The New York herald., 1876-02-02
THE DEER PARK HORROR.
THE BURNING OF THE HOUSE AND POUR PEo-
PIE ON LONG ISLAND STILL UNEXPLAINED
ARSON AND MURDER THOUGHT TO BE THE
SOLUTION,

SOLUTION.
BABYLON, L l., Feb l, 1876.
The mystery surrounding the burning Of the house
near Deer Park and the finding among the debris the
charred remains of the owner "Hoyle Skidmore, and
the three other inmates of the house at present. remains
unsolved The horrible affair continues form the only
topic of the part OF all people in this
vicinity. Those who know the family history OF tho
skidmores and that of Wright do not hesitate TO say
that the death Of the unfortunate inmates Of the
house was brought about by foul play, and
that the firing of the building was the
work of incendiary. The house stood little
distance back from the road cut through the brush
which is but just wide enough for a wagon pass 1t
had foundation Of brick built up one story. Above
this two stories of wood Tho only nre
that was burning at the time the girl Maud Taylor
and the laborer Terrell left the house Sunday night
at eight O'Clock, was that on the hearth and II rs d
cult TO understand how this could have set fire to tho
building, both the and the grl agree that the
IRE nearly out The fact too that the front stoOp
was on ire before the upper floors gave way Is
picOus circumstance that requires examination. The
Rir to-day as also Terrell was al the hut Of Heceman
severe crossquestioning, but their story Of the
AFFAIR remained about already published This hut Is
A MISERABLE HABirArioN,
directly facing the SkidmOre house, 100 yards OF,
made by laying pine trees santns from tho ground TO
form a roof, which Is covered with earth and sods.
The ground below has been dug out to form room.
In this wretched mud hole, which is but about ten feet
by fourteen, lives Hegeman, now sick on his bed his
wife and four children ii also shelters Terrell and
Maud Taylor Terrell, when again Intercepted to-day,
maintains that when he drst the FIRE he noticed
that the stoop all in blaze, as also the
staircase inside, and that before he could get to
the house the upper stories fell in. north
northeast wind was blowing at the time,
makes IL apparent that the fire must have
burned against the wind The kitchen fireplace was
the east side Of the house. that had the FIRE been
started from there must have burned straight across
the house 10 where the stairs on the west and
north SIDES These circumstances were fully discussed
by all who visited the spot and the general opinion cX
pressed that IL murder and arson we're not com
mittod. In addition perhaps 20 robbery at least tho
CSmc OF arson was Terrell stated that he had about
an hour before the Ere noticed, heard a wagon
pass by, hut did not look out TO see 10,
renee was never known to happen before
Tn the morning. as daylight set IN he says, he
followed the tracks OF This wagon back 20 Deer Park
where he lost them He did not follow the traces or
the wagon, WHICH he judged 70 be heavy farm wagon
drawn by two horses, in tho direction in which it
went Inquiries at Deer Park fail 20 throw any light
on this matter and one party who left Deer Park as
soon as the hre had been reported denies that any
The charred remains or the four unforiunaies arc
still in the barn,
LAID OFT on Moons
and present most horrible spectacle. The Coroner
Dr. Preston visited tho SPOT to-day and subnospaed a
number Of witnesses attend the INQUEST To- norroyy
David and Carl Skidmore, the sons OF the dead man
were also the ground, but did not seem inclined
talk aud in 70 every question procsed entire
ignorance how the disaster had occurred several
OF the friends and relatives Of Skdmore called on tho
insurance agent here again today Anxlousy inquirng
about the insurance money.
From inquiries made here to-day u appears that tho
OIL man Skidmore has had lawsuits with almost every
one in this place and he must have spent fortune In
litigation. The only suits pending az the time OF his
Carr aud criminal suit on the part Of Carl against his
fatler