The New York herald., 1879-07-12
THE SEMINARY MYSTERY.
New. and Startling Theory Of the
Seymour Tragedy.
HORRIBLE suspicious.
Secrets Which the Inquest Is Elk
pected to Reveal.

results Dut q number or theories were aoVnnceu-
some new ones and many old-that will be thor
oughly probed at the inquest. The detectives last
night were satisfied that nothing positive could be
known until after the inquest. which In its course
might be relied upon to develop the truth. If it was
TO be reached at all.
The photograph theory. while not entirely ex-
ploded is thought TO be useless but it is being fol-
lowed up yet nevertheless. When found the photo
graph Was quite clean. and had anything but the
appearance of tin type that had been exposed to
the weather for week more. 1t is thought that
had that been the 1t must certainly have been
marked with rain sand. There is nothing about
it, save that the face is somewhat dimmed. to show
that It was more than day old The fact that Mr..
Montgomery had stated that while he could not
recall the face 1t was not entirely unknown to him
was exceedingly suggestive and the detectives have
made strenuous efforts to get 1T the original. In
their search they have had to depend almost entirely
upon the family and relatives of the deceased. and
their efforts have yet been unavailing The clew.
whatever it may be worth. will be worked, have
all tho others. to the end. There is little doubt
that the police not Of one mind concerning the
shooting of Mr.. Seymour. This fact has been made
apparent through the continuation Of the case by
the officers themselves Particularly is this true of
the boy Paul Stucke. who two days ago every body
thought to be entirely innocent Of the accidental
shooting. for nothing more is claimed. Yet In the
face OF the proof brought forward by Paul and
his friends. and while acknowledging that they be-
heved him innocent. they kept quietly on tighten
ing the points to prove him otherwise. In the face
OF the overwhelming evidence Paul and his friends
say they bring to bear to show that he did not
re the fatal shot there officials who insist
that the evidence will put them righ.; the
fact that Paul was not the only one who
shot from the seminary windows on the night
at times perfect fusillade. In connection with
the Paul Stucke theory may be mentioned letter
received YESTERDAY by Inspector Dihs stating that
the fact that Paul had shot from the window that
night. Detective Hogan was sent by the Inspector
to Chambers street in order that the boys attend
ance at the inquest ight be made certain. Captain
Ryan yesterday afternoon made, with Detective Dor
sey. complete survey and measurement OF the semi
nary grounds From the window where Paul Stucke
stood when he fired the blank cartridges to the spot
where Mr.: Seymour's body was found the distance
street to the spot TOY yards. and from
Twenty first street 25 yards foot. From fence to
fcnce the seminary grounds measured just 81 yards.
All this msssurement goes to show very plainly
what was believed before--that Mr.. Seymour might
have been shot from the seminary buildings. from
Twenty hrst street, from Twentieth street or from
pREpARIsG FOR THE INQUEST.
, The inquest promises to be much more than ordi-
narly interesting from the fact that upon il are
based the hopes OF the Coroner and the police for
clearing up OF the mystery, and that out Of it may
will he proved that the piece Of what everybody sup
poses was rubber. and what a number of physicians
pronounced to be rubber, was not rubber at ALL but
in all probability piece Of cloth from the clothes Of
Mr.. seymour. This is what Deputy Coroner DR.. Mil
Ter says It was At rather late day this II it Is cor
gun and rubber cartridge theories The Coroners
are or the opinion that the shot was close
one. and will endeavor to show that it was,
while the police will contend that it was a
long range one. and will bring mass OF figures.
diagrams and the result Of experiments to support
CNrOUer
taking care 10 have intelligent men and those fa-
miiar with the neighborhood on the panel. Those
selected are;-F. Costerns, No. 1S9 Ninth avenue;
J. Armitage. No. 153 Ninth avenue; f. +. Chapman
No. 1S9 Ninth avenue; L. L. Livingstone, No. 1S0
nue.; G. L. White. No. lG5 Ninth avenue; b. woiif,
No 202 Ninth avonue. and J. s. Jones. No. 403 West
Twenty first street
The inquest will be held in of the class rooms
OF the seminary, both for the convenience Of the
officials and the public. The very large number of
witnesses to be examined and the great interest felt
in the by the public generally WILL it 10 thought
by the Coroner, attract very large gsthering. The
witnesses called will include the following Hobart
O. Brayton, William B. Frisby, Paul Stucke, DR..
Gordus. colored attendant called .'Massfale THAT
is the only the police have OF him). b. f. aud
thon L. woolsey. John W. Elliott. K. +. kingsley.
DIR. and Mrs. Buell. Frank L. Montgomery
son-in.sw Of the d deceased ceased Mrs Charles r Whit
DR.. and Mrs. McKensie Henry b. Whitney Mrs.
William J. McClelsnd. Mr. and Mrs. Leo Harris. Mr..
nsrd Farley, Patrick Sheehan. DIR. Cushman, Dr.
Hudson. Detectives Dorsey, Hogan and Leahy;
Police Ofhcers Sands, Smith, Fay and Grier and the
Right Rev. George Seymour, Bishop of Springfield
aud Dean OF the General Theological Seminary.
Besides these there will no doubt be a number OF
theories.
THE MURDER THEORY.
The relatives of Mr. Seymour persist In the
belief that he was murdered aud did not meet
his death accidentally, and they are not entirely
alone in the superstition. Those who favor the idea
OF suicide claim that was possible for the deceased
10 have thrown the pistol away after the fatal bullet
had entered tho body. In support Of this theory
they cite the of man recently found in Central
Park with two bullet holes in his head. No pistol
could be found after careful search, and it
WAS at hrst thought that murder might have
. stranger found the pistol considerable
distance from the spot where the body was found.
1t was believed that the had thrown IL from him
before the breath had lt his body In this case the
relatives satisfied that he died by suicide. aud
gave reasons why 1t should be 40. In the case OF
Mr.. seymour 10 In far different. No one has been
found who submit . single reason why he
should have taken his own life. and the contrary
all who knew him intimately join in saying that
he was q man too fond Of life to leave it
by any sct Of his own. Now comes up
the question Of murder .npposins the saisias 4.
Until yesterday one had offered any reason why
any one should have killed Mr.. seymour except it
seminary grounds for an immoral purpose. That
idea exploded almost soon ~ generated and
tho ofhcius' attention was turned toward inding
some clew or reason for u murder which, II It was
murder. was most cold booded and cruel.
HORRIBLE sUsI'ICIor.
Nothing beside an occasional petty and worthless
idea WAS suggested until yesterday. when story
given to the authorities that to say the best for
II, Is extremely improbable. II would not be cou-
sdered by the authorities for instant wero they
not assured by persons who conversant with
the taots that portion Of the story n true whether
the disputes in the seminary could lead 70 murder
no has dared to whisper but whom II IL said that
the finger of suspicion is first pointed from the
inary itself tho authorities cannot do less than
hsuss every possible means to unveil the
truth. The story, In short. Is to tho
eject that Mr.. Seymour was shot doliber-
ately by some persons who, is intimated.
81 one time, now inmates OF the somi-
nary, they mtstakng him for Bishop seymour. This
would seem too absurd for moments credonce
II that IL Is well known fact to those Interested
that tho disputes between Racine and St. Stephens
colleges continued with bitter enniy at the
tnsry. The course Of Bishop Seymour In those dis
putes. 1t IL said. hos givoa most intense dispcasure
10 many Of those Interested, and. IL Ia further al
legged has excited feeling oil bitter hatred toward the
Bishop himself. The whole matter may be summed
up in tho expression of of tho students to re-
porter of the HERALD some months ago. He said:--
sA.l...