New-York tribune., 1874-03-10
THE SOUTH OYSTER BAY MURDER

"The Rdndczyons" by Indoni OF Rome, and o lhe-sne
painting Of Gen. Moitke, by Prof' schader'
THE SOUTH OYSTER BAY MURDER
sUonas W. JONES ARRESTED FOR THE MURDER OF
HIS HALF -BRoTHER.-k CURIOUS CHAIN OF Cn'-
CUMsrANTIAL EVIDENCE.
Samnel J. Jones was murdered, under clrcum-
stances Of peculiar atrocity. on June ~ 1879 lie WIS
an elderly bachelor and lived alone near South OyS'ef
Bay The nearest house TO his occupied BY Peth&
Maioney who frequently did work for Mr.. Jones Law
IN the forenoon Of Saturday. June 2s the body OF MI
Jones was discovered in the well on his premises, e"
feet from the back of his house. by Peter Maoney
who went there 10 Obtain a drink Of water. He frs'
noticed that both the bucket and wooden weight when
balanced IL were drawn up and standing outside inc
curb and upon looking down the we'll he discovered
what be supposed 90 be the back OF Mr. Joness hns"
his coat floating at the top OF the water He immc
dstey started the folds TO tho house OF Thomas
W Jones' Laifbrother OF the murdered who went
with Maoney After looking into the well Thomas
Jones to kiliaD's Hotel and gave an alarm Inc
spread rapidly, and so0n considerable crown was
gathered at the wel including another halfbrother ~
the DECEASED, Jackson j. g. Jones' When the body WIS
raised the knee and hip joints were found bent, AZ
though III sitting posture, and the hauds were par
italy raised toward the head as though to waSd OH
blows There was also "A brnise upon OF the hands
and sar OF seven distinct upon The head 10 the
well found six sbarTedged stones, weighing from
tx to u pounds each besides heavy wooden choppng
block, all Of which had been 1t was Thought, thrown
down upon the defeuseless man while he
was struggling for life in the water. Cor
oner Valentine Bays called soon possible
The inquest was intervals until November
but The result a verdict that Samuel j. Jones came
his death by wounds inflicted by some person or per
TO the Jury. Suspicion at first pointed
strongly 70 Peter Malonsy but nothing could be proved
against hin.
the second third dae or the inquest detective
named Stephen Payne, residing at Baldwinsville sp-
pcarcd He watched the course OF events closely and
formed his theory which adverse 10 the Jones
family. About the close OF tho inquest Jackson Jones
exhibited Anonymous letter, which he had received
few days previously. purrorting to give Information
against certain colored men named Jarvis, aud one or
two others. 1t shown to the Coroner, who pro-
nonnced ID forgery The coroner showed IL tn Payne,
VINO wished to Keep u to work upon, but Jackson Jones
strongly objected parting with the letter. Payne how
secured the letter at the next day Of the inquest
P.yne's theory and suspicion pointed TO the haii-
brother Thomas W. Jones, the murderer and be be
eved thar Jackson Jones, the other halbrother was
cogni.ant OF thecrime. Payne also convinced that
letter written by Thomas Jones ON one oeca-
sion nc visited Thomas Jones at his sawmlll. and
or the outside OF the office ~ the mill various memo
randa and figures made vi IN red pencil. il hap
pens that this anonymous letter written one
half Of letter sheet aud az the edge where the separ
tou made wita red Pencir as though something
had been crossed of on the opposite page, ana some
Of marks had extended beyond that page To the
other. Payne afterward wrote two letters oi inquiry to
Thoma--Joncs the subject of The murder, hoping To
discover "a similarity between Thomas Jones's writing
and that OF The Anonymous letter. But both
answered. Payne then got noighbor TO write postal
card note to Thomas Jones' asking II he had certain
kinds of lumber, the prices, a.. This was successful,
for by return mail answer was received rms note
was written in Thomas Jones's uual handwriting; hut
points Of similarity between this anu the handwrit
Ing 81 the anonl nous etter we're SO striking a. 70 IN
meiaely attract attention For instance ia the worh
the aspirate IS introduced between the r and the n
lowing v0wci, making "whent" in case and whal
nut" III the other. Then letter.. examinations, and In
words formed similarly; and the
pecnlarities OF some of The capital letters are alike
although changes made IN those OF the anonymous
tbe chain of c,rcnsfantal evidence were added from
conversation with Dstr.ctAttorney Dourng, and
the points OF h evidence before that magistrate
proceedings against Thomas W. Jones for the mnrder OF
his haf-UroLhcr she COur OF Sessions should
adjourn The necessary papers were prepared ou sat
the hands OF Officers Abraham, ii. Helsen, aud Abfa
tiTed aa% HSr o soun d% yssr Ts% GaT W4 rrvc Sn,
the mill, they discovered Jones repairing his dam.
Officer Remscn MADE known the nature of his business
and proceeded TO read the warrant Of Jones did
appear AT all surprised. aud when the officer had
tbin1. that s the sm,S toal hout ,, lie frcnneutiy
afterward repeated the expression. Malicious ma
ciuus - and suDsequeny Ac said that he had an idea
that somebody wing in wait had him leave his
brothers. house tho Friday evening before the
der and then had Killed his brotner beley ing nat the
murder Woult br charged 10 linn. The mill aud house
searched. bu nothing wa' found that could fur
prisoner the Town Han, Jamaica where hi- friends
having procured the services Of the Hon. Alexander
U.guer as counsel ne was arraignod before Justice
answered that he 8? years old, resided in South
Oyster Bay. and not guilty of the charge preferred
animation and il was SET down for 10 O'Clock today.
The prisoner was then committed TO a cell.