The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-30
A HORRIBLE MURDER.
A Long Island Farmer Thrown Into We'll
and Killed with Stones-A Murder that
is Surrounded with Mystery-Remark-
able Conduct Of Some Per.
sons at Present Unknown.

sons at Present Unknown.
The whole south side OF Long Island is EXISTED
over the preparation OF horrible murder in the
quiet little hamlet Of South Oyster Bay, IN Queens
county The whole affair is shroaded in mystery,
ana there but little possibility OF solution Of the
terrible crime.
THE VICTIM
OF the tragedy is Samuel Jones. farmer seventy
years Of age, who, Tor more than fifty years, had
lived on the farm where he was so brutally
murdered. He was OF many &C.
centricites scrupulous and Industrious and
was supposed to be worth from fifty
to seventy-iye thousand dollars Noswithstand-
ing his extreme age lie had never married, and for
many years had lived alone. The house in which
he resided is one story and attic, with
an extension on the northeriy side. 1t Is
situated about the middle OF the farm, with
the outhouses at considerable distance. On
the farm, at about one hundred
yards distance, is located small house, the APP
pearance OF which would indicate its erection
some time during the last century In this house
the murdered man was born, and in 1t now resides
good natured lrishman named Peter Mal0ney,
who had been employed to work the tarm.
THEORY OF TIE MURDER.
That Jones was murdered Is beyond the possibfl-
ity OF doubt, but the attending circumstances
are as yet but mere conjecture. The murder was
committed on Friday night. During the day
Jones had been at work In one OF his
fields. In the evening his brother called,
and when he lett the victim was
about to prepare the evening meal. While thus
engaged some grass tie South Side Railroad
track took fire and was extinguished by him.
daughter of Peter Maoney saw him combating the
hre and this was the last seen Of him alive. After
ms ms return TO the house ne concluded the
large plate OF strawberries being the principal arti.
Gle OF food lie could not have partaken OF the
food Judging rom the cleanliness 81 the dishes, and
IT Is believed that. while absent quench-
ing the fire.. the murderers secresed
been more than one man engaged in his murder.
In his bedroom footprints OF varying sizes were
visible. i Is believed that he was stunned by a
blow rom o club, one being found III the dining
rom his own woodland: Alter Ate, D' being
to cellar, locks broken and drawers opened, and
their contents scattered unfortunately about 1t
believed thar their booty but small His brother
says he kept very little money in the house, but
ass aa ose a wS he rne ns
papers, but no bonds were found there.
FINDING THE BODY.
On Saturday morning Peter Mal0ney went to the
house and Knocked, but received no answer.
Thinking his employer had gone to the Southside
Railroad depot lie passed the time working about
the yard. Jones was an unusually early riser, and
his non-appearance led Maloney to knock on the
90 doors again. he received no reply Going 20
tried to draw up bucket OF water, but the rope
would not work. The well is but twenty feet deep
and has but lorty inches OF water. Naturally Ma
loney looked down the wen to discover the impedi
ment to the working Of the bucket and the body OF
for jones' brothers, and at nine O'Clock the body
was lifted from the we'll. The head was cut and
IN PLACES On the was
the club when first struck. In the well there
were also several large stones and trunks
OF trees These had been carried from con-
siderable distance and thrown into the well
for the purpose OF killing him. The rope was be-
spattered with blood, and this fact is believed to
be evidence that he undertook to raise himself
from the well when the stones and trees were
thrown upon him; me pockets OF his pantaaoo looms
were gone.
This is the story of the murder as CLEANED by the
reporter yesterday.
OFFICIAL ACTION
Coroner Baylis and Mr. McCoun were present ana
empaneled a jury yesterday. The Coroner
dered that the investigation should take place to-
day at Hlcksye. Some Of the witnesses and
brother Of the murdered man offered to defray
the Coroner's expenses to come TO south Oyster
Bay and nod the inquest; MT McConn objected to
legal adviser and would attend to that. The day
Tor holding the inquest was then changed to Tues
NO SUSPICION AGAINST ANY ONE.
The family connections Of the murdered man
the crime. They believe that the murder was per-
petrated by strangers for the purpose of robbery.
AS to the crime having been committed by
strangers, opinion is probably wrong. Des-
peradoes from abroad would scarcely resort to
murder when simply In search Of money or valu-
ables, where their only obstacle was poor old
man, utterly deienceless. Perhaps the more correct
theory is that the perpetrators OF the horrible
crime were intimately acquainted with the victim;
that fearing the consequences of their acts, they
threw hum into the well. thinking that he would
drown. Had this been the it would
have been supposed tina. he fell into the well ac-
cidentally. When he showed signs of life after
being thrown into the well their only recourse was
to kill him, and this they did by throwing stones
and tree trunks into the well, One OF his brothers
informed the reporter that some time ago he made
will, but search Of the house Jailed to find IL.
A SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE.
After his brother had searched the bedroom
bureau he went up into the attic. On returning
he again went INTO the BEDROOM and, pulling open
one OF the drawers found bunch Of small keys,
with the water dripping from them He solemnly
declares that the Keys we're not there when the
first search was made, and 1t Is o matter OF COM
ment how they came there.
The body will be buried to-day Hundreds OF
farmers rom the surrounding country visited tine
house yesterday, aud the greatest sorrow pre-
vailed at his terrible Heath lie always had
loaded pistol In his bedroom, which is now miss
Ing.
ST. PHILOMENAe INSTITUTE, BROOKLYN.