Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-08-22
A BOSTON MURDER MYSTERY.
A Citizen Found Dead in his Cellar with
Two Fatal Bullet Holes and Several
Serious Stab WOunds--.Evi-
denCes Of Robbery.
Special to the New York Herald J

the town in a fever of excitement.
The victim is J. f. Frye, of the firm
Of MADAM & Frye, leather dealers,
doing business on South street. He
was sixty-fve years Of age and a
respected citizen. He resided at No.
ID Jay street, and here to-day his
dead body was found in a pool of
blood which had escaped from eight
deep gashes in the side and neck and
one bullet hole in the region of the
heart. Letter Carrier Jefferds. on
his usual rounds, rang the door bell of
No. l3 Jay street and received no
reply He rang again and again, and
getting no response, was puzzled to
find the outside front door partly
open and the inner ones wide OPEN
The more he thought of it the more he
marveled, and to satisfy his curiosity
he called an officer. Together with
another citizen they entered the
building and were attracted at once
by evidences of robbery, as the safe
was found open and several articles
and drawers from the inside were
lying on a table.
Proceeding to the cellar they met a
sight which made each man shudder.
With his face downward and his right
leg doubled under him lay the lifeless
body of Mr.. Frye, with a bullet hole
in his temple A pool of blood was
at his head, in which lay pocket
handkerchief. Some three feet away,
at his left, were, on the brick floor,
three envelopes, bearing the address
Joseph +. Frye, No. 10 Jay street,
Boston" Behind him, perhaps three
feet away, was an empty coal hod and
seven barrel revolver. When the
medical examiner arrived he discov-
cred a bullet hole through the heart.
from which Mr.. Frye evidently died.
There were four stabs in the left side,
two in the neck and two under the
shoulder.
. The first theory was that the man
had committed suicide. There was
the pistol from which the fatal shot
had been fred and search was made
for the knife, but it could not be
found. This, together with the fact
that no motive seemed to exist for
self-murder, practically disposed OF
the theory. Proceeding uD stairs
again the officers renewed their search
in the dining room, in one corner OF
which stands large double-door safe.
such as is usually made for domestic
use. 1t has velvet lined drawers for
knives, forks and spoons, and COM
partments for larger articles of plate
besides a steel cash box for the recep-
ton of money and papers. The mar.
Bile top was found this noon lying on
the dining table, and all the door,
were open. The iron ones we're un-
locked, and the keys were resting on
the safe, and the inner wooden ones
were burst open, evidently with q
large carving knife, which lay ON the
floor. Two of the drawers lay on the
table, empty, and three others, in
which were lot of silver knives, etc.
we're on top of the safe. In the com
partments were many other and larger
articles of silver and plated ware, and
Of both there remain undisturbed
thirty-two pieces. There also remain
a bag Of old coins and bundle of pa
pers, among which appear to be life
insurance policy and several deeds
Other than the old coins no money j,
to be found, if there was any in the
safe or its cash box.
As before stated, the wooden door.
had been pried open with knife
rather than a jimmy, and the marble
top was lifted from the safe. 1t wai
evidently the work of no professional
burglar, and there we're signs thai
another clumsy Chastine Cox hal
been through the house. Mr.. Frye
watch was not to be found, although
he was known to have worn it las
night. The family of the murdered
man, consisting of his wife and tive
sons, aged fifteen and twelve, were
absent in the country and have no
yet reached home,
Mr.. Frye was in company with one
! Marsh, who left him at the corner O.
Boylston and fremont streets at half.
past 8 pm, and then went to Forest
GaPdep, Mr.. Frye, it appears, crossed
the eommon and went home. lie en-,
tertained company during the evening
and a merry time was enjoyed in smok
ing, billiard playing and other games
till about midnight, when the party
broke up. 1t is now believed thai
after his company left be went dowr
stairs to the cellar, probably becaus,
he head q noise, or because he
wanted something, end there met his
death.
Up to late hour TO night 40 arrests
! had been made. Some Of the oGicet,
and even the doctors have still sus
picion Of suicide. Until the family
I returns from New Hampshire and car
ascertain hoW much, if any, Of Tho
property has beep stolen, but littl,
progress eau be made ~ hunting vi