one hun
dred and fifty yards distant, representing
that Mr.. Boothe, resident OF the neigh
borhooG, intended TO pass the night with him.
Boothe seems not 10 have come, and ii Is toleraDly
certain that Schofeld retired for the night alone
The exact hour vi the murder Is a matter oil con-
lecture. III is certain, however that 1t was between
the hour at which Goddard left hin and three
O'Clock the following morning. AT The latter hour
the house was discovered to be in names. When
the neighbOrs arrived they found tae building
about to fall In, the meney drawer badly scorched
by the fire, some thirty feet from the building, and
the lock OF the store door unlocked some gold,
which he is known to have had and deposited in an
upper part OF the store, was found among the
debris OF the burned house.
Schsneld had three children, two boys and girl.
Two OF these were in his dwelling on the night OF
the murder; the other Is absent at the
North, IL is believed, in New Haven,
Conn. Besides the loss OF the father these
children Will be reduced TO poverty by the disaster
which has overlook them. Schoied is believed to
have had neither his goods nor his StOrehouse in
sured. His account books are lost, and, with the
exception of the gold referred to above. all his
money notes, bonds, &c. Intense excitement ex-
lists In the county In regard TO Schoteld's murder.
The County Commissioners meet on Tuesday next,
and will OFFER II is reported $500 reward for the
apprehension OF the murderers This will prOba-
bly, be supplemented In . few days by similar
offer the part OF the State authorities. Indeed,
public Indignation mere Is so inflamed that ii would
almost justify any expenditure to discover the
guilty parties, and almost any treatment Of them
afterwards.