The New York herald., 1876-02-09
THE DEER PARK TRAGEDY.
CONTINUATION OF THE INQUEST.

samnations mostly, ana some curious testimony was
slicited. Its purpori was TO show that there were
plenty of people bad enough about Skdmores place
fire Tho and kill the inmates; but while the
preston fixed that a crime committed 1t is no
easy task TO fix upon the criminal larger crowd
tended the inquest than the FIRST day The testl-
mony will be found beow:-
David Skidmore, whose examination commenced
last Wednesday, resumed. He said that for the last
six weeks be had been boarding Thomas McMahons;
left the Friday before the are had been stopping
with his brothers aud Plat Oakcs; on Friday evening
witness about Deer Park until about O'Clock
aud then slept in the barn; next day witness was in
the woods cartng; was not positive whether he saw
that day any OF the persons who burned; witness
went TO Half Hoows Sunday; returned to Deer Park
in the afternoon eight O'Clock; went back Platt
oakes' and spent the night the house; of the
other inmates away that night to witness knowl
edge first hoSrd OF the FIRE in the morning and went
20 the house about ten O'clock then out ator
TO hnd acoroner; the way stopped at Babylon and
talked with Mr. Lewis the insurance agent
| Coroner-Did you ask for how much the place was
insuredS
| wiiness-I don't think did ask anything about it ;
went to tell him about the nro Witness stopped on
the way TO the Coroncr's 90 take drink, but did not
| get intoxicated
| Coroner-Dd you threaten WIight2
|
me Wright going TO bring SUIT against me, and
said that II he did he would get tho worst ofit
Coroner-Did you ever say that Wright would never
spend the winter thcrcs
witness--I did; said ono day in Huntington that
thought Wright and father would not agree during the
winter
Witness said he had no Information that his father
going TO make will giving his property TO Wright,
but heard he going TO give him lease. Witness
said he had said the hut every night since the nre
Carl Skidmoro was next called Lives at Deer rark;
last visited his iathers place September; did not
think ON account of Mr. Wright II would be pleasant
for him TO 60 there: supposed Wright had charge of
everything and witness did not want TO interfere with
hm witness told by his iather that he had leased
the place 10 Mr.. Wright
Coroner-were you on friendly terms with all the
Witness-Well, could not say | was very friendly;
had suits with Mr. Wright and father; they
suits; he suod them and they sued him. the SUITS were
about wood they took which belonged TO witness; that
wood witness got from his iather for his
VICES; the suits commenced by the
ARREST or THE PARTIIs
on both sides; witness attributed difficulty to
Wright; had no other difficulty with him; witness
father had previously sued him Tor COW he had
bought and left there Tor time; tins was about eight
nine years ago; witness ut home at Deer Park
the night OF the re OF the first persons wit
ness saw at the ruins Thomas Hicks; SAID
he did take charge Of the burned premises tell
the people near 10 leave everything alone witness Is
in partnership with his brother David wood cutting;
old Mr. Skidmore and hr Wright had sew
era colored men employed chopping wood
Mr. Skdmore usually kept his private papers in the
house, and witness did not know whether they were
destroyed not; witness holds no deeds OF land;
David Skidmore had not slept with witness the two
nights before the night OF the re; witness impression
about the lire that II must have started, as it
started before from the chimney; never told any
the house had been re before the time II burned
down. witness could not explain hs theory that tho
house caught fire IRON the chimney; he Knew that the
nrc nrst on the end iurthcst away from the
fireplace aud knew that there brick wall between
the chimney and that point
Plat Cakes OF Deer Park, testified xt:-Car Skid
moro boards with him, and has been home every night
for two months David had also been staying there a
few days before the fire; he could not pay board
where he was and wanted TO be accommodated for a
few days; on Sunday afternoon be got his supper and
went 70 village; in the evening he and Carl
turned about halipast eight and, 10 the best OF wit
ness knowledge, they renamed in the house ali night
they we're up witness retired; when witness
went OF tho FIRE he heard Terrell and Maud
Taylor say that certain thngs-ieed grindstone and
PAIR OF whlltrees-had been stolen from the premises;
witness never heard the parties-meaning the Skid
mores, Wright and the others-make any threats
against each other.
Alter the examination of Platt Cakes recess was
TAKEN at the conclusion OF which Theodore Bunker
called and sworn. Witness rs farmer living at
Coroner-Dd you ever hear any one say that Mr..
Wright
witness-I have; David Skidmore said that Mr.
Wright aud his iather would agree; David further
said that Mr. Wright had business there and he did
not intend Mr. Wright should stay there through the
winter; he did not say intimate how he was going
70 wpsn ~ % s N ,o VINO no
had often heard David make this threat; hen-witness
worked for the old he used TO complain that the
ago David took that witness had for old
Mr. skiomore; one day Mr. skidmorc said no expected
II his allowed to take his wood, &c., they
would also be allowed to come and
HOUSE;
when he said this he eating apple that had
fallen from tree his house and he thought that
he would never live TO eat the fruit OF that tree again.
they had taken hts harness and were using IL the
that Carl was cartng wood with David's threat
against Mr. Wright was made about five weeks ago;
then the old man said things going to suit
him; week before he had a lawsuit with his at
Bresiau
Thomas Henry Hicks, bali breed negro and Indian
workman was next sworn witness boards in a coIored
womans house little east OF Deer Park; had known
Mr. SkidmOre and worked Tor hun chopping wood at
different times lor twenty years. had known Mr.
Wright OF eight years; last saw Mr skidmore
night soaa' Mr. sRid&ores because Ss was 'uS "iS
three other choppers called on saturday
night; these were Henry Wood Charles Fleet and
Da sa he s T
would give them an order on the store for goods;
Charley Fleet asked for bis money nrst and Mr.. SKID
more asked how much he had cut Charley sald
Eight cords;n then AIR. Wright wrote 50 order by
Mr. skidmore's directions sconed then called for his
wood, which is equal 81 90; then Henry Wood
called Tor his money; Mr. Skidmorc asked
how many cords OF wood mad lie choppedS
wanted s2 Mr. -Skidmore SAID II don't know
whether YOU have got the wood cut or not - but alter
awhile he gave him hity cents; Henry wanted know
when tho wood nc had was to he measured and
Mr. Skidmore asked HIM 10 wait until Monday Henry
said sterniy and angriy. IL want you to-nor-
row Sunday morning. Mr. Skidmore said he would
up when the bushes got dry and Henry SAID
II ''timo there something DONE he had been
bothered long enough; )" that was all witness heard
said that evening" Henry wcnt away angry; next morn
ing al breakfast time Henry Wood came In and said
TO Mr. Skdmore, swell, are you ready TO go in tho
woods 2" Mr.. Skidmore said II cnrly; Henry said
You have told me lie; you did not come in the
woods you promised on Saturday, now want you
to come IN the woods with me and measure my wood
don't want TO work any longer Tor youi' then Mr.
Skidmorc asked Mr. Wright to 10 with Wood and
Wright consented; then witness. Charles Farrell and
hr Wright won't together aud Henry Wood did not
meet them there; he had left house before they
started and went toward his boarding house
he appeared to be very angry; when they
got 10 the woods George Mnyhcw, another
negro, Joined them Terrell went to Deer Park with