The New York herald., 1873-11-21
THE SOUTH OYSTER BAY MYSTERY.
Important Evidence Before the Coroner's
Jury Yesterday.

LelOre tne 1OrOneI's
Jury Yesterday.
Nearly five months have elapsed since Samuel j.
Jones. a well-known resident OF South oyster Bay,
was found murdered and thrown into the well
npon his own premises, where he resided alone.
being bachelor and rather affecting the habits
OF recluse. During that time the author
tiles, aided by the residents or the neigh
borbood, and with good detective talent, have
been by no means idle in their endeavors TO solve
the mystery Of his death-two rewards OF $1,000
each, offered respectively by the Board OF Super
vsors OF queens county and the relatives OF the
murdered man, proving no mean incentive TO hard
work in this direction. Several apparenEy good
clews have offered themselves from time to ilme
but they have been followed without success up TO
Something new, however was offered at the con-
tnued inquest yesterday which, IL is believed, will
lead to successful termination OF the inquiry as
to the perpetrator OF the murder During the inter.
val which had elapsed since the last preceding day
OF the inquest Mrs. Mary Murphy, who resides near
the scene OF the tragedy made the following state
ment to . prominent resident or the nelghbor-
hood
II Macney should be arrested the truth would come
ou, saw three darkies watching Maioney when he
e and a' Ss Ssn tse e get an a% Of MOOD from the
and when went in the house and cam. oa, again
h Ser se "a ms sna es ss
ss% 81 s s0ses sSnE 70 Put out the @ and they
they committed the decd. MARY MURPHY.
The explanation OF the first sentence OF Mrs
hnrphy's statement is, that there was some talk
OF having Maloney arrested, and she proposed,
rather than that he should suffer unjustly to come
forward and tell what she knew. She was the frst
witness called yesterday, ana though she gave her
testimony with considerable hesitation it was
pain that she had pretty strong conviction that
the three coiored men spoken OF were
the guilty parties. These men, IL APP
peared were engaged IN what Is known as
"stubblng' In the neighborhood-- is.
clearing thc land OF scrub oaks, underbrush, DC,
ready Tor cultivaton--and had done some such
work Tor Mr. Jones' for which they charged him
rather an exorbtant price. They had also assisted
him In putting out IRE in the woods on his prem
ises, ana knew his habits very we'll Mrs. Murphy
was not entirely positive to the identity or the
men with those she saw on the premises on Sat
urday morning following the murder acting In q
iieyed they were the same.
Inc next witness was one OF the col0red men |
Implicated by Mrs. Murphy's statement, named |
Lewis Jarvis. Being examined without any
kn0wledge OF the character Of her testimony, ne |
corroborated all the statements with the excep. |
tion OF those relating to his whereabouts ON the |
morning following the murder, she being quite |
positive that she saw him on Mr.. Jones' premises,
and ne being equally positive that he was at home
all that day-a point that the authorities will, no
doubt Immediately determine.
The names OF the other two implicated by Mrs. |
Murphy's statement II would not be proper now to
divuge, as they VIII be subpGnaed to appear on the
next day OF the inquest Whether these men are the
murderers or not there is very strong impression
that they know something about the tragedy which
they can be made to divnlge under proper pres
sure.
Mrs. Murphy and Jarvis we're the only witnesses
examined Jesterdaxs