The New York herald., 1875-08-27
TRAGEDY IN THE WOODS.

HIGHwAYMAN SHOT BY A CoNsrABLE-THR
BODY MYsTERIoUsLY REMOVED.
About midnight on Wednesday night the old Myrtle
avenue road, between Jamaica and Newtown, was the
OF deadly encounter between an officer of the
law and a supposed highwayman
Constable Abraham Hamer, of jamaica, had a warrant
for the arrest Of man in Newtown village, and about
eight O'Clock in the evening he rode serve it.
riding in light road wagon. His man. 1t happened
not at home and he consequently had TO wait some
time for his return from the city, whittier he had gone
on business. When he finally did return he proposed
to obtain BAIL but, Of course the constable was not
authorized to take II, and it was too late to
obtain it by tho usual proceeding. In this
emergency, as he did not wish to take the man
to prison, he at last consented to take some other
PERSONS guarantee for the prisoners appearance at
Jamaica in the morning, which, after some further
delay was obtained and the officer started for homo.
The road between Newtown and Jamaica is lonely one
and Officer Hamer after leaving the former village
prudeny cooked his revolver and laid it upon the seat
beside him. Between Glendale and Richmond Hill the
Myrtle avenue road s at some points denscly shaded
by thick woods on either sde and the moon had not
yet risen Reaching place where the road is narrow
and bordered by bogs either side he was driving
slowly, when little distance south OF the factory
OF Messrs Laance Grosjean his horse very spirited
one, suddenly plunged to side, and the
wagon slid partially down into the roadside
gutter Looking for the cause Of his horses actions he
through the thick darkness discovered the form of
man at his head holding the check rein and appar-
emily entanged by his clothing with the shaft Hamer
after cropping for second two found his revolver in
the bottom Of the wagon, where IL had dropped and
aiming well as he could in the darkness fred at the
man, who up TO that tme had not uttered a sound.
The man at once dropped to the ground with q groan
and Hamer subsequently heard gurgling sound, II
from his throat Haner Immediately dsmounted, and,
after quieting the horse, proceeded to examine the
PROSTATE form to whether there any life in IT,
The man was apparently dead as there was no pulsa
ton at either the wrist or the heart
Officer Hamer then proceeded TO lin his wagon from
the ditch and prepared TO resume his way home and in
doing so one of the wheels OF the wagon tho
body which still did exhibit any signs Of lifo just
as he was about TO get into the wagon Hamer heard
whistle TO the northward which was Immediately
swered by one from the southwark Anticipating
further trouble from confederates of the supposed dead
man, who were evidently near at hand, Hamer
crnnched behind tho wagon, with his revolver ready
and determined to give them a reception. Aner
waiting Tor some tme however, as they did not ap-
proach he cautiously got into the wagon and drove
Slowly homeward until he got out OF the woods when
be Increased his speed, not having been molested.
a. Arriving at Jamaica Hamer awoke the Coroner, and
the Two went back TO remove the body which had been
left whore it fell. No body was found, however tho
dead mans coniederates having removed II meantime
Nothing was found at the spot but some blood on tho
grOuhu, tne marks OF the wagon wheels where II had
Slid into the gutter and the footprints of tho horse
Az daylight yesterday morning the search was
newed by party Of men, but trace of any corpse
could be found in any direction. No doubt II either
removed by coniederates conveyance buried
IN some outofthe way place in the swamp which Is not
easy Of discovery
Ohcer iamer who is courageous and trustworthy
ocer has no doubt that he killed the man, and his
only regret now is that he did put tho body in the
wagon when he left the Of the shooting Word
Of The occurrence elegraphed TO the Brooklyn and
Now York police
Up TO late hour last night there had been no new
developments In tho