The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-01
FORT EDWARDS MYSTERY.
MISS BBEHdNs BODY FOUND IN THE
BOTTOM or THE CANAL.
rrosfs thas She was Attacked and Probably
Throwa Awe into the Wnter-A Tramp's
su.pisious Stories - Pebble Hxcitement.

su.pisious stories - Pubiie Excitement.
Fort EDWARD N. Y, Oct. 3O.-Tho body OF
Miss Margaret Moehan was found In the canal
near Cases bridge. about half n mile from this
village. tonight. All day long the watcr had
been running out OF the twelve mile level early
IN the afternoon tho boats wero stranded. aud
at O'Clock her shawl was found near the
bridge. Superintendent Sheriff. who had boon
doubtful whether / would bo worth while to lot
all the water run out. gave way to the enthu-
siasm OF the searchcrs after tho finding OF tho
shawl. Men in boats. who had dragged the
bottom all day renewed their exertions. and
Mt 6 o'clock when II grew quito dark, lanterns
were obtained. and the search continued At
about this time the water became 80 shallow
that boats were dispensed with. and gangs Of
men wadod up and down In the mud and water
in drilling rain. with lanterns swinging in
their hunds until the body was found.
Mics Meohsn was SO years old. Sic was spare
and short Of stature, and not In health. 1t is be-
1ieved that whoever assaulted her mistook her
for a girl When she left the house OF Joseph
loughlin ut 81 O'Clock on Sunday night last to
return home 10 the house Of her brother in
law. John Loughlln. she wore over her head
the shawl that was found In tho canal. II was
raining. and was very dark. Joseph Loughlin
lives In BgTGoyne avenue. and her brother
John In Broadway These are parallel roads
leading northward out Of Fort Edward. Tho
distance between the two Is less than quarter
ola milo. Between the two roads lies an un-
even stretch OF sandy soil. unsghtly with
weeds. and dotted here and there with pine
trees. Between the two roads described run
cross roads, ~ Intervals q a, quarter of q
mile each. Miss Meehan. who did housework
for her married sister. Mrs. John Loughlin.
ran across 70 Joes house IN the afternoon TO
got tired Of waiting Tor il to stop raining, and
folding her shawl tight about her head. the
house with lantern and two umbrellas TO 20
after her. She wen, northward MP the avenue,
hut lost her way In the darkness. She walked
avenue to Charles Hsm@cnds house, where where
last seen Il her alive hy her friends ''
"A short distance from Hemmond,s house
heard screams on the road. but they soon
ceased and h. paid no moro attention TO them
also gamemSer that XIV 1 heard screnns al
about o'clock on Sunday night. After Damon
had heard the screams he arose to shut his
road with lanierns S' These % T we're JOHN john and
Joseph LcGghlln. who were looking for
the night bu, did not ind her. The
neIM,e morning her, apron 6sarp ,1Sr, marks
was found on a cross road not Tar from the place
where the screams had been heard.
and DIVA wagon at Glcns FAIL ON S' sunday evening
was arrested on suspicion. On being told 10y
the Ctflctf tngt ~ no would throw llgnt on her
dsappcaranee he should not be prosecuted for
stealing tho horse and wagon, he made the fol-
lowing AFFIDAVIT;
s1; sn 'g soFR i: %s TIA, he Is s
Win ihomas Sn>oer, with = h9r-s and buggy. between
hauAV Ill read, az about o'clock In the evening amt
Ma 81, it dcponeni ei him get aud he would
' ~'',t t i w ', .n ven, Inv ,l m'H dom ei
the woman and that dpon,nl has Mt since seen HIM
H. further explained to Justice Lane that
Md f.slI - lta cam
terry after he had left the horse in the village.
He did 90. ou' SAW, neither Snyder nor tho
woman. Oricer DAILY, who lives u mile AMI n
quarter from lannon's house. SAYS that Baker
called on him at 500 on sunday evening;
wagon without an owner: Amos Root Gays that
he. saw Baker under -four mill shed in the
village AZ no; These avermenis are urged Us
showing that Baker was not present at the time
WHOM the sss,reaming WE heard.
lynching nGt the law -abiding citizens prevent
cd any attempt. Nevertheless Omcer Rice has;
concealed him in a hotel. on Tuesday Baker
declared that his affidavit Of Monday was false.
and made only % SECURE his release on the
chHrge 4 horse steal ling and that he hadn I
socn Snyder slnN Aug. I. He said that he
stole the hurs, and wagon. aud drove over 10
Fort Edward un Sunday night. AMI that when
him fora ride VA, le refused.
On Tuesday hro bells Were rung to summon
the people together n mo ting was regularly
lied ~ Hnrr.s Hall. and \. X. Hnxstien
WIS chosen 90 or.unle and tax" charge oi
searching Iarj."s. Ton such parties We're or
ganizel Win in a. many minutes. ca"h led 10y q
man appointed by HaNstien. one party started
e. drag ihc Hudson River, another Ia drag the
canal. and the other eight united TO sc9ur tho
by Ilaxsteln Tho volunteers accepted were
composed, 'Dr the most part OF mon OF property
Tuesday night N the river. in the canal and in
the wOols. Everywhere north Of the village
could be seen the fitting g. and fro OF lanterns
On TUESDAY night permission was obtained
from the State Superintendent In Albany t.
draw on the water from thc ly-miln lGvel; .,,
had cooled. Il had been learned, that AN a
Hewitt living at the end Of bridge near IN,
plnc" known a. Niggeryc had seen tire,
negroes after they had left her place on sun
day evening ~ about O'Clock. drive over th'
bridge toward lIammond's house About M
hour after midnight she heard wagon drive
back over the bridge TO place in the roa,
nearly opposite her house. where they stopped
turned and drove hnstily buck over the bridge
To-day an examination was made Of Bakers
rwayoIthe villagers back 10 \ belief in his guilt
Next II wa learned that Thomas, Hurley o
Moreau had leon arrested because he was seer
on Sunday night with Baker. About tin
same time W Ham Bren was also arrested ~
suspicion. Bron denied all knowledge Of th'
crime but adn.!ltcdthat he and Baker had stolcI
horse md wagon. and had LEFT II with on
Duean, Tho horse was found whore Brcn sal,
he l"f H. and proved to be the property OF Ar
thur Crosby. Bren was held on charge o
horse, stealing and Hurley was brought NJ be
fore Justice Lane for examination. but nfte
cons utatlcn with the oi1cers he WAS remandc,
until Friday He said he was sodrunk on sun
dan night That h" could remember ming
Baker has loen taken over 10 the county jail a
Sandy Hli.
1hi bods Wis found ut g.. by David Fitzger
old. living ia 'ho middle Of the canal. twent
feet s. nh q Case's foot bridge and twenty fee
north = the place where tho shaw waa found
nbou' ipTty-hyo rods from the Fort Eiwar,
hnllruad station Fit2gcrads foot struck IN
body III ho was wading. He stopped and will
ono hand mHde sure that Il was the body an,
then no waved his lantern, The signal Drough
10 him in few minutes all the s"arrher, win
wero within sight. Tho body was lifted care
fully AM aid IN the bank Then mossen
ger WAS dies Watched to tho village for COrOne
In,lo and also 70 have the fire bells rung. Tn,
sharl 4 NET OF the bells warned all who had en-
gnsot iu The search TO return 10 the village ant
also hl ~ most OF those who ,wer
AZ homo into the street Coroner Liit'
code hastly up tho muddy road 10 Cesei
hriIg" AMI At once gave permission to JOIN
Loughlu e take the body To his house. Owe
goo -iaiwau men ~ 'ored il thithcr. lanterns il
hahd anu waited impaiienty ABOUT the hous'
Tor ~" veg ~ = me post norton examination
made by pr Hewitt and Davis, After half NJ
hpuf hitiN ~ lh" examination, Coroner Llttl'
i'poi,r that tie Womnns Undertaking ha,
Dr"n ihll} torn, that there was light abrasion
OF tine I.if the right side OF the n nnt