Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-21
A VILLAINS FOOTPRINTS.
MRS. AND MISS MAYBEE,s As
SASSIN IN CUSTODY.

The Floor Gives way While the Coro-
ner's Investigation is in Progress, but
all Escape with Slight Bruises
Further Particulars of the shocking
Crime
LOCUST VALLEY, L. l., Nov. 20.-The
soles OF the shoes of James Doyle, arrested
yesterday upon suspicion of being the
murderer of the Maybee family at Brook
vile, have been found to correspond ex-
actly with casts taken Saturday night of
footprints on the grounds round the
Maybee barn.
NEW YORK, Nov. 20.-While the exami-
nation of Doyle, the tramp accused of
numbering the Maybee ladies at Brook
vile, J.. l., was in progress before the
Coroner to-day, the floor of the room gave
way, and the prisoner, the jury, officers,
Coroner and spectators were precipi-
tated into the cellar in a heap. The dis
tance was not great. and no one was
seriously hurt, although nearly all the
persons We're bruised and scratched.
Another room was procured and the
examination was continued.
brief account of the murder of two
helpless women anu a brutal assault on a
helpless man at Brookyille, Long Island,
last Sunday, appeared in our dispatches
Monday. The New York papers contain
fuller accounts of the terrible crimes:
The family, which has been so suddenly be-
reft OF two of its members is one which has
always been highly respected. The father,
VINO is over 20 years old, was for many years
engaged IN the lumber business, but gave up
TINS pursuit IA years ago, when he was strick-
en- with paralysis, which deprived him of the
use OF his legs. He became totally blind
wealthy, but in recent years has been Obliged
him to retrench his household expenses
somewhat and to do as far as possible with
out the aid of hired help. The house in which
he lived was known as the Maybee Homestead
and was one of the most pretentioUs in this
little village.
Mr.. Maybee's family consisted, besides him
self,of his wife Lydia, refined, delicate lady,
Il years old, and their unmarried daughter,
Annie Eliza, aged 81 years. An older daugh-
ter, Mrs. SlmonsOn, resides some distance
Mrs. Maybee's custom for the past two or three
years to go to the barn twice a day to milk
the cows. Her usual time in the afternoon
was about 4 30 O'Clock. Y Yesterday she went
out as usual, and was followed by her daugh-
ter Annie with lantern. Neither was seen
alive after this.
Mr. Maybee told a reporter the story of
what happened: "My daughter Annie became
alarmed at her mothers absence, and went
out to look for her at about O'Clock. A short
time after Annie went out [ heard noise in
the room directly over where / was sitting. 1
called and received no answer. | then wheeled
myself to the window facing the barn and
commenced rapping with my cane. Then
some one came down stairs. 1t was man. |
asked. Who's there?' and he said, Give us
your gold watch, or We'll murder you.' | said,
Il have not got it, and being blind and para
lyZed, cannot get it, He then grabbed my
cane from my hand and hit me two or three
blows ON the head He must have then gone
up stairs again and found my watch. l do
not know how long it was before | reached the
window and shouted 'murderp This is all
remember until Mr.. Remsen, one of the towns
people, came in.' Mr.. Mavbee was almost
speechless, and told his story only with the
utmost difficulty.
Mr.. Maybees cry was overheard by Miss
Weeks, the school teacher, whose house is
directly opposite his. She heard the sound
attention OF some men who had also heard
similar cries. Several, among them Edward
Tappan. William LauhersOn, and Jacob Kit
ting. ran hurriedly to the Maybee homestead.
AS they approached a window was raised
from the inside and Mr.. Maybee was heard
to cry out family: For Gods sake go to the
barn. believe my wife and Annie are
murdered" Some of the men entered the
house and others ran to the barn. The alarm
made soon aroused the neighbOrhoOd, and
many came hurriedly to the place. William
II. Remsen was the first to enter the house,
and he it was who discovered the
dead bodies of Mrs Maybee and
her daughter. When he came to
the sitting room of the house lie
saw Mr.. Maybee in his chair bleeding profuse-
ly from severe wound over his left temple
HE told me" said MIR. Remsen, ''that he had
been clubbed his house robbed, and his family
murdered. AS the neIghbors came in has
tened to the barn. By the door stood a small
lighted lantern which the daughter had car
ried. went in and began to search the place.
As was climbing to the hay-mow noticed
hand sticking up in an empty cOw-stall.
Jumping down found, partly covered with
dead leaves, the body of Annie. From the
position in which she was lying | Judged she
must have made a desperate struggle for her
life. In the corner, completely covered by the
latter's body was cold, but Annie's was still
warm. There was no blood visible, and the
only marks of violence were prints of what
looked like q thumb and finger on their
thrOats."
There is only one tenable theory as to the
cause of the crime. Its purpose was undOubt-
edly robbery. When Mrs. Maybee went to
the barn she was at once attacked by the muir
derer, who was discovered by the daughter
when she came to the place to look for her
mother. Fearing detection, the man attacked
ing her until after a very severe struggle.
The only peculiar feature about this is that
no one heard an Outcry from the barn. After
killing the women, the murderer, who seems
to have been acquainted with the situation of
things in the dwelling, went thither and hur-
riedly began ransacktng the premises. The
money and watches stolen were in q bureau
in Mr.. Maybees bedroom After taking the
booty the murderer fled to the road and made
his escape, leaving behind him no evidence of
his identity.