The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-09-10

stairs, and here it was that the knife was
brought into use. Although the man
failed in this attempt, it is thougnG ne
did not desist until life was fast eDplng
away.
When the body was found it lay be-
tween a settee and the stove. Her neau
was toward the door. Her hair was qls-
heveled. The left arm lay across her
breast, and the right was stretched a
at right angles to the body, with the
palm turned up. The blood from the
wound had saturated the clothing which
had been thrown over her chest. IL was
| torn into shreds and gave evidence of an
awful STRUGGLE. The woman's throat
had been cut from ear to ear, j II an EVIL
dent attempt to escape assault after she
had discovered the robber. The break
fast dishes were upon a small table, ana
some in the water in a dishpan. A knife
box that had been on the dresser
had been turned over and the sharpest-
pointed one of these was gone. 1t lay on
the floor near the body, however, and was
covered with blood from the point to the
handle. The chintz-covered cushion,
saturated with blood, was under the
woman's shoulders. She lay squarely on
her back, her head bending back over the
cushion and not quite touching the floor.
The ewes were closed and the feet
stretched apart. The body looked as If 1t
had been tumbled to the floor from h
settee. The cellar door was open, and at
the foot was the little straw hat that she
had on when her uncle last saw her. The
chairs were upset and the ~rag-carpet's
breadths turned over. Everything showed
plainly a desperate struggle,
1t was five O'Clock in the morning when
Mr.. Laconey and his hired man, Garrett
Murray, ate their breakfast, which the
housekeeper had prepared. They then
went at once into a field some distance
from the house to gather cantaloupes.
Before leaving the house Mr.. .Laconey
informed her that she might keep the
breakfast table standing, as he expected
Frank Lingo, q colored man, who occa-
sionally worked about the farm, to call.
If he did she wa to give him breakfast.
Suspicion at once rested upon Frank
Lingo. 1t was found that he was at work
for John f. Starr, nearly opposite. He
was soon placed under arrest and taken
to the farm house. When he was brought
into the where the dead girl lay he
seemed to be the most unconcerned per-
son there. He answered every question
without a tremor and did not attempt to
advance a word unless questioned. He
fumbled an old SLOUGH hat and once or
twice adjusted a bandana handkerchief
that was tied about his neck.
His trousers were of a brownish
color, with two wide patches on
them. His coat and vest were of cheap
material; the Goa was torn and frayed.
The County Physician and Coroner took
him to a private room and stripped him.
They We're surprised to find his under
clothing very clean, as if they had just
been put On. They examined his finger
nails. but failed to discover any trace of
blood.
Lingo stoutly protested his innocence
as he vas questioned closely regarding
his movements.
He said that he had left home between
four and five O'Clock in the morning. He
said that he had walked from his house
at "Matchtown' up "Whiskey" road and
did not meetany one, reaching Mr.. Starts
at twenty minutes of seven. He said he
had told his wife that he was going to
work for Mr.. Starr.
Foot prints were found about the farm,
some of which seemed to fit his shoes,
while others were a full inch too long.
He contradicted himself somewhat on
cross-examination, and his statements
were IN part ~contradicted by those who
had opportunity to note his movements.
Still, the evidence against him is very
trifiiQg as vet.