The New York herald., 1875-12-12
THE ISLAND MURDER.
Warden Fox and Deputy Warden
Brown Censured
THOMAS JONES AND JOHN GRAY HELD.
A Stronger Night Guard
Recommended.


keeper who was found, last Thanksgiving morning,
with his head smashed in, at his litto "iodge" and
who died the following Saturday from the injuries re-
ceived The evidence tended strongly TO incrminate
two Of the OF the Penitcnary, Thomas Jones
and John Gray, and some very important testimony
was ELECTED showing that the discipline on the island
is sadly deficient and that the Commissioners Of Chart
ties and Correction should wake up the fact that
is about time they had proper guards placed around the
island at night
John NJ. Fox, Warden OF the Penitcntary, was the
first witness He testified that the deceased had
been detailed at the gate but short time before his
DEATH learning of the murder on the fatal morning
witness went 10 the :" lodge" and found Crecry still
breathing he at had him removed the Charity
Hospital the deceased, general thing went TO bed
about eleven O'clock At night, but he forced 10
get up at any time If any of the keepers wardens
sired to pass; as he heard that Thomas Jones
and John Gray had been out oil night he had them
locked up Mr. Fox said that he left the island that night
to visit some friends, leaving Deputy Warden Browu
in charge; when he returned, which about half
past eleven, he then informed that two Of the
prisoners had left the island soon after report
reached him that they had returned and that they had
been Long Island for whiskey; that they had
BROKEN oPES THR
and stolen OF the boats Gray let out of the
Penitentary by the night watchman, John Foy, who
said for letting Gray out that there was
q sick IN the hospital, and that Gray was going
for the doctor He further testified that both Gray
and Jones had told him that as they
got out they determined TO go TO Long Island City;
he did not know that they had any money IL Is tho
allow prisoners to have money; he said that
Island in fact It never Occurred before under his sa
minstration Gray and Jones left the prison about half
past ten and returned about half-past twelve; Mr.
Fox stated that he to Long Island City and there
o named Slavin, who keeps liquor
saloon, who told him that two men came
to his place on the night OF tho 25th
and got liquor, and that both OF them we're from tho
Pententiary; that they paid 81 for the liquor Wit
ness said that he examined the clothing both Gray
and Jones' but not particle of blood found upon
them. The hatchet found on which there blood
and hair and by which the fatal blow was struck, Mr.
Fox said belonged to the deceased.
Alexander s. Williams testified that he was Captain
of the Fourth precinct and was detailed TO try and
ferret out the murderer at first he was led to believe
that the crime was done by river thieves; but upon
careful Investigation he was satisfied that 1t was done
by of the island he had baced Jones and Gray
TO Slavins, at Long Island City, and from tho time
they they left the island until they returned they
could not have accomplished the distance He stated
that he found the testimony Of Night Watchman Foy
very conflicting; IT showed great negligence on his
part. The Captain said that he examined the clothes
OF Jones and Gray, but found spots of blood
them still they had ample time 10 change their clothes
Holly LYONS detective at Headquarters corroborated
the testimony Of Captain Williams stating that he
satisfied that the murder was committed by some per-
son or persons the island
II.
under ohm Hagey testified to finding the body about
half past six A. NJ Deceased, he said, dressed
and still alive, though unconscious
James NJ. Brown, Deputy Warden OF the Pententiary
sworn but seemed to know but little about tho
case-in fact he was regular know nothing, such
as the Commissioners should be proud or
owen Savin, the proprietor of the saloon at Long
Island City, testified that Gray and Jones went to his
place and got liquor to the amount OF 81 40 that he
did not know either one OF them and never saw them
before that night
John Gray one OF the suspected persons was put
q
statement get out OF the Penitentary He admitted
that Jones and himself stole the boat, went over TO
Long Island City and got some liquor, that they i'm.
medaiey returned, and that he never went near tho
gatekeepers odge nor did he know of the murder un
I'll the following morning. What money he had, he
sad, he got from one Philip Smith, conductor on the
Fourth avenue railroad
Thomas Jones, the other prisoner was also
called, and testified to having gone over with
Gray TO Long Island City TO get liquor.
Before they started as he was was pass.
named Smith, who sold tobacco he went In
and stole two tcn-cent stamps and eight cents pen
nies. When he got over TO Slavin's he spent the
twenty cents for two drinks There at the time at
Slavin's target company, several members OF which
went down with himself and helped get their boat
of Hc stoutly denied knowing anything about tho
murder
the first to pass the gate on the fatal morning,
testified that the gate was open as usual and that they
did not the deceased, there any persons
around the lodge
John Toy, keeper Of the Penitentiary was sworn,
and stated that he let Gray out Gray said that he
gong after the doctor Tor who sick,
and that he had been let out before in similar cases.
he bad every reason 70 believe that he was telling tho
truth.
Joseph Cushman, Ri. D., being sworn, said:-l made
a postmortem examination or the body Of Matthew
Creevy Charity Hospital, Backwells Island, Novem
ber 2S 1885, on examining the body externally found
irregular opening on tho right side OF the skull,
Involving the pArietal and temporal bones measur-
ing three inches in length by ana half inches
in width; the opening IN the skull presented COM
pound comminuted fracture, exposing the BRAIN which
~ nd nnA1
fused wound found over the lett parietal bone,
half inch 10 the lett OF the medan line, extend
ing TO the bone and producing fracture Of the inner
table Of the SKULL several confused wounds were found
upon the neck; other wounds were found;
DEATH in my opinion, was caused by shock and acera
tion OF the brain, due 10 the injuries described
Frederick NJ. Trask, being sworn, said:-l am physi-
clan at Charity Hospitals on the morning OF the 10th OF
November was making my visit at the Penitentiary;
/ was informed that man had been murdered;
soon after the deceased, Matthew Creovy carried
on q strelcher to the hospital Dr. Ketchum sent the
patient 10 my ward | examined him, found his face
spattered with blood aud an extensive fracture
the right side of the head through which the brain
pretruded; the man was in a semi-comaose condition;
/ asked him who had inflicted the injuries; he an.
swered incoherently; he remained in that condition
till the following morning at six O'clock when he died;
do not know how he received the injuries.
Coroner Woltman then charged the jury, saying
that the testimony was Of such nature that he hoped
the Jury would give the matter careful consideration,
and If the evidence pointed toward either OF the pris
oners that they would submit the same in their yer.
dict
The jury then retired and we're out about twenty
minutes, when they returned with the following YER
dict:-
VERDICT.
That the said Matthew Creovy came TO his death by
Injuries received at the hands Of some person or per-
sons 70 US unknown, the night Of November 70 or
tho morning OF November 90 1878, and we think that
suspicious circumstances point toward Thomas Jones
ana John Gray that they detained for further inquiry
We censuro Warden Fox, Deputy Warden Brown and
the keepers at the Penitcntary for the loose manner
in which tho Affairs of the institution are conducted
and recommend that owing TO the insecurity OF human
life and property sufficient guard be placed on the
Island after nine o'clock y. NJ
Coroner woltman, upon receiving the verdict, re-
committed Jones back to the Island, where ho has
three months yet TO serve and Gray, whose term has
expired was sent 10 the House Of Detention TO await
the action of tho Grand Jury.
STAGE CHARITY.