New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-26
PROVIDENCE, r. L., Eel
MURDER Ar VEST POINT.

A PRIVATE SOLDIER KILLED by COMRADE- WHAT
LEAD TO HE CRIME AND TIE CIRCUMSTANCES
UNDER WHICH II WAS COMMIIIED-THE UNITED
STATES DISTRICT COURT has JURISDICTION OF
TUE CASE.
iPRoa A SPEC, = CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRIBUNE
WEST POINT, Feb 25.-Thcre was doubt
less less excitement here the Sunday morning muir
der at the Post than at any place which The dispatch
announcing the fact reached. Michael TobIn an
enlisted soldier, Sunday morning shot and killed
Peter Alb rs another enlisted soldier both belonging 10
the engineer company stationed here. Both men have
been good soldiers. Tobn who is more than hty years
Old served with tdelty in the Mexican war ard fought
braveiy in several important battles This his fourth
enlistment and he been duty at this military post
for several years Albers, about thrtyAye years
old, served with the Army Of the Cumberland during
the rebellion and came with an honorable record
Several years ago TObin married. or prelond TO
marry a woman named McGraih, living at Highland
Falls whose first husband, theiather OF several grown
ND and respectable children. Of whom she was the
mother had deserted her. There is doubt rs TO
whether or not the man is dead, involving, OF
course the legitimacy Of the recent relations between
TobIn and the woman Several months ago ne
pretended to have discovered proof that the
woman was uDfaithful to him, aud that Aibcrs
was the man who had Ongcd him. Since that time he
has AT threatened Abers. and has several Times
forbidden him speak to the woman who works III the
Post landry and thus occasionally in contact
with the soldiers. Saturday evening Tobn discovered
what he believed 10 DO fresh evidence against Aiber
and on Sunday morning about o'clock. Just ~
the men were getting up. he entered the squad
room AZ the barracks and crossing to where Abers sat
hfdrcssed on his bed drew revolver held IL close To
the lattes head and fred hIbers fell back ON TIE hed
unconscious. Corporal Ripley and another man. VINO
we're an the loom, wrested the revolver, small Smlh
AZ WessOn, from the nurdeTers hand ailef he ildd
cooked il 10 fire again. and afier short stflgsis
oyerpowered hun. He was taken TO the guard
bnus. where he is sui confined The Post surgeons
were summoned 10 Abcrs but ne was already dying ana
an hour later he died He unmarried and no friends
claimed the body, this morning was buried III me
Post cemetery. The military service was Iead ana
cOrpOral's guard fred n salute over the grave. .
The murder has caused surprisingly niue cxctenent
among the officers and cadets but among the soulcis
stationed here the feeling deep ToDln Is universally
condemned and IL the discipline were less perfect therc
might be danger OF his being ynched. ~ Is De
ieVed that the charges against ADers were gfOunoesS
and even II they TObins relations 10 the woman
and his past treatment of her were not such
a. 70 warrant him IN pleading the sudden impulse OF out
too much OF to chatter about the affair but he
ans wcrs In ward questions put To him.
This afternoon stated the grounds for his jealousy
and said that the murder was not premedated He has
been heard say however, that he was glad that lie
had Killed Abers.
In the strctest sense, the murder Is not military
offence and therefore under civil, not military
tursdcon The nearest United States District Court Is
In New-York and Distrct-At0rney WoOdiord mas been
informed by Adutant Hall Of the circumstance Iobin
will be confined here until taken to New'forE for TRIAL