The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-24
THU. JAMAICA TRAGEDY.
MYSTERIOUS Circumstances Surrounding
Michael Werner'S Death.
MURDER On SUICIDE z
The Remains To Be Inferred in the
Graveyard OF the Poor.

There is still some doubt surrounding tho doath OF
Michael Werner, The German who found the
Jamaica, L. l., plank road last Sunday morning with
ahullcl in his BRAIN. The HERALD OF Monday gave
fuilpartcuars OF the case stood. The Coro-
ner's Jury pronounced 1t suicide on Monday even
Ing but there since been little talk among the
people IN the neighpornood Of Jamaica about the
strange circu nectea with the occurrence
gnE NAKED FACTS.
A HERALD reporter yesterday visited the scene Of
the shooting TO investigate the case and II possible,
and the weight OF the rumors which have been cir
pulated The story, as told by those who found tho
man lying in the road In an insensiblo condition,
partly sustans tho theory OF foul play and partly
weakens IL. Yesterday some circumstances came 10
lrh which still further corrobcsaio the theory OF
suicide but still there a few things which, being
unexplained, attach suspicion OF foul play
THE FINDING THE BODY.
The account givon by Mr.. suydam, opposite whose
farmhouse Werner was found, is, that tho man was
seen by him soon Alter SIX O'Clock Sunday morn
Ing lying on the pathway, with his teot toward tho
road and his head under tho fence. His hat
pulled over his face Believing Werner
10 be asleep, Mr.. suyehm resolved arouse him
that ne might proceed his journey, it pre-
sumed tho stranger was n "tramp" AS he approached
him o! the men employed Oh tho farm
passing by and had his attention attracted. On rats
erod that the right sldc oil the head had been
through and that tho brains oozng
down the neck Doctor was at once sent
ior, tho Coroner notified and Werner carried on
uOor o a shod In the farmyard, The local physician
soon arrived ana pronounced tho case hopeless. Tho
Coroner ~ later hour examined the body. searching
the mans clothes In which werc found few dollars
and box cartridges with only one ball missing.
PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
The strange circumstances are that a bottle half
full OF whskey found on the side OF tho road and
opposite 10 that.on which Werner lay, aud that tho
revolver lay couple OF yards away from Werner bis
left hand side. When MI Suydam up the revolver
the barrel ell 10 the ground, and 1t was then
tanned that he pin missing and subsequent search
failea 10 restore ii. When Mr. Suydam picked up tho
weapon did not appear 10 be out OF order On the
other hand II must be remembered that Werner was
not yet dead and did nearly hours alter
ward and it was possible that he night have been
strong enough alter firing the shot to throw the
weapon away and That the loss OF the pin was an &C
cident
Werner lay during the forenoon and afternoon in
the shed, all hope of recovery being abandoned At
about O'Clock In the afternoon he began TO groan
was removed lew hours aiterward TO The Town Hall
in jamaica whcre he dcd at about ba-past i've
O'Clock III tie evening.
'.Hooks TO HANG DOUBT on"
The other circumstances which surround the affair
throw shadow oil doubt OF ioui play on some persons
unknown For instance. on sunday morning at
about Ave O'Clock a strange man entered Mr.. Suy-
dams stables and began TO groom tho horses con
tipuing TO do 80 until tho farm hands, engaged in
similar pa,ion went into house for breakfast
This strange sill at work when tho regular
workmen returned to the stable He asked for
bseakfsst, nor for anything else; but when hc had
hhi-hed bis Job went away, 1t being then only short
lime before Mr.. Suydam went out TO the road Ono
Of The employees OF the horse cur company
running from Jamaica TO East New York says that late
on Saturday nignt came along and rested at he
stables about hall mile from the Suydam farml.
and while there pulled outh bottle Of whiskey. Two
other men soon came up down front OF tue
stables, tho man with tho whiskey asking
the others TO drink, saying no had lots
as companiops on the road. Tho two men, owevcr,
refused TO accompany him. rumor has been cir
ruiated tue tragedy that tho with Wits
ERv ade m nm n her WAC
enough left in the bottle 10 carry him TO the 'ast
Jump" AGAIN yesterday gentleman whose name
not far from Tho Suydam farm, said In
the undertaker's office that he han hoard strange
sounds near his place on Saturday night Iboy were
not the uosterous voices OF men travelling along the
road the usual way; out seemed to be rather
like whispers loud enough TO be heard on the high
way.
WHAT wrRxER's FAMILY SAY.
But all these spcculations may not amount to very
much In view OF The positive assertions OF Werners
family to the elect tnaI he undoubtedly committed
suicide. Mrs. werner, VINO restIss ut Union Hill, n.
j., and wcrncrs brother, who keeps a bakery IN this
ety, and iriend who owns lager beer saloon
ilkers Jamaica identity the body having IN the
newspaper accounts recognized the name from the
letter found on Werner's body. Mrs. Werner says
that her husband had bseu Ill Tor about eight weeks,
having been weeks unior treai ment the Hobo
work even II no had Obtained employ ment lie was a
shoemaker oy trade and once had u store. but some
time since was burned out. For the past Two months
he bad been very Respondent and had freq uentiy
given expression 10 the pain he iet that ms wiic
should have TO work TO support himself and their two
children. Werner's brotaer siid yesterday that he
had often helped Michael recently, and that
Friday last had gwen him Slo with
which TO pay his rent. When Michael went home
that ing ne told his wife OF the present, and
Saturday morning lett his home or tue purpose, asst
he safe, OF paying the rent. They now believe that
be must have bought the revolver aud tho wbiskcy
and started over TO Long Island 10 put an end 10 his
existence.
Werner wss about ior.y years of age, and had been
In this country fourteen years. His vile
VET
takers store ana spoke the kindest way
Of her husband saying that II sickness
that drove him to such rash Decd anu that his mind
was maddened by mis- inability TO support his family.
Dr. Wood, who wins summoned TO attend the case
on sunday said 10 the reporter that Mrs.
Werner told him that her husband during
tho iwo months past HAD several times said he would
end bis existence Inc booy had been buried last
evening Dut viii be this In the graveyard for
the poor some two three miles from Jamaica IL
10 deemed better just that the family should
Incur the expense OF removing Tue remains 10 Union
Hi but the grave IS to be kcN that Mrs. Wer-
may have her husbands body sported some
other &c metery At some iuture day