The New York herald., 1873-09-17
LIGHT UPON A MYSTERY.

The Murder or Samuel Jones, OF south
Oyster Bay, l.. I.--rhree Negroes I'M
Plicated-rwo in Custody, but the Prin-
cfPal at Large-How n simple-Minded
Farmer Discovered the Criminals-Mr.
Jones' Oid-Fashfoned Gold Watch.
On the morning OF the 9th OF June last Samuel j.
Jones, farmer OF South oyster Bay, Queens
county. and uncle OF United States Commissioners
Jones, was missed from has home. Al i've O'Clock
ON that morning his farm laborer, who lived ad-
joining, went to the house ana knocked. Receiving
no answer, he busted himself about the
house, thinking that Mr.. Jones had gone
to the South Side Railroad depot. At
seven O'Clock he made q second visit to
the house, but met with no response. The well
was within ten feet OF the kitchen door, and the
hired man laid hold OF the rope TO draw bucket
Of water The rope failed to work. and the man
peeped into the wel. AT the bottom he beheld
large roots OF trees and pieces OF sticks, and on
the rope he observed considerable blood. His
suspicious being aroused he informed the brother
Of his employer, who with some neighboring
farmers went over to the premises. The pieces or
WOOD We're taken out, and standing erect IN the
bottom of the well was the lifeless form OF Samuel
). Jones Here was mystery to solve, and the
question was one OF suicide or murder. When
the body was taken out OF the wel there
was found to be several cuts on the head and
brulse on the forehead. HIS pockets were turned
inside out and his watch missing. In the house
was found large piece OF wood with blood on II
there also blood on the noOr When last seen
Mr. Jones was gathering strawberries, and on the
morning when his bouy was found the table was
set and The strawberries on 1t. MI. Jones was "a
years OF age he had never been married. He never
invited any one TO his house, and those who came
voluntarily had TO transact their business I'm the open
air. He was above the average farmer intellec-
tually, and welLassorted library was the chief
SPECULATION RAN HIGH
as TO the manner OF hls death. With but TWO or
three exceptions the house seems not to have been
plllageu. Still his missing watch and broken
lock on the bureau went lar to uphold the theory
OF murder. No motive could be assigned for sui
eide. Who was the murderer Various persons
were suspected, but not one accused. The Coro-
ners inquest dragged slowly along, and now
tency OF the authorities was decried by everybody,
and It was decided that the murderer would never
be % discovered Fate, however, has, according to
tam that Queens county VIII have an execution IN
the spring OF 1874
colored families, who depend on farm labor for
living 1t was not dreamed that any one or
THESE mad any hand in the tragedy-only white
desperate could commit such an atrocous crime.
Within week past words dropped from the lips or
few colored people that aroused suspicion. on
Friday 1t was decided to arrest two brothers
named Levy on suspicion OF completely in the
murder They are now safely lodged in the Queens
County Jail. They refuse to dlvulge anything Of
| Importance, but the District Attorney feels con-
ndent tnat they know q great deal. The boon
renee On tnat ~ % night he rsmarked alter Ssarng M
OF the arrest OF the Levys
"IF A TELLER PEACHED
would he be let Off :" He was told that he might
get of with light punishment. An hour or SO later
ne was seen TO have watch, and on being inter-
rOgated, SAID 1t had been given him by Mr. Jones.
visit to the various families OF Jones Is evidence
that none OF them ever gave an Od-fashon gold
watch to any cOiOred man. The watch taken from
the murdered man was an Od-fashoned gold one.
The secret was kept until saturday evening; then
THE ARREST OF LAWRENCE WAS ORDERED,
but diligent search failed to find him. and his
family refused to say anything about him. During
the whole OF sunday the search was kept up. At
one time Colonel Wagstar thought lie woulC
cure HIM, but night lett him still at liberty The
search Is being diligently prosecuted, and 1t is i'm
possible for him to escape. He mad but $40 in his
possession. He Is supposed to be working his way
to New York. He Is very large man, and almost
as black as TAR. He Is very bold. He attended
every meeting OF the Coroner's Inquest, and no
one even suspected him. He is undoubtedly the
murderer OF the poor old man. II was said yester-
day that one OF the Levys acknowledged that
Lawrence was the culprit but denied having any
thing themselves to do with it, There is reward
OF 81, 500 Tor the arrest OF the murderers