New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-09
MURDERED BY FOOTBALLS.
AN AGED MERCHANT ATTACKED NEAR
HIS HOUSE IN Hampstead.
HE WAS GOING HOME on SATURDAY NIGHT.
WHEN HE WAS WAYLAlD. ROBBED AND
FATALLY INJURED-THREE sus-

HE WAS GOING HOME ON SATufDAf Ni"hi'
WHEN HE WAS wAYLAID. ROBBED AND
FATALLY INJURED-THREE sus-
PEcTED MEN ARRESTED
Stephen Powell an old and respected merchant OF
rennst,ad Long Island, was struck down and
killed within $50 feet of his own door on Saturday
night The murderers robbed their victim ana
escaped Three men are in custody, but whether
they are the right ones or not is not known.
The murder was committed between II and 1850
Mr. Powell who was seventy years old. kept boot
and shoe store and was interested In the Hemp
stead Gas Electric Light and Power Company lie
had six sons who are in the wholesale shoe trade
In Duane-st.. NeW-York.
Mr. Powell closed his store about 1920 O'Clock.
On his way home he stopped to purchase some
groceries and was in the store until about IL
o'clock Ten minutes after Mr. Powell left the store.
William C. Low started after him. Mr. Low found
Mr. Powell lying the sidewalk His bundles were
living scattered about the ground Mr.. Low indis-
tincty saw two men running down the road Com
ing from the direction which he and MI Powell had
taken was another man. The latter proved to be
James Treadwe
Mr.. Low and Mr.. Treadwell examir ed Mr.. Powell
and found him unconscious Mr.. Treadwel went
into the Powell house and alarmed the family and
Powell was carried into the house His head was
found TO be badly battered and the wounds and CON
tusions appeared to have been inflicted with the
blunt portion Of an axe. He died within half an
hour
Mr.. Powell was in the habit of carrying large
sums of money. 1t Is supposed his murderers knew
this.
Mr. Powell was struck once under the right eye
This blow cut a long cash In the face. Another
blow fell on his wrist This Is supposed to have
been done he put up his hand to ward the blow
off 1t is thought that this felled the victim Alter
he fell a third blow delivered. This was the
one that caused death. it crushed In the skull
picion They were Van Rensselaer, Simpson, John
A. Wayne and Arthur Mayhem. Mayhem was re-
leased as he seemed to be able to prove an aliDi.
As soon as he was released ne started on run for
Mineola He ran the entire distance. a mile and
then hired a horse and drove TO Roslyn
Dlstrict-Attorney Daniel Noble arrived at Hemp
stead soon after Mayhem had been released. Mr. No
BILE order the rearrest of Mayhem. The arrest was
accomplished and the three men were arraigned
before the Dlstrct-Attorney. The hearing was held
in the Town Hail. The prisoners presented what
appears to be a good alib They stated they were
I'm the saloon Of A. Climer, Greenwich-st, at ii
o'clock and for more than half hour afterward.
Mr. Climer was called and upheld their testimony
The District Attorney decided to hold the men
pending the result Of the inquest. which Is 10 be
held or Wednesday, Several other men are being
watched
The reason the prisoners were held Is that near
the scene OF the murder there found q tobacco
bag. a pair Of cheap black stockings and briar-
wood pipe Across the bowl OF the pipe was carved
with a penknife the name John Wayne and Wit
nesses were found who recognized 1t as belonging
TO Wayne. Wayne declared he lost the pipe about
house where ss %ay1e worR this
That robbery was the motive for the attack is
shown by the fact that with the exception OF the In
side pocket Of Mr.. Powelrs waistcoat every pocket
in his clothes had been turned inside out: HOW low
large however as Mr.. Powells money was found IN
his inside waistcoat pocket. There was goo there
The key 20 the store was taken from his pockets
and the authorities hope this may furnish clew.
The murder committed directly opposite TO
the electric power house and In a well-lighted To-
cality