The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-20
THE SOUTH OYSTER BAY MURDER.
Thomas w. Jones Honorably Discharged
from Custody.

The examination OF Thomas w. Jones, of South
oyster Bay. charged with the murder OF his half
brother samuel J. Jones, on the 27th OF last june
was continued and concluded before Justice sned-
eker at jamaica yesterday. The attendance was
quite large and included a considerable number OF
the lady relatives and friends of the accused man,
including his wife ana eldest daughter, neither OF
whom had previously appeared at the examina-
ton. District Attorney Benjamin W. Downing ap
peared for the people and Judge Hagner Tor the
defence.
James NJ. seaman was called the first witness,
and identified an account book being IN the
handwriting OF the prisoner, the intention OF the
prosecution being 10 establish similarity between
1t and the handwriting OF the anonymous letter
Mr. Hagner objected 10 this line OF testimony
and cited Authorities TO prove that 1t was not com
petent; but it was dnaly admitted.
Mr.. +. b. Moore and Justice Jonn n. Brncker.
hon were called, as men familiar with handvrit-
Ing to give their ideas regarding the points OF
similarity between the anonymous letter and the
postal card note, but neither could give more than
general impression. In some Instances the SINH
larity was shown TO be quite remarkable but
neither could give positive opinion that they
were botn written 5y the same person. This testi-
mony was also objected TO by Judge Hagner, but
the objection was finally waived.
John +. seaman testified respecting converse
murder regarding tue VIII supposed TO nave been
executed by the murdered man. Thomas Jones
then stated tnat II vas supposed his brother had
maoe WIN, but That IT could not be found after
his death.
Coroner Bayl.s testified as TO the finding OF a
WEI Dunch VI keys Ia secretary drawer ia the
murdered mans room. HIS evidence was similar
70 mat OF Jackson Jones.
Margaret aaiOBey Peters daughter. was called
TO testify regarding the nre the railroad track
OIL the evening before the murder. She was posi-
tive tAat 10 occurred about haltpas, seven O'Clock,
Ia fr.s1t
~ out anu alterHaru gong toward MS house !;
she did not see Thomas Jones az ali that day.
The prosecution here rested, and the defence
called ohy one witness, VINO at once exploited the
detectives theory Of the Anonymous letter. 1hls
witness was Abraham outhard, OF freepOrt, WAC
testineu haL ne was the author OF the letter which
IA recOgnzedi he sent u 20 tue Amityyule Post
once IN an envelope directed 10 the Postmaster.
He had a duplicate OF ~, which he kept Tor some
time, DLt finally tOIe up and threw IN "a ba rel
among other waste papers. since the arrest Of
Thomas Jones he had hunted Tor the pieces IN the
barrel and found two Vi them which ne produced.
lie Identified them by cerJaln red marks which he
had maze win RED pencil, and when appeared
original letter. he gave a reason To- writing
the Anonymous letter, instead OF gong before toe
Coroner and making "a statement, that he was
AFRAID the persons implicated ~ II might 90 hun
some injury.
Tue stTong point OF the prosecution having thus
been upset, Judge hagner moved formally for the
hOnoia able discharge OIL hs cuent, against whom, az
he said, not d scntlna Of evidence had been pro-
duced.
District Attorney Downing admitted that be saw
no evidence OF guilt on TIC part OF the prisoner
ana thought that hts Honor would be entll ely JUS
uned Ia granting an honorable acquttaL
Justice Sueueker rdlQ that he fAlly COuCurreQ In
the position taken BY TIE District Attorney that
no evidence had Deen sdduced against the eiend-
ant. aud That ne wOulu therefore grant ban an uu.
conditional anu honorable discharge.
The defendant wa Immediately surrounded W
a crowd OF relatives and iiends ana received tner
warm congratulations upon the result ol Toe exam
nation. ~ - Understood that the defence, had
not the authorship OF tue anonymous letter been
vppOrtun civ discovered were prepared 10 prOf
an allO ana tue Uuucn OF Keys lOuBd IA the secre-
tnry drawer we're proved 10 90 no .Ock ia Thomas
jones' house or ABOUT ms premises, Uricer Hcmseu
having made a thorough trial VI them on Wedues-
day
Although TIE result OF this examination proves
couclusiFely that detective Payne has been 40
WORK IN the wrong direction, some hints nave
been given 10 tAe authorities wn1ca MAY Jet prove
70 De valuable II tie CALCULATION VI tas ~ st.gy a.
70 VINO nlloo SAmuAl T. yolaA