The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-20
r00EAELE HOMICIDE AT OYSTER BAY. -

xn the night OF the 9Th inst aenry Jones. A
man between iorty and fifty years of age, respect.
ably connected and Well known to the scattered
inhabitants OF central Long Island, CHANGED to
meet neghbOr OF his, william Howard a rather
young man Of vigorous build and dashing appear.
ance near the principal village hotel Of Oyster Bay
Henry Jones' alter exchanging some Indifferent
salutations with Howard, demanded of him
seventy-two cents, which the latter said to have
owed to jones' daughter. Howard refused to pay
the trfhing sum- either because he had 1t not or it
may have been through insolence, because he was
tainted with owing so triiing sum. Upon refusal
Jones stepped nearer to his alleged debtor, and
1t Is said, endeavOred to strike HIM. Howard i'm
agining, as he testfes, that Jones' who was behind
him, was drawing knife to stab him, Immediately
struck at him in the iace-whether with his fists or
with weapons is not yet known-but succeeded in
tracturing his jaw In two places and wounding
him IN other parts Of the head, Howard com ing
~ ss V Saepns bss Who was prev,ou.,
notlned when 1t was thought Henry Jones was In
. dying condition, summoned jury on Tuesday
last to hold An ante-mortem examination and re.
ceive the statements OF the wounded man. The
ante-mortem statement was brief, because, al
though the sick man was conscious, he was yet
almost incapable OF giving utterance to an inteli-
gible whisper. The substance of the statement as
now in possession Of the Coroner is that he was
certain he would die very soon and from the effect
OF the wounds which be received at the hands OF
William Howard.
ing, was notified by the Coroner to lend his assist
ance In making further Investigations into the
case Inc coroner anu jury OF nine men,
assisted by Mr.. W. J. Youngs District Attorney
Downing's clerk, met forthwith according to no
tincation, in the Oyster Bay Hotel yesterday. The
room where the investigation, or examination, or
inquest las the Coroner would have), was held
was 80 small as to be well crowded by the few but
necessary number OF persons present. Mr.. Youngs,
with Coroner Bayles, appeared, Of course, for the
public, and George E. Mott as counsel for the
prisoner. The doctor who is attending the dying
man was also present and endeavOred to look as
agreeable as possible.
After the roll Of jurymen was called by the Coro-
ner the prisoners counsel objected to the nvesti-
CATION being held In the form OF an inquest and
repudiated the idea that the Coroner had any right
to do so until the man Jones was dead. The Core
ner quoted his authority for holding the inquest in
order to get ante-nortem statements. The Dis
tr1ct Attorneys representative was consulted and
favored an adjournment, to which all, after about
an half hours discussion, acquiesced The dec
tors evidence was to the effect that Henry Jones
could not have lived during last night William
Howard (prisonerl, on being questioned, said he
struck the man In sef-defence. The same jury
will be convened by the Coroner and the case more
thoroughly investigated on the ed instant. The
prisoner Howard still remains In custody, re-
manded TO await the result OF Jones' injuries