Bridgeton pioneer., 1888-08-30
MURDER AT HOLLY BEACH.
A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AGITA-
TING THE BOROUGH.
Murdered at Night and the Body
Secreted in some Myster-
iOuS Manner

Murdered at Night and the Body
Secreted in some Myster-
iOus Manner.
HOLLY BEACH, N. j., Aug. 25.-This
borough was thrown into wild state
of excitement early this morning, by
therumor that William H. Underwood,
one of the pioneer settlers of this re
sort, had been murdered some time
during the night. Underwood resided
on Holly Beach avenue with his family.
When Mrs. Underwood came down
stairs this morning, soon after daylight,
she was startled to find that her hus-
band was not asleep on the lounge as
she expected to find him. On going
out of doors she discovered his hat in
the door-yard, and near it a pool of
blood. The hat was cut as if with a
sharp axe.
Arousing the neighbors with her
cries, a number of men were soon on
the ground, and in less than ten
minutes nearly every man, woman and
child had heard of the supposed crime
and were hurrying to the Underwood
cottage. From the pool of blood to
the street there are marks as of a heavy
body being dragged through the sand,
but these traces end at the road.
Searching parties have been out all
day hunting for the body of the sup
posed murdered man, but no further
traces of it have been found. 1t is
generally supposed that after enticing
their victim from the house, the muir
derers struck him on the back of the
head with an axe. This theory is borne
out by the shape and position of the
cash in the hat which was found. 1t
is thought that the assassins then
dragged the body to the road, where,
it could be placed on wagon and
taken to the boat landing, and thence
to sea in one of the many skiffs which
are anchored there. Others express
the belief that the body will be found
ON the meadows between Holly Beach
and the mainland.
Underwood came here four years
ago from central New York, and being.
Of extraordinary Intelligence, soon
became prominent in public matters.
About three years ago he was arrested
on charge of having set fire to the
Presbyterian church here, but was
acquitted. Subsequently ne had one
of the Holly Beach citizens arrested on
a charge of arson, but failed to sub
stantiate the accusation. Since then
he has been constantly in hot water
with other citizens. AS there it no one
here who would be at all likely to
commit such crime it is surmised that
the murderer followed him here from
some town in which he formerly re-
sided.
HOLLY BEACH, Aug. 27.-There is
now good reason to believe that Will
liam Underwood, who it was suppos-
ed had been murdered at this place
last Friday night, is still alive and left
Holly Beach OF his own free will. Facts
liz relation to some of Mr. Underwood's S
recent business and other transactions
have come to light that go to show
that he was particularly anxious to es
cape certain creditors, and that lie
probably concocted the assassination"
dodge in order to throw the public off
and give him plenty of time to get be-
yond reach.
The supposition now is that he cut
the cash in his hat himself and prob
ably sc altered the blood of chicken
ON the bushes where the hat was found.
1t is known that Underwood left his
home in the state of New York several
years ago under somewhat similar
circumstances. He is known to have
debts here amounting to over $1,000.
1t is reported that Underwood was
seen to take a North bound Cape May
train at Bennett Station, on the West
Jersey Railroad, Saturday morning.