New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-01
gHo VAS THE MURDERED MANY

DISCOVERY OF THE SKELETON OF MAN WHO HAD
BEEN FoULLY DEALT SGTH-rHE ONLY REMAIN
ING EVIDENCE or MYSTERIOUS CRIME.
A startling discovery was made yesterday
morning by some workmen on Observation-Disclosures
sixth-s near Thrd-ave. while eNcavaunG IN some ioIs
where il is proposed TO build row OF houses Thomas
Murphy one OF the wOramen, struck something haTd
with his shovel about inches below the surface, when
on examination proved to he human skull After FUR
tner digging the remaining parts Of human skeleton,
evidently that OF man. were exhumcd. The skeleton
perfect, and in the opinion OF Dr. MeNhihle' WHO
examined it IN the statOn-hOusc not specimen from
some dissecungrOom The position IN which the remains
were found remark tble, and has gwen rise to sS
cions that the man was murdered long and hastily
buried in the hen lonely spot where he was found Inc
skull was very near hc surface, wnie the remainder OF
the body sunk ubquey depth Of three feet, but the
legs we're forced wide apart. The whole body had the
appearance Of having been damned into an insufficient
space The discovery reported at Police Hci!qiar-
tiers and TRIBUNE reporter visited the spot during the
afternoon The place found to be IN open lot ON
Observation-Disclosures ixs about 100 feet west OF
Thrd-ave The bones buried 30 fee" back from The
street and only from the side OF an old stable
and blacksmith shop that used TO face on Onehundred
and-tweny-sxth-,t several years ago An old resident
said that the place had been used as burylnE
ground and that he had no recollection Of murder
being committed in the neighbOrhood for many years
homes have not been IN the ground over ~ S'lI'
The suspicious OF the police have led them To inVes
gate the history Of place. Officers CHRISTOPHER and
Geo Paber OF the Twelfth Precinct two of the Oldest aud
most Trustworthy the force, and who were CON
stables at the Of which they SPEAK related the FOL
lowing account OF the place to the reporter On Nov l.
1s41 William H. Colwell, wealthy builder, established
her. lumber ward and continued IN the business until
-Gl when he sold TO j. Lausdon. now OF Brookl!n
YB remained possession four or hFr years. MI CO
wl had bought the place Of John StldWcl, AZ one Tim"
a hank president aud reputable gcutlendu Inc Ir"pd
hI. of indicates thtj JIc man was puIl'
dirny sir SudWell's occupancy. Az the unc pllcs ~
IInher allied The ward and The spot was very IOu"l
one A low drinking saloon, kept by man hdihel
lanes occupied "A place on the highway now iIlId-
ave and n fence separated the yard RON the IuM-
49, -gg,r5 This saloon officer Pdbcr states was
tha resort or the worst ruifians IN Harlem, ana
fr.cuent a.hts took place there and ne uHtd 10
maze many arrests Travellers ana ITGirIs
g9iug To the city, and returning 10 Nestcht'tr, o,'
Hayen and ueghbOrug places, often stopped ~ JAMES
saoou. and the suppOsuOn now Is tuat a ud'cIeI
money Nas al some l!lie TAX iHo
tbe rear ward and murdered. aud that hs bOdY vas
frc.d into hole under OF the piles OF lumber no
oibcr theory can successfully account ID j uuSH or
IN. tuding the body IN such position ana IhS ponce
hye undertaken to consult all tie past records OF cIe
in inc vicIulty III the hope of finding some cleW 10 me
arn,f,tor. or at least 10 mud ou who the murdered
man was The skeleton evidently btIohstI 10 HdH oI
o,r.rful build AS 1t feet in hight and c0mpacuy
made Officer Paber remember no such person as
missing He SAYS the Lenders OF the old volunteer frc
rporfnent used frequent the saloon ana nave tn-
,tcd there in most desperate lights Inc proprietor
lanes ia dead.