The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-10
MURDER WILL OUT"
Unwilling of the South Oyster
Bay Mystery.
The Murderer Of Samuel j. Jones Discovered
Arrest Yesterday Of His Half Brother
The Murderer Traced BY an Anonymous
Letter-A Story Of Detectives Skill.

OF his house, by Peter Maloney under the follow
ing circumstances Peter had been engaged by
Mr.. Jones on the previous day to do some work on
the place, and went to work early in the morn
ing without seeing his employer. AS the day wore
on he thought strange that ''the MASTER" as he
called him, did not make his appearance, but
concluded that he might have been called away
on business. Between nine and ten O'CLOCK be-
coming thirsty, and being nearer to Mr.. jones'
well than to his own, he went there to obtain
drink OF water. Upon approaching the we'll he
noticed as peculiar and unusual circumstance,
That both the bucket and q wooden weight which
balanced 1t were drawn up and standing outside
the curb; and, when looking down the well, he
discovered, when his eyes became q little accus-
toned TO the gloom below, what he supposed to
be the back of "the mastersn head and his coat
floating at the top Of the water. Struck with
horror, and with mind confused by the sudden
ness OF his unexpected and terrible discovery, he
Immediately started across the fields and woods to
the house of Thomas W. Jones, half brother OF
the murdered man, to whom he communicated his
fears shat the master was in the WELL" Thomas
W. Jones started back with Peter and was soon
aiterward followed by his wife and daughter, who
had overheard eters announcement.
ARRIVAL AT THE WELL.
Thomas appears to have made no effort to get
his brother out OF the well, or even to ascertain
whether it were really he, but went to the depot
and to kilian's Hotel, near the station, and gave
an alarm. The news OF course spread rapidly,
and soon considerable crowd was gathered at
the well, including another half brother of the
deceased named Jackson j. s. Jones. 1t was
question among the parties whether it would be
right to remove the body from the well before the
arrival of a coroner, but Jackson Jones, who as
sumed authority in the matter, decided that it
arrId hn t.
any one could be found adventurous enoughlto de-
scend into the well and fasten a rope around the
body, but at last colored man named Jackson
consented to do Sc. When the body was raised
the knees and hip joints were found bent,
as though IN sitting posture, and the hands
were partially raised toward the head, as though
to ward on blows. There was also bruise upon
one OF the nan DIS, and there were found, upon
animation, to be six or seven distinct cuts upon
the head-one as though indicted by the stroke Of
a.club and the others as though caused by some
sharp-edged instrument or missile. The cause of
the latter wounds evident enough upon an
found SIX sharp-edged stones, Weighing from six
to twelve pounds each. besides heavy wooden
cnopping block, all OF which had, no doubt, been
thrown down upon the delenceless head OF the
poor old man while he was struggling for life in
the water below. The doctor who made the post
mortem examination decided that two OF the
wounds had broken the skull and that either one
OF these was sufficient to have caused death. An
examination of the house showed that 1t had been
pretty thoroughly ransacked; drawers were broken
open. papers were scattered about, as though
the search had been particularly among them,
But. something Was lett behind which q a
professional thief never would have missed.
In a small closet, the lock OF which could easily
have been forced, was tin box, containing up
wards OF $4,000 worth of United States bonds and
other valuable securities. 1t was, therefore, q
natural conclusion that robbery was not the lead
ing incentive to the murder: but that rather it
private or family considerations. Meantime, how
ever, upon the second third day of the inquest,
q new character had appeared upon the scene in
the person OF detective named Payne,
A PLAIN, FARMER-LOOKING MAN,
residing at BaIdwnsvlile, on the line e., OF the
in the world that one would take for a detective.
He watched the course OF events closely, and soon
formed his theory, which ne nos since constantly
persisted In. 1t was adverse to the Jones family; and
this being suspected by them he received no en-
the last day but two of the inquest jackson Jones
exhibited an anonymous letter which he had re-
celved few days previously, purporting TO give
Jarvis, and one or two others. This letter is as
folows:-
darkey the is John Jarvis at Freeport you Wiii
arrest him and Que sting him ciosty lie knows somthing
about i ihsrd him is how the company entered !hs
@ fs ans S they whn in the
dave levy seen the rs bow soek But dd not him Se
information can get Ill let you KNOW y Mr. FRIEND
IL happens JnaC
THE ANONYMOUS LETTER
was written on one hall Of letter Sheet and at
the edge where the separation was made are
number OF marks made with red pencil, as
though something had been crossed Off on the OPP
poslte page, and some OF the marks had extended
beyond that page to the other.
After the lapse of what he considered sufficient
time Payne wrote q letter OF inquiry to Thomas
Jones regarding the movements OF Peter Maoney
on the morning OF the discovery OF the murder,
framed in such manner that the answer might
reveal points OF similarity between Thomas jones'
waiting ten days for an answer (Which he did not
eXpect Payne wrote again as though suppOstng
that his first letter had miscarrled, repeating his
inquiries and adding Others This also remained
unanswered. Payne then changed his tactics.
He got neig hbor to write postacard note to
Thomas Jones, asking II he had certain kinus OF
timber the prices, &c. This ruse was successful.
Promptly by return mail was received the follow
lowing note, also written Oh postal card:-
LAKEWOOD MILLS, jan IL 1874
You wish to know ii have two and two and half oak
nShes also tonge and shave plank, white and Black
sms oa '%G sm EUm
WE'VE 0'A s!i J9Sa seserG sSSsd
NY lowest cash price per foot five and half cents
This note was OF course written in Thomas
Jones' usual handwriting, but the points of SINH
larity between this and the handwriting OF the
ANONYMOUS letter were so striking as to mme-
word "went' In the first and walnut" In the
second, the aspirate ''h" is introduced between the
w" anu lHe louOWlnR VOWel, making "WHeuC" Ill
one case and 'whalnutr in the other. Then latter
terminatlOns and In some cases entire words, are
formed similarly, and the pecuiarities Of some OF
the capital letters are alike, although changes
were made IN those OF the anonymous letter, as
revealed under y strong glass.
At length, Justice Snedeker being relieved by
the adjournment OF the Court OF Sessions on FRI
day, the necessary papers being prepared on Sat
urday and all the other preliminaries arranged,
the warrants OF arrest and search were placed in
the hands OF Officers Abraham H. Remsen and
Abraham Hamer, OF Jamaica, who, accompanied by
a reporter, started on their important mission by
the early freight train on the south Side Railroad,
which leaves Jamaica about six O'Clock In the
morning. At Baldwin's they were joined by Payne
ana special officer, named John Vincent Arrived
AT south oyster Bay the party, to avoid obserya-
ton as much as possible, struck across the fields
and entered the road leading to Thomas Jones',
at some distance from the depot, pursuing the
same course as that taken by Payne and the re.
porter some days previously. 1t was arranged
that 0nlcer Haner should go in advance and en-,