The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-10
MURDER ON LONG ISLAND.
A Shoemaker Slaughtered While Selling Pair
Of Boots to tho Man Who Butchers Him
Terrible Crime-No Clew to the
Perpetrator- Supposed
To Be tho Incentive.

On Saturday morning last the residents OF Little
Neck were startled by the announcement that
brutal murder had taken place In their midst the
night previous, and upon investigation 1t was
found only too true. The victim Of the crime was
Mr.. James Graham, shoe dealer In the village,
whose place of business was on the main road,
quite number of houses being In the immediate
vicinity. At an early hour on Saturday morning a
boy, named Donelly, residing in the neighborhood,
was sent to Graham's shop to have his boots
mended. On opening the shop door, which had the
key on the outside, the boy was horrned to see the
body OF Graham stretched upon the floor, with his
feet towards the door,
LYING IN A POOL OF BLOOD.
He at once gave the alarm and several persons
responded. Entering the room the body was seen
upon the noor the head surrounded by a pool Of
blood, which OOZed from three savage cuts. Upon
closer examination the skull was found to be
crushed both behind and before, the terrible work
having evidently been done with heavy bar OF
iron, and two gashes upon the temple, evidently
given with knife or some other sharp instru-
ment. boot was near one hand while in tho
other was clenched piece OF paper in which he
had wrapped
PAIR OF BOOTS,
after selling them to his murderer. The boot, the
wall and the door opening IRON his workshop to
the salesroom was spattered with blood, showing
that there had been fearful struggle. The body
porcelain knob on the door was broken Oh, as Is
supposed, by the bar OF iron with which the MUIR
worn was the only article ieft BY the murderer
by which the least clue can be obtained.
The crime was probably committed on Friday
night, though by whom Is yet q mystery. The
murdered mans pockets were turned inside ont
and bore the imprints OF bloody hands. Nothing,
shop although his cash box is gone, and the bed in
his chamber over the shop was torn to pieces and
Recently Mr. Graham had decided IN huv ANNA
real estate In the Neck, and a lew days since
DREW FROM THE BANK FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
to pay for the same which he handed his law
yer, Mr. Chas. Van Nostrand OF Flushing, who to
make the bargain. MI. Van Nostrand found that the
title was not good to the proposed purchase, and
mailed q letter to Graham on Saturday morning
stating that fact. 1t Is probable that some person
became aware that he had drawn the money, and
was under the impression that he still had 1t in his
possession. Many believe that the bloody deed was
committed by the same gang who broke open and
robbed the store OF William Coles, at Manhasset,
on Thursday night, as the Two localities are not far
distant. .t- .-
JAMES GRAHAM THE VICTIM
OF this foul murder was about thirty-ave years OF
age, and resided In the village the past twelve
or fifteen years. and by his industry and frugaIty
had amassed fortune or from $4,000 to $4,000.
The building in which the murder occurred is
O one story and q half frame structure owned by
Graham, and in which he lived alone. With the ex-
feep9nn Of two who reside in the VII
character, and much esteemed BY tfose who knew
him. w.
The scene OF the murder Is right In the heart or
the village, close by the principal hotel, on the
Flushing and Little Neck road, and not such place
a. one would naturally suppose would be selected
on Saturday afternoon Justice Lawrence, OF
Flushing, in the absence OF the Coroner, TOOK
charge OF the body and empanelled Jury, ana
Doctors Reimer and Hoag made an examination vi
the body, they pronouncing either OF the WOUNDS
sufficient to cause death. Alter the examination Oh
three witnesses, whose testimony threw no lgnt on
the murder, the inquest was adjourned until
wednesday next.