The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-03-22
CRIME.
Another Mysterious Murder in
New York.
A Wealthy Citizen Killed in
His Own House.

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rich, brother Of Hon. w. W. Goodrich
was found this morning in the basement
of one Of the handsome brown stone
dwellings which he had Just erected on
DegraW street, near Fifth Avenue, with
a pistol shot wound through his head,
and deep wound over the right eye,
leaving but very little doubt that he met
his death at the hands Of some burglar.
The deceased was q widower, forty.two
years OF age, and was man Of consider
able means. He had recently erected q
row Of brown stone buildings, some Of
which he had sold to good advantage,
and others he had let to desirable
tenants. The fifth one he had just let
TO o New York merchant, completely
furnished, and for the past week he
had been In the habit Of sleeping in 1t,
for the purpose Of taking care Of 1t until
the gentleman was ready to move In.
w, ". Goodrich was in the habit Of see.
Ing Charles nearly every day. He went
10 the House on Degraw street, on Thurs.
DAY, but finding it locked, supposed his
brother was absent, but as no did not
make his appearance this morning, Good
rich became somewhat anxious concern
ing him, and he went 10 the house again.
Knocking ut the door and ringing the
bell brought no response, and he then de.
cided to break into the place. He enter
ed one Of the adjoining houses and went
up on the root, and from thence down
the scuttle. He found all the doors
closed, and looking into the sleeping
apartment, he found the sheets and blan.
kets turned down as It he had Just risen.
He then went down to the basement, and
on opening the door found his brother ly.
ing dead upon the carpet passing into the
back basement. He found that the win
dow had been broken open, and he be-
came convinced at once that his brother
had been brutally murdered. A pane Of
glass In the window had been broken so
that man might insert his hand and turn
the tastenings. The theory Is that some
thief was aware Of tho fact that Goodrich
was In the habit Of sleeping in this house
alone, and supposed that he carried con.
siderable money about him; that he broke
into the place, and Goodrich hearing q
noise came down stairs, pistol in hand,
ready to meet the intruder; the thief took
up position from which he could knock
him senseless as he entered the place, and
1t Is believed, struck him blow above
the right eye; this blow was sufficient to
render him powerless, and the thief then
seized his pistol and shot him. Then the
fellow undoubtedly riAed his pockets, for
his pocket.book, as well as his valuable
gold watch was gone. There was moth
Ing about the place to give evidence ota
struggle having occurred, but tie. posi-
tion in which the body was found
would lead q casual observer 10
inIer that he had committed suicide.
The pistol, q siIver.plated revolver, was
lying near his right hand. A pool Of CO.
Sgulated blood was upon the hearth stone,
while the head Of tho deceased was lying
about foot away from this pool and
resting upon the legs Of his boots. The
blood had been washed from the wound
over his LEFT eye, and the towel which
had been used for that purpose was hang
ing over the sink. The supposition that
he had committed suicide was dispelled
by the fact that the pistol shot wound
was In his left temple.
The police were Immediately informed
Of tho murder and detectives visited the
place In order to obtain whatever clue
they could to the horrible mystery. OF
course there arc numerous speculations
lnregard to his death. Even detectives are
divided in Opioln with regard to It, most,
however, believing iumurder and reject
Ing tho theory Of suicide. The murderer
had evidently arranged the pistol and the
dead mans body with view Of creating
the impression that he had taken his own
lid.