The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-09
THE DEER PARK VICTIMS.
n GROWING SUSPICION THAT THEY
ALI WE'RE M URDERED.

New Testimony Developed at the Coroncr's
Inquest esterdav what several Persons
saw and Heard Previous to the Fire.
The house of David Hoyle Skidmore, an
aged and landed wood dealer and charcoal
burner, near Deer Park, l.. l., was burned on
the 3Oih of January. and all the inmates-David
Skidmore, Fleet Weeks, his assistant, Wesley
Wright, a business agent, and Mrs Taylor,
who lived with Wright as his wife-perished.
On Feb Coroner Preston began an inquest.
Charles Tyrrell, Maud Taylor. Mrs. Heeeman,
and David Skidmore wero examined, rendering
unimportant testimony; but afterward the girl
was heard to remark that she " was glad she had
not told all she knew" while the boy, Tyrrel,
intmated to an acquaintance that he "knew
negro thai could tell all the facts" Both these
persons md Skidmores two sons were arrested.
The nrst witnesses called YESTERDAY were the
sons, David aud Carl Skidmore. The substance
OF their testimony was that they were not on
augry terms with their father, or with Wright
Dsvid denied the existence OF a litigation be-
tween his father and himself Both declared
thev had not known where their father Kept the
OF the fre, d ,vid, his brother. slept with him
for the hrst time In many months
Pitt Cakes, In whose house Carl Ia a boarder,
was not able to swe that the brothers re
manned in the house all OF sunday night. When
he retired they were sitting up; Later In the
night his wife tuld hin they had gone to sleep.
In the morning, both ate breakfast with the
family.
lnep0ore bunker teatl0e0 tnat tne el0ef Nkl0-
more we him an apple 1--WE weeks ago. saying,
Bunker. don't expect to live to get any more
apnles from the tree this came from. II my sons
are allowed TO come to steal my wood aud nv
harness, | expect they will he allowed to come
and murder me In NV own house"
Thomas Hicks, colored wood ohonper, the
man to whom both 1yrrell and Maud Taylor
ferted M knowing all about IT," testified that
he d worked for Skidmore for twenty years.
On the night OF SATURDAY.. Jan. ~. he stayed IN
the Skidmore house. Henry God Ohe man
who Is suspected Of burning the house,, Charles
Fleet. and James 4 honeld. colored, called on
Skidmore for their pay for Work done. Mr. Skid
wood before he Maid him because " GOD
had deceived him In the quantity he had cut
once before. Wood became angry. and demand
ed that either Wright or Skdmore should meas
ure his wood The next morning Skidmore ask
ed the witness to 70 with Mr. Wright to measure
when witness returned, he saw Wood meet sir.
Wright, and heard them talk In a loud and ex-
ness, Wright began this thing. and III end IL
and they Mont give me money III get It Tor
Wright take out his watch on the morning of
the quarrel. This was an important contradic-
H., w W. tSat botS ~ W,,sh,s and Ma sn,d
more's watches were In New York. being re-
Upon concentration by the District At
tornov, witness said that Mrs. Wright had re-
quested him to accompany her husband to the
woods because Henry Wood had threatened to
take her husbands life.
James rhoneld. another chopper, gave corrob-
orative testimony, aiding that Henry Wood was
hoarded-On the night OF the IRE. THE way
S came 10 KNOW know OF NE i.e, said he, was from
THIS Ia a bad JOB. l have got three or four
constables after me now from the East; but u
We To GO to Rverbead tine county seat, I'll
venture II, because this Is worse than burglarN."
George Mayhew. a third colored chopper, quail
fed ryrrelFs assertions by saying that II mo-
body brought this murder OF the family into the
courts he trytreiD would bring II there" yrreil
admitted having committed burglary. Witness
believed IT to toe the opinion OF most Of the
eolored people that Charles lyrrell had fired the
house.
| Upon cross-examin, ton Mayhew said he over
heard quarrel between David Skidmore and
bis tathef, a month ago, IN which the sou threat
ened MS father an SAID he DIDN'T mean To
nave Wright around mpch longer"
Henry Wood. the colored chopper who quar-
relied with Skidmore and Wright on the night
before the fire. and who Is one of the suspected
persons, denied having had a quarrel with
either and explained ms absence Dv saving that
he had spent tue night with his wife at Bel.
mont. lie did not use the threatening phrases
he he, has as. been n,, credited Iso With He had
sirous OF having the inmates OF
skidmore's house foully dealt with. lie heard
| David sI<idmnre, Jr saw at one time that
Wright should not remain in his ia hers house.
me witness wa. excitedi and his testimony "
satisfied with denial ot the charge that he
quarrelled, he added show OF liking for the
/ deceased men that was evidently insincere. His
al pcarancs was not at all favorable to him.
Constable Weeks, VIII had been ordered to
search IN tho ruins OF the burned house. pro
| duced score Of trinkets and articles OF house
no and personal use. but said he WIS tot able
| To ma Watch, or any part OF one. although he
believed his search had been 40 thorough AS To
miss nothing. Perhaps the most singular dis
| covery was the hnding Of portions OF trunk
| outside the building.
Coroner Preston addressed the Jury, saying
that he felt very much like continuing the ia
vestlgatton, as the result thus far has been IN
increase Of mystery. lie had received letter
from IN influential person saying that he knew
| Ivrrcl to be most desperate. Another letter
said that on Tuesday before the fire old Mr.
| Sdidmore seid 10 his lawyer that II he asserted
hts rights II would probably result In blood shed.
The Coroner said that he would like to slft the
horrible s1dir, he was convinced there h ii
been foul play. 1t agreed TO continue tho
inquest.