The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-17
THE DEER PARK MYSTERY.


MoREs-A TRANSACTION 'LIKELY TO END IN
BLooDsHED.
The inquest into the Deer Park mystery resumed
at Babylon l. l., yesterday, and several additional
witnesses were examined, whose testimony went far
toward fixing a certainty the suppostion of foul
play, and pointed TO those most likely TO have been
implicated in the burning OF the house Of David H.
Skidmore with its four inmates Mr. skdmore, Wesley
Wright Mrs Wright and Fleet Weeks. Quite a crowd
attended the inquest
The first witness called was Thomas Mcmahon. He
lives little of Deer Park and knows all the per-
sons interested in the fire at Nj. Skidmore's; went
with David skdmore to the burned building and also
accompanied him on his way to seek the coroner:
David drank with witness several times but said he
bad money, and did not offer to pay for any drinks
Timothy s Carll saloon keeper at Babylon, test-
ned that David skdmore spent fifty cents for drinks
his place the morning after the fire.
Lewis Gardner, negro, residing at Half Hollow
Hills testified that David Skidmore at his house
for about hour and half the Sunday night OF tho
fire; David spoke about Wright and his father, and
said they had skirmish at Deer Park about loading
car David said he had called Mr. Wright names
and If Mr. Wright said anything he would have struck
him; witness said, perhaps Wright would whip
YOU" David answered that he could not; Wright,
he said was living on property belonging to the boys
meaning David ana Carl; David said Wright should
not stay there till spring If he DAVID had to 60 jail
for H.; David told witness at Deer Park about two
weeks before the fire, that Wright had lost horse,
which had probably been poisoned; David remarked
that perhaps some had given the horse poisoned
appe David said If his father had interfered between
him and Wright ne would have punched him damned
hard"
Cinderella Gardner, wife of Charles Gardner,
brother of the preceding witness corroborated his es
tmony respecting the conversation about the probable
poisoning of the horse She also testified that David
said that in less than three months they would lose
than the horse. Referring to the poisoning Of
the horse she said perhaps you was the one that
done IT, - and David laughed but made no reply.
Charles Gardner also told the story of the poisoned
apple, and said David remarked that timeabout FIVE
weeks before the are-that Wright, the damned old
| ---, should get or the place before the winter
was out"
Frederick ClauseD, storekeeper of Deer Park, had
winter at his fathers place. This witness heard OLD
Mr. Skidmore say he was frightened to come down and
Of his sons About week before the nre David and
his father were quarrelling about some wood on the
stoop Of witness house. Cinderella Gardner told wit
the Saturday before the fire about Davds threats
Frederick j. Wolf next testined:-The wife of William
Henry Wood has worked Tor him for some time; the
Sunday of the fire Wood called to his wife, but wit
could not say positively whether he remained all
night; did not remember having seen him in the MORN
ing; Wood could have Como out and back TO the
house without witness knowledge; Mrs Wood told
witness her husband remained all night she said she
could what they wanted Of her husband at the
inquest as he stayed at Mr. VOLTS all nghtS
Mrs Mary NJ. Cakes, of Deer Park, said Carl and
O'Clock; at eleven O'Clock p NJ and two A. NJ she
up with a troublesome baby, and the first time
CARTS face; he spoke to her, and asked her how the
baby was;
there then, at two O'Clock, and she believes she
would have him had he been in the bed with Carl
II was a small single bed which Carl and David occu
pied; David was at breakfast in the morning; that
before news Of the fire reached Deer Park.
Miss Lotte Skidpore, a daughter of Carl Skdmore,
denied that her father had stated her that house
had caught FIRE accidentally before.
ltara Pratt fnotf cd Qt
visiting the ruins the morning after the FIRE he dis
covered the wall the stoop at which the fire is
said to have started dscoioraon as oil or lard had
been rubbed on there.
Edward r Ackerley, lawyer Of Huntington deposed
that he knew old Mr.. Skdmore, Mr.. Wright and Mrs.
Wright; since September he had had professional
dealings with them; then old Mr.. Skidmore said he
getting old and being afraid Of his sons, who were
trying TO steal his property said he wished to execute
lease to Mr.. Wright; witness drew up
power Of attorney to Wright to take care OF
complained that Carl who had previously been
In his employ for some time had been in the habit OF
selling wood and farm produce and appropriaIing the
money; he also had made collections for which he
had not accounted hence the old refused to have
him on the premises; Carl had manifested good deal
OF feeling about the matter the old gentleman said,
and had used threats witness recalled one express
sion that the father said Carl had employed against
him, II was that he would cut his heart OUT" Mr..
DAVID AND CARL WERE VERY ANGRY AT HIM
for coming to interfere in the old gentlemans behalf;
the trial OF suit in Huntington between Mr. Skid
npre and a neighbour, David bis son. used very harsh
language against his father; the Tuesday evening
before tho Are Mr.. Wright called upon witness and
asked him II Mr.. skidmore could sell wood cut his
land by his sons; witness said, Certainly; then Mr.
Wright requested him to advise the old gentleman to
the contrary, remarking that II the old gentleman
should pursue this 'there would be boodshed"
witness Wright walked the street and wit
told Mr.. Skidmorc he could sell the wood; then
Mr.. Wright again remarked that there would
be boodshed II Mr.. Skdmore sold the wood;
Mr. Skidmore replied that he did not know
but there would as the boys would like TO kin him.
and Wright too; but be was going to have the wood;
he said he coming over to decd hts property
he had superstition against making will and he
did his David Carl TO have a cents
worth OF his property Mr. Wright had spoken 10 wit
ontn,on thai the horse had been noisonsd. no had
examined the ntestines and found something like the
presence Of yeast Mr. Wright had heard that either
both 1.-THE boys had said the horse poisoned
and that it not the last poisoning that would be
done there"
the wife OF the negro Henry Wood testified that her
husband remained with her at Mr.. VOLTS house all Of
the night Of the Sunday on which the nre occurred
Charles Terrell again recalled said that old Mr.
Skidmore told him he thought the boys poisoned
horse that died about Eve weeks before the FIRE.
John Davis testified that be saw Henry Wood at Mr..
VOLTS on the Monday morning after the nre about
seven o'clock.
some Of the witnesses called previously were reex-
amined but added nothing Of material importance to
the evidence already reported.
VERDICT AGAINST sKTDMoRK
Al the close OF the testimony Coroner Preston adj
dressed the jurors, explaining 20 them the nature OF
their duties and recalling crimes that have
late disturbed the peace OF the community. He urged
them 10 consider carefully the evidence and render
About nine o'clock the following verdict was re-
turned "The jury nnd that David n. sxidmore, Fleet
Weeks Wesley Wright aud hrG Wright were MUIR
dered In the dwelling house Of David H. Skdmore
the slst January 1915 by being stupehed in some
other manner and that the house was thereafter set
on Gre The jurors further find that David skdmore,
| Jr, was guilty Of the crime"
When the constable stepped into the barroom OF
Lux's Hotel aud arrested David the latter seemed
almoet paralyzed Dy the proceeding He totered after
the constable When be came before the Coroner and