The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-31
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
[FRoM OUR REGULAR coRREsPoNDEN1

NEW YORK, July L, 1879.
10 THE EDITOR or THE NEW NORTHWEST:
The mystery attending the shooting
Of John f. Seymour, cousin and
brother-in-law OF Bishop Seymour, re-
mains unsolved. Several Of the theo-
ries advanced in the published reports
are TO the effect that Seymour had taken
his own life, while others believe the
old gentleman had been shot by tramp
or met death by accident, caused by the
discharge Of a pistol on the eve Of the
Fourth Of July. Bishop Seymour said
no clue had been obtained, and he was
sure the theory of self-destruction was
without foundation. His brother was
never known to carry any kind Of
weapon, and no trace OF his having pur-
chased a pistol Of any kind could be dis
covered The police are working up the
case. The funeral was held on Sunday.
The police officials are inclined to the
belief that the bullet was fired from an
air-gun from some houses opposite, as
the course Of the wound indicates that
the ball was not fired from the sidewalk,
and an ordinary pistol carrying ball of
that weight would not kill unless held
close to the breast. Bishop Seymour
resents with Indignation the insinua-
tion that his brother-inlaw committed
suicide. 1t is his firm belief that his
brOther-in-law fell a victim to a shot
fired either by tramp, or that he was
killed by some man of good standing,
who had been surprised in criminal
act on the ground, and which, if
brought to public notice, would have
injured his reputation. "Men and
women" he added, "have frequently
made his secluded plot of the ground a
resort for improper purposes, and be-
lieve that my brother-in-law met a
party, some OF whom, finding that ex-
posure was inevitable, jumped up and
struck Mr.. Seymour, knocking him
down, and then fired at him either as
he fell or after he had reached the
ground" The course of the bullet and
the wound between the eyes bear out
this theory.
\ company Of tramps, estimated from
seventy TO one hundred and fifty in
number, have taken possession of
piece of land near New Windsor, a
short distance from the Hudson, where
they make their levies on the farmers
and rob aud plumber with impuuity.
They throw out pickets, defy the 'clod-
hoppers" who act as village constables,
rifle orchards, fields aud hen-roosts,
subsist on the surrounding country, and
move of IN detachments when they
have staid their time. These idle ruff
ans have been driven into New York
State from other States in which there
are laws for their suppression, and are
taking advantage Of the absence of re-
straining laws in New York to carry out
their work.
Something over half hundred names
Of property-owners ranking high in
commerce, the learned professions and
standard gentility generally, are asso-
ciated with a very earnest protest
against the consummation of the Van
derbilt scheme for a new elevated rail-
way down the Fourth avenue and up
along the borders Of Central Park. The
public announcement Of this project
was the signal for a prod gious flutter in
the important class Of real estate hold
ers whose possessions lie along the pro-
posed route, aud the Mayor already
shows that he is influenced, as he un-
doubtedly should be thereby, to ques-
tion the action Of the rapid transit COM
missioners Of his appointment in ex-
tending their province below the Har-
lem River. The protesting citizens as
sert that the damage to private interests
from such a road as Mr.. Vanderbilt and
his party seek to construct would be as
much as a thousand dollars to every
running foot some part of the way.
This is a calculation very significant to
the immense scale Of eonfiscation upon
which the existing elevated tramway Of
Third, Sixth and Ninth avenues have
been erected. Probably the protest in
question, backed, as it is sure TO be if
necessary, by legal resort, may avail to
check the bold scheme it opposes, or so
impose upon the latter obligation to
pay adequately for its right Of way as to
discourage its projectors.
The supplementary racing season on
the new running course just beyond
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, intended to
contribute to the amusement of the
Coney Island throngs, and conducted
under the auspices Of a select committee
Of the Jerome Park capitalists, scarcely
answers the anticipations of its origi-
nators. The situation Of the course is
charming-iust a pleasant little drive
from the park or the hotels along the
magnificent ocean pathway. The races
are fine, spirited events, between first
class animals. The Coaching Club has
made some creditable displays of its
turn-outs there, as an additional popu-
] lar attraction. But no such brilliant