New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-16
CRIME IN IT'S WORST FORMS.
A YOUNG GIRL FOULLY MURDERED.

HORRIBLE FATE OF A FARMERS DAUGHTER IN
HEMPsTEAD-THE BODY FOUND FRIGHIFULLY
MUTIrATED-rwo NEGROES SUSPECTED
George Bower and his family live at Fosters
Meadow in the town OF Hampstead the line OF the
Southern Railroad Of Long Island His son George ana
wife live in the same house. and he has two or three
other children. About o'clock Monday afternoon
woman called at the house, and asked TO be shown the
way TO the Valley Stream depot which Ia at some dis
tance in eastcrly direction from Mr.. Bowers place
Maggie daughter, not quite years Of age volunteered
go with the show her, and that was the last
known of her the family until her mutilated body was
found in the woods yesterday morning.
Her absence at first caused alarm in the family as
1t supposed that she had stopped at her grand
mothers not far distant. AS evening approached, now
and she did not return messenger was sent 10 inc
grandmother Vhen IL ascerained that she had hot
been there. A search was immediately Instituted
through the woods in the vicinity, but no trace OF her
could be found. Early yesterday morning neighbour
passing through the woods about quarter OF ihIe
the road taken by the child In going with the
toward Valley Stream, discovered the body OF the
unfortunate girl lying under small cedar tree, Few nun
drcd yards from hat occupied bytw negroes well known
IN the neighborhood. He at gave alarm, ana the
people in the vicinity aroused The girl had EVIL
IDENTITY struggled desperately for her fe The features
distorted with bruises her bonnet was
stuffed mouth doubt stite her cries; the
arms bent and the fingers cenched; belt which
she her waist bad been taken of and placed
about her neck to rangle her and other evidences were
presented Of the most horrible treatment
Coroner Hicks called DE-. Aucrbaeh to make a surgical
examination He found the girls body terribly mutt
lated and decided that her death caused by stran
laton aud by the outrage committed upon her.
The residents Of the ncghborhoOd greatly excited at
took to discover the perpctrator OF the
decd Coroner Hicks mpanccd jury, and the inyes:i-
cation was begun with such testimony IA could he pro-
cured at short notice. Tie woman whom Maggie had
accompanied testified that Maggie with her only
about thrco-uartcrs Of hour, when she pointed out
what she said straight road to the Valley Stream
depot aud started TO saying that she would he
home 10 dinner. II IL cOniccturcd that the crime must
have been committed after, probably about
O'Clock anl this conjecture Is sustained by the appear
angc ~ the body.
Tua father and mother examined "a TO the cir
cumsianccs attending their daughters leaving home,
and the manner In which she found Wood Chncns,
q colorcd man, an associate Of freshman named
Michael Collins gave testimony which led to the latters
arrest by order OF Coroner, await the result Of the
inquest which adjourned until Aug. II, when II Will
be continued at Burns'4 Hotel, Valley Stream.
Justice Bennett II Jamaica, who with tie officers at
tached his Office AZ work ut the case all day yes
toIday has a theory In regard to the crime which Is
generally considered 10 be the most probable one lhc
Michael Collins, who Is now IN cell at the Jamaica
Town Hall he believes TO be innocent Collins Is almost
= tramp but works about at small jobs from place To
place I'm the .hborhood aud does not bear very good
reputation He will apparently be able to prove an abb
He m wears the clothes that he had on on the day
OF the murder a. testified Ia by farmer who gave him
some OF the garments tina; day, and they Dear no
sims Of n struggle. aud not stained with blood.
Tho Justices belief Is that the crime was not committed
nj the place where the body found but that the
body was conveyed there a'terward This belief su5-
tanned by the fact scarcher the afternoon after
IatIr4 he
edly and they could have failed 10 see the body II
had been there carefat ~--TrIttou n The place ana
it, surroundings made aud no evidences oi "a
struggle could be- found limb OF the underground
appeaicd Ia have been broken. not leaf was Disturbed
ana no traces OF blood dscOycrabe The position
of the body also ~ thought Ia Ice further proof
II Jay partly under small spruce tree, the
branches Of which low, with the feet
toward the trunk Of the tee aud Their, had apparently
been some Effort the clothing. Justice Ben
nett suspects two negroes residing In the neghborood
both OF whom bear very bad regulations and one OF
whom IL understood. has served term In the state
Prison Trey suspciouEy ofiicious yesterday In
directing suspicion toward Collins indeed any one else
whose name happened 10 bc mentioned III connection
with the crime Justice Bennett last evening became 80
thoroughly convinced that these were guilty that he
dispatched two officers to arrest them, and they are
doubtless by this time In custody.