The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-18

Burial of the Body Of the Slaugh.
tered Shoemaker.
Letter from Lady in Maryland Who Claims To
Be His sistsr-The slayers Suspected-A Va
riety Of Strange Facts-When the Arrest
Will Be Made-Squire Provost Balls
the Prisoners of Last Wednesday.

me excitement in Little Neck in regard to the
outchery VI James Graham rather increases than
diminshes as the time removes the period at which
the terrible crime was committed further away
from the present. In the minds Of the neighbors
OF the victim the mystery every day assumes
somewhat darker and more Opaque complexion
and the belief has become current that 1t never
will be solved until the last trump sounds and all
things are made clear by the light Of destiny. On
Saturday morning, the Coroner being absent rom
Flushing, District Attorney Downing informed the
three prisoners, John and Thomas Macreary and
James McCollins, whose worst misfortune It
has been not to be possessed Of an
extraordinary endowment Of wit, that he was
very willing to release them II they would procure
the requisite amount Of BAIL The sum fixed upon
for each was g. Co., He assumed the responsibility
OF their arrest himself by this action, although It
had been made in opposition to his expressed
Wishes Squire Provost, the employer Of the In
carcerated innocents, came to Flushing and he and
his son, lawyer, offered themselves as bondsmen.
The Squire was mainly anxious about his "stock"
In his barn ct home, which had not been cared for
as Of old since his men had been arrested, and he
complained that his cows were becoming attenu-
ated and melancholy in appearance.
THE FUNERAL OF GRAHAM.
The Macrearys and McCOllins were accordingly set
at liberty and went home to attend theifuneral OF
him whom they claim as having been their half.
brother, James Graham.
This sad ceremony took place on Sunday, and
was doubly Affecting because OF the fact that be-
sides the two released prisoners, his harbrothers,
there was no one present who claimed the right
Of blood to mourn for the dead. few simple
rites took place and the mutilated remains Of
James Graham, enclosed In cheap deal CONN,
were consigned to the earth In the Little Neck
churchyard, where the spot Of his burial will
doubtless In future years be viewed with awe
by persons who may know by memory
or tradition OF his fearful fate. The fea-
lures as they lay in death were calm and
handsome, wearing an expression Of manllness
which had eliminated whatever look OF agony or
horror may at first have rested upon them.
Graham was man OF strong and robust form, and
one who had he had chance for his life, would
not have died without struggle. After the
funeral depressed and almost sullcn calm seems
to have settled over the little village like black
pail. The men who assemble In the barrOom and
every one seems distrustful or suspicious Of his
neighbor. A stranger Is looked upon almost with
Is sGe enco e
the murder Of Graham. 1t would not be
hard for any imaginative observer coming
suddenly upon such a scene to form In his mind
all sorts OF theories about the dread secrets one
might fancy lurked behind the singular faces
to sense of this fact the whole community lie ap-
parently in mortal fear OF being Indicted en- snasse
on charge Of murder and hence even the de-
tectives are at loss to CLEAN any fresh facts from
the dumb lips and sullen looks OF the barroom tip
piers, among whom ordinarily the news OF the day
Is always most quickly exchanged.
A FEW SUSPICIOUS FACTS.
The clue mentioned before In the HERALD as
being without doubt the right one has never been
abandoned since first espied, and Immediately after
the close OF the Coroner's inquest arrest which
Is confidently expected will result the crmina-
ton Of the murderers OF James Graham The names
several days from the public, and cannot even yet
be given. While there is not the slightest direct
voSy the
1ppears very probable indeed
OF the tragedy an incident was noticed by several
persons happening on the premises Of q netghbor
planned and, without doubt, it never can be with
out involving the selfconfession Of the principal
murderer. On the day OF the discovery, and on
the day following also. the man who Is supposed to
be chief In the crime displayed most wonderful
ment, which was directly contrary to his every
day character. Always a hard working and very
diligent man ne neglected his labor on this occa-
back and forth and apparently unmeaningly be-
harnessed his horse in the afternoon, and drove
quarter OF a mile to Douglaston, lounged about
few moments and returned without having shown
any reason for making the empty journey. He
then went to the hotel, and was heard IN CONVEX
to make directly opposite a. to
thought the murder was committed. He was nrst
positive that the instrument Of death must have
been q Ratchet, and then when talking five
pressed the opinion tina. i ' mus. nave been
noticed by Q near observer, and the uneasiness
that seemed to be consuming him was very pal
pable. He was afterwards heard to make remarks
OF such character as to imply suspicion against
one OF his neighbours upon whom, II he himself
| nv
The meagre descriptions Of the men seen upon the
road given on the witness stand by Constable Roe
and John Bennem corresponded, as far as they 60,
with the appearance OF the suspected persons and
the testimony Of Bosworth, who saw two men enter
strengthens this impression. The man suspected
OF being the principal in the crime knew per-
Hsp Ts s e and that he nad Drawn
from the bank. His own pecuniary troubles were
SO great that they might well have driven him to a
| desperate crime II he possessed sufficent brute
| cowardice to commit It, BY no means the least or
the suspicious regarding him Is that since the
once been near the body OF his neighbor and friend,
and that he never attended the inquest until finally
rural place Ike Little Neck where curiosity is the
ruling passion, these are indeed unusual circum-
stances. On Thursday, in the inquest room, It was
plainly to be seen that this man was constantly on
his guard against the gances Of those around him,
and his manner was too studied and affected to
scious innocence. He was subject to sudden starts
and moments OF inexplIcable embarrassment He
PEELED to testify on Friday o! this week, II mean
while he does not abscond.
Other points might be given which would more
deeply impress the mind Of the reader with the
theory Of the detective regarding the guilt Of this
man. but at their request they are reserved FOR the
present the better TO serve the ends Of Justice
A SUPPOSED SISTER OF GRAHAM IN xABYLAND.
Mr.. Van Nostrand's custody OF the money, which
was evidently supposed by the murderers TO be In
Grahsm's house has caused his name to appear
quite cOnspicuously, and as the story OF crime has
been copied by the Southern papers the TACT oil MS
having received the following letter is explained:-
GEORGETOWN, D. c. Feb. Is
Mr. vAv N0srRASp:- -. :. d
DEAR siR-I saw sketch In the Baltimore San Of tho
| murder OF James Graham. had q brother OF tina
| name but have not heard from him for over twenty
years We are OF parentage from the rTy-
rome Ireland my parents sided number Of years In
scotland shall and describe brother last
saw him. although am not good at description lie
owszed brown hair, high forehead u little bare the
temple short upper lip, ana the chin little
| shapn The hair might have Changed color in thai