The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-26
rnE MrRDER OF rIRMER LEE


POUGHKrEPsIE June 2i-Thc body Of Ed
ward Lec farmer near Bana;all Duchess
County. was found in ShNw's Pond, two miles
from BanGall, on Sunday morning last 1t bore
evidences Of foul play. Tho night before Ste
phen Sackct, James Mastin George A. Travis
and Gcrome Cumbron were on tho pond fish
Ing. and. as some OF the persons named have
not borne good regulations. the whole party
were looked upon with suspicion. Farmer Lee
was nearly 40 years OF age and leaves n wife
and three children. He drank some. but he was
not quarrclsom ONE. At the inquest cx-Supervisor
William 7. Preston testified 10 seeing tho body
in the water. He opened the shirt collar. and
found spot Of blood on the breast. and pond
moss and mud in the hnir on his breast aud
about the neck and shoulder. Witness couldn't
understand how tho moss and mud got under
the shirt MS the water where he lay was clear
There WIS blood on the corners Of tho mouth
and II looked ns though the body had been bal
auned on a rail that WIS near Il.
Thomas Lee. son Of the dead man. who is 10
years OF age, swore that he was with his father
IN wagon nj about o'clock saturday night
gnd ~ they were driving nlong they met Jim
about some cider and quarrel ensucd. each
one daring the other To strike first. Lee and his
son drove away. but had not gone far when the
father stopped the horse and got out telling tho
son To drive homo and he would get there AT
a9on, the same time across lots.
Thomas llnight. n farmer. said that the first
no knew OF Lee's donth was on Sunday morn
ing, between ana o'clock, when the entire
fishing party referred 10 came there and in n
conversation that followed lin Mastin said thnt
hewas afraid that something that had happrncd
the night before would mako Rluss. Mastin
added TINT the last he saw OF Ice was in a boat
AMI b" lMastiul aiterwurd found his Int.
George A. Travis and Edward b. Sackett, Of
the fishing party, testified that they never knew
Ice, hut the villagers shake their heads and
doubt II.
James Z, Mastn testified that he had known
Ice fifteen years. aud last saw him at O'Clock
on saturday night He acted as though he was
Intoxicated, ana witness helped him in his
wagon, aud the next morning found Lees
hat in the pond. He thought he heard Lees
voice N the night and told stephen Sackett So.
DIR. llmore Loseo testified that he examined
the hody. lie found deep cut To the depth Of
nourly hall an In IN inthc right upper eyelid and
both lids bnckcned and bruised. the discolor-
htlon extending around the lid as though some
Nlug had struck the bone. The lrlt eyelid WAS
huekrned AMI bruised. and upon IL wns a SUI
pnrllclul cut. The left cheek was bruised and
baekenrd. ana the skin scruuod of tho check
Done. Thn nose was badly bruised and tho skin
s'rpped or, and blood was d9rharsiuE from ali
The bruises IL" Thought the blows would hayo
produced ms ms hllty, and TINT the bruises
Wgro received before the body was In the water
The rendered a verdict that Leo came 10
pms death 10y wounds on his head aud face made
ny Gun, or some other W"uIOu, or fists tho
slWe being produced boy JNmcs 7. Mnstin ana
Nhpheh W, ~ kntt, and the jurors further say
uru lhr shll hiilhg was mansUughtor in tho
thlrd degree.