The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-02
THE LONG ISLAND HORROR.
OROHIN0 BBLIEF INIT 7HE VIC
TINS UERE HURDERED.



TIE Ircnct TO he Held To-Dnv witnesses
summoncd Thorics of the Tragedy -t3ei-
ersl Decentralization SKI dmOrc's IONS.
The ruins Of David Skidmorc's house in
Deer Park Long Island, ia which he and three
adults " his household were destroyed by the
IRE Of last Sunday night, made the rer-
devious of thousands of idle persons yester-
day and last night. MI day the debris smoked
and burned, bursting into new flames whenever
II was disturbed 10y the rakcs aud spades Of
those who amused themselves 10y searching In II.
I In the barn to the east Of the house the charred
bodies Of the victims OF the FIRE were still lying,
each one upon separate plank, and each sur
rounded by knot ot curious elghtseers.
Coroner Preston, who ia physician in prac-
| tice at Amityvie, visited the scene yesterday
| morning, and after learning all that was known
| OF the fire aud OF the inmates OF Skidmores
/ house. prepared list OF the names OF those
| from whom testimony would be needed at the
Inquest and ordered them summoned TO attend
| the inquislton at Lux's Hotel In Babylon this
morning.
These persons are Maud Taylor, who rrst dis
covered the confederation, and whose mother
was burned In the fire; Charles 1yrrell, the
tramp who was with her in the shanty from
which she saw the light Of the burning house !;
/ David and Carl Skidmore, the sons Of the old
man who was burned to death Emira IIcee-
| m N, the wife OF the slnntV owner, whose sick
ness brought Maud raylur and young Tvrrell to
| lis hut; George p. Cnnklin, who was the first to
errve at the ruins of the destroyed house on
Monday morning, and Jesse Munsey, n witness
as to the character Of the dead persons aud their
enemies and relatives.
Coroner Preston collected from the charred
bodies everything found with them: tho rem
nants OF the corsets found on the woman Taylor,
who lived with Wright the pieces Of her wool
len skirt and OF the fricze coat she seemed to
have been wearing the square remnant Of old
David Skidmore's ovcrcoat when he was
wrapped ~, and closed inck-knife found 10y
Wesley Wright. This kuifcts said to have been
left beside the corpse by one OF the men who re-
moved the bodies. aud who threw II down be-
cause he had used II 10 saving pieces OF the
bodies from the bed OF cmbers In which they
laid.
The married daughter Of Flee Weeks. the old
CmuloNee OF Skidmvre. visited the place NeSter-
day morning. She had not seen her father for
more than two years.
THE MURDER THEORY
The suppositlon that some or III ~ the In
mates ~ the house were murdered before the
| building was fred nnds more acccptance am onR
tie resi- lcnts OF the vicinity the facts become
for Skidmore, because OF his aggressive chafAc-
ter and perretual llticetions Il Thought suf-
Acient ground Tor the belief that some ohe 4
bis enemies has taken Venget on him ia tbs
fearful nafuer lhe statement OF Maud IAv-
Tor. corrohorated by r'rrell. that vnron rus--
ed the Sltiimore residence half an huUr before
the IRE was discovered. and The cifls other aver
mont that the ire began at the font stoop. AND
support the theory 81 arson. III 0aid. hut not
vet confirmed. that negro fauiN. liVin- in e
stop until two men entered II frul TIC ~ ,ds
on the side ui the road tow I'd Skidm 'fe'-
house. when the wagon was RAPIDLY driven
away. hi' - reported to have occurred a.
, about 1880 or l. o'clock.
The singular conduct Of Maud Taylor and
TNrrell, who have been notoriousl' familiar siaro
the latter came TO Deer Park n nth agu. re
, woven into one OF tho popular theories. i Is
considered remarkable that noth II th-'n ,ho'll
have staiu away from their homes 10 wait UPON
a. invalid already well attended tv ms VIE.
The Indifference OF the Girl to her mothers hoT-
rhle fate and the hardness ~ IRE }, WHO ul q
not ranort The shocking di-t-iNr uufi sc ~ vac
forenoon OF the Gay after ~ occ 'r7rd, are n ai,
materials for the maintenance Of one Of the SAD
David skidmore. the eldest SON. has not 80
caped criticism. His early presence NJ the FIRE
his ltyish use of money in the tavern A. E'3.-
lon his solcitude about the Insurance on his
fathers house; the fact tina, he allowed six
hours to pass before he notified the Coroner md
! tue report that Ia cnOed the day with a drunken
spree, are all taken MO account.
wnFHE TEE BODIES WE'RE FoUSD.
the nositi IN Of the bgJ.p,ca bodio' when they
OF the victims was In the room IN which he or
size slept. nr. Skiarn.e nd Fleet Weeks slept
IN adj lining apartments on the Second hoDl.
q the ruins. Wesley Wrish; and Mrs. 'aylor
slept Together In ruut ROOM a.. 90" suuc n 'cr.
! | Ihey were FOUND eNacti Underneath whcre
> that room has necu. Al four 3 ciuc- - AYE
. | dropped dhect through FROM TIER beds 20 the
in bed Is shaken tS tnc wooden - r;- an irsei
on tic rpse e t"e woman, sad hy the over
= 1nesc facts -u ..'l intro luce the impression
v held ~ some Of the Ie.4lnnr4 that the entire
o party. with the exception Of Sdfmor', were In
toklca'tdi and were unable To c- .un the con
nu-rfti1 n: weeks Is now decl,r.c 90 have been
Labitual drG' X ,rd. aud both Wright and tao
woman TAYLOR often drank lcsV,ly. Nr -E!d-
more seldom dr. nix Intoxicating liquors. lie
e was crippled and iuhfl.. and may have been un-
able to- Escape ON thit account.
The statement 80 Maud rayi1r that tho h1u q
was in the haoit 81 burning is bart iaiiy cor
| roborlt'd by the fact That tine gent II lhe ~uf
q fulk Insurance Company eXan.incd the house
, after II had taken hre some months ago. aud
| dfsTDNnrtN q q ~ fA
{ out of order That he cancelled the uuliry. Nr
=, skidmore gfterwetd had the property Insured M
the .Etna insurance oupany. the policy guAr
10 hntcclng Sfeu ON the mousse ana s~f1 ON thc barn
T. The house had stood nearly three. quarters oil
> century, ana was almost unsenaDle
( INSURED AND MuI,rGaGED.
The house was insured IN pursuance OF con
' tract with person who held mortgage foi
r $l,A0 pom IL. There was Il second mortgage al
. $50 upon the house; ogt two hundred dollars o
: II had been paid; B';h those liens were given
T.; Mr. John r. Walker OF Deer Park. who il coun
, sci for the twelve hundre idoll4r inar-aree, has
= notified the Insurance company 10 pty no insur
: ance except to his client III regard TO SKID
;. more's mania Tor litigation. Mr.. walker SAYS
= that tor tive nty-nvc yc-fr he has been curtnu
+ ally before the courts. ana during that time D.,
. has empluyed nearly every lawyer In Sufol
. county. He has sued his brother more thar
once, md years ago when his son, Carl, thrashet
y him Tor refusing 10 pay q sb lac owed him, IA,
!. mad Carl arrested hut WAS worated IN the trial
i An action az inst both sons Is now pending
J. He has scent thousands Of dollars ip law suits
! and mas kept himself without money thereby,
3; II Is believed that many Of the deeds by hiCl
4; he held his woodland were burnt with thi
house. hey were not recorded, nd H. viii "a
dine at for MS hers 10 prove tneir lght TO TN
II NJ. skidmorc's third and last wife Is living il
BABYLON A. u domestic. she gnarrcled wit
. her hush aud a iew months after their marriage
i What an AIdermanic investigation is Expos
lug Across the River.
Il In the investigation into the affairs OF tn