The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-16
Execution of Jarvis and jackson at
North Hampstead.
THE ROPE BREAKS.
A Terrible Scene Under the
GallOWS.
jackson Executed and Jar
Wis StranGled.

peDaty OF their murder OF Samuel J. Jones ycSter.
day morning by death on the Caows at North
Hampstead Long Island, in accordance with the
sentence OF the law.
THE HISTORY OF THE CRIME
On the morning OF Saturday, June %, 1873, the
Inhabitants OF the peaceful little village OF Oyster
Bay, Long Island. were shocked by the knowledge
that q horrible murder had been committed in
their midst. The victim was Samuel Jones, a
farmer over seventy years OF age. who had lived
for over half O century on the farm where he was
so brutally murdered. He had the reputation OF
being a man Of many eccentricities, scrupulous In
his dealings, frugal in his habits and very indus
trious. He lived alone. having never married, in
q one-story attic house. with an extension on the
northery side, the house standing In the middle
Of the farm and some distance from the barns ana
outhouses.
FINDING THE BODY.
Early on Saturday morning Peter Maloney, who
had been employed by Mr.. Jones to do farm work.
went to the house Of mis- employer and Knocked
at the door but received no answer. Thinking
that the old man had probably gone to the South
Side Railroad depot he busted himself working
about the yard. Mr.. Jones did not return, how
ever, and SO he knocked again, but received no
answer. He then went 10 the well. which was In
1.-The rear Of the mouse, and tried to draw bucket
OF water, but found the rope would not work
The well is only twenty feet deep, and, naturally
enough, he looked down to find the cause OF the
impeachment, when to his horror the mangled form
Of his aged employer was revealed at the bottom.
He Immediately gave the alarm and sent for the
brothers OF the murdered man, who resided IN the
vicinity. On their arrival the body was lifted from
the well, when 1t was found that the head was cut
and bruised in several places. On the forehead
was large scar which was supposed to be the
mark where he was first struck with club In
the well, and partially covering the body, were
several large stones which had been carried
considerable distance and thrown In for
the purpose OF completing the murderous
work. The rope was bespattered with blood.
which corroborated the theory that Mr.. Jones had
been thrown in alive, and that while endeavorlng
to raise himself these things were thrown down
upon him. The pockets OF his pantaloons were
turned inside out and his watch and chain were
missing. The house had been rfed, but COM
paratvely little booty was obtained. and there
was.not the slightest clew as to who were the per-
petrators OF the crime. On the following Tuesday
an inquest was held at the South oyster Bay
Hotel before Coroner Bayliss, but nothing new was
elected from the evidence, except that william
Floyd Jones, cousin Of the deceased, discovered
about $4,000 in negotiable bonds in q box which
mad escaped the notice OF the murderers.
The inquest was adjourned until July 49, but, In
mystery. reward Of 81, 900 was offered for the
arrest OF the criminals-$1, 900 by the family and
| 1000 by the Board OF Supervisors OF Queens
! county-but 1t failed to have the desired effect
After the lapse OF q month the inquest was con-
t1nued by Coroner Bayiss, assisted by District At
torney Benjamin Downing, out nothing OF tmpOr-
tance transpired, and 1t was adjourned until the
10th OF September, and again until tie 18th OF
| October. Scattered through the town of Oyster
! Bay are numerous colored families who depend
upon farm labor for living.
THE FIRST ARREST.
No one thought that any OF them were guilty OF
the crime; but words were dropped which
aroused suspicion, and 1t was finally decided to
arrest two brothers named Levy (coloret), on a
charge of completely. This Was accordingly done
on the 18th OF September, and the brothers were
lodged in the Queens County Jail. They refused
to divulge anything. however, and stoutly pro-
tested their innocence. Among the boon COM
panions of the Levys was one George Lawrence.
on the night OF their arrest he asked OF one OF the
townspeople, "If teller peached would he be
let on.n An hour or later he was
seen to have gold watch, and on
being 1nterrOgated as to how he came
by 1t his reply was that Mr.. Jones gave 1t to him.
1t was speedily ascertained that this statement
was false and his arrest was ordered, but in the
/
had now passed since the murder was committed
when at the inquest, which was continued on
/ November 20, a letter was read from MIS- Mary
Murphy, who resides near the Jones farm. implica-
ting Lewis Jarvis and two other negroes, whose
names at that time 1t was not deemed expedient
/ to dlvulge Jarvis was examined but he denied
having been in the vicinity vi The larm when the
crime was committed
THE SECOND ARREST.
All the time detectives had been at WORK. and in
I March lSI1 Thomas w. Jones' the half brother q
the murdered man, was arrested and charged
with the crime. chain OF crcumstantial evidence
! had been linked together which appeared conc u
| slve; but on the examination, which lasted three
days, the prosecution failed utterly to establish
| ably discharged At this time the crime was as
/ completely enveoped In mystery as on the day
MURDER WILL OUT,
and late in October last the real perpetrators OF
the crime were arrested. From cews which had
! been obtained Detective Payne became convinced
that Ebert Jackson and lie wis jarvis were the
/ guilty men. They were locked up separately. and
while thus confined they surrounded themselves
with perfect maze or contradictions. On Octo-
Der rs Jackson was brought before Justice Bennett
I and examined In his own behalf He answered
all questions put to him readily, but failed
TO clear up or reconcile contradictory state
ments made while in jail prior to ms
| days without any result except the development
OF some "tall' swearing on the part OF The female
! witnesses. few days later. Jackson, actuated
either by fear or penitence, sent Tor Justice Ben
nett and made a statement, charging the crime
I direct upon JAWS. he stdto0 tnaL Oh the DlRDs
when the murder was committed he was at Jar
! WIS., house, by appointment. About nine O'Clock
Jarvis came IN, VITA two small trunks in his pos
session, and he Jackson) charged his friend with
''having done something wrong" Jarvis then
and there confessed 70 having murdered Mr.. Jones
and described the manner OF has doing IL.
| he set fire to some low bushes the farm near
the barn. In order 10 entice the old man out OF the
house The plan succeeded. and when the old
man was re-cnterng the house he dealt him q
heavy blow with club, dragged him TO The well.
threw him down and then robbed the house. Eme-
1 m In "a "a
| then examined, ana she corrObOrated Jackson's
testimony Ia the main; but circumstances mad
left DOUBT In the minds OF the authorities that
Two men were concerned IN the affair.
JARVIS COkFE5sES.
Jarvis, when informed oil the confession OF Jack.
son and the testimony OF his wife, acknowledged
his connection with the crime said IL was pre-
meditated aud insisted that jackson 1rst proposed
1t. They talked about 1t Tor days beforehand, and
he went into all the horrible details OF It's COmmls
son. JARVIS then conducted the officers 10 o
small piece OF brush near his house and unearthed
a small trunk which contained q quantity OF cop
per COINS small gold Iocket, bunch OF keys