The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-21
O,P. DEXTER'S ASSASSINATION
REWARD OF $1,000 OFFERED FOR
THE ASSASSIN.

The Body Taken to Malone and Will Arrive
Here This Morning -Every thing POSSE
bic VIII He Done and No Expense
Spared In Hunting Down the Murderer.
MALONE. N. Y, Sept. 20.-The body OF
Orlando p. Dexter. who was shot yester-
day at his summer home near Santa Clara,
n Y. arrived here at noon to-day in charge
OF Funeral Director Nicholson and John
p. Badger, Mr.. Dexters legal adviser, and
left here in charge OF Mr.. Badger at e;as
this evening. 1t will reach the Grand Gen.
trail Station In New York at s5S tomorrow
morning.
Mr.. Dexter was in buggy, driving tow
ard his home, when he was shot. Ahead
OF him was Mr.. A. Giles of Santa Clara and
following him was Bert Russell, his farm
hand, with q wagon. Mr.. Giles saw Dex-
ter's horse running toward him with no
driver. He stopped the runaway, looked
in the buggy and found it covered with
blood. He turned the horse back and
both he and Bert Russell came upon the
body living In the road at the same time.
Mr.. Dexter was shot in the back, the bull
let entering below the left shoulder. COM
ing out Just over the heart and lodging
In the back of the horse. The body was
found at bend of the road near Dexter
Lake, a lonely spot and place where
murderer could be eecreted in the woods
and not be seen by any one passing. He
evidently waited till Mr.. Dexter rounded
the corner, then fred at his back. Death
must have been instantaneous. The
authorities have no clue to the identity
OF the man who fired the shot. but they are
nerfectly satisfied that 1t was case OF
murder.
The INQUEST was held at Mr.. Dexter's
late home near Santa Clara by Coroner
Moody and jury. and after bearing all the
facts obtainable the jury rendered a YER
dict that Mr.. Dexter was shot by some
person or persons unknown. Everything
possible Ia being done to locate the murderer
and this evening the Sheriff offered a reward
OF s.. 900 for his arrest and conviction.
Mr.. Dexter was a bachelor 40 years old. He
was graduate Of Yale College. a keen lawyer
and was large owner Of land in this county.
He was engaged in quite number OF law
suits with woodsmen and farmers that
came in his way. J. P. Badger. his legal
adviser in this county. says that nothing
will be left undone and no expense spared
in hunting down the assassin.
The authorities can find no motive for
the crime. Nothing was missing from his
person, 90 robbery was not tho motive,
and all they can fall back on for q motive
Is that he had lots Of enemies on account OF
the nany lawsuits in which no had beon
engaged.
The murder Of Mr.. Dexter is the most
remarkable homicide case In tho criminal
history Of the Adirondack region. He
came 20 this neighborhood q number OF
years ago and purchased large tract OF
land seven miles from a small settlement
called Santa Clara. which place s thirty
five miles southwest OF Malone. Dexter
was a man OF ample capital when he ac-
ouired his Adirondack property, but the
methods he employed to extend his hold
ings brought down upon him the male
dictions of the woodsmen OF his neighbor-
hood. The story was told to-day OF
sawmill owner, Samuel Chambers OF
Blake's Mills, who placed valuation OF
81 900 on the property when Dexter sought
terms. Dexter said tho price was ex-
cessive, and by threatening to have an
Injunction Issued restraining Chambers
from cutting timber for his eawmill COM
PEELED Chambers to accept his terms.
Then there is the case Of Joe Alfred Of
Upper Lake. who was cutting timber on the
plot of ground he owned. Dexter offered
low figure for the place, and when it was
refused he hemmed Alfred In by buying
property on all sides Of him, and within
few weeks Alfred was a bankrupt, AS all
means Of egress from his property were cut
off. Dexter having built dwelling in the
centre Of the highway and posted armed
men about it.
Such incidents as these and many others
fed fuel to the flame Of the woodsmen 3
anger, and year ago it was limited that
Dexter would he shot the first opportunity
that was offered. But Dexter was fearless
man and heard OF the threat with calm in
difference, declaring that he would get the
first shot at any would-be assasson. at
the same time displaying a revolver to the
person who told him Of his peril.
The first news reports OF the tragedy
described the efforts Of armed posses to
track tho murderer. Such reports are in
error, for absolutely no move has thus
far been made to fix the responsibility Tor
the cold blooded crime. The wheels OF
Justice move slowly up here in Franklin
county, and while the Coroner has pro-
nounced the case one OF wilful murder
the authorities have made no move in the
case, and unless something tangible in the
shape OF clue develops speedily the
chances OF experimenting the guilty person
or persons will rapidly diminish
Tonight Sheriff Steenberg announced
that he had several men under suspicion,
but had not enough evidence on which TO
base an arrest. II Is reported that severa!
men we're overheard discussing the con-
spiracy which ended in the tragedy, and
one is alleged to have remarked: I'll put
him out of the way. and | will do good
clean job of it."
A deputy sheriff at Santa Clara to-day,
in discussing the details OF the assassina-
ton, said that tho officers In this neighbor-
hood have long looked for such crime as
was committed yesterday, but they had
hardly expected that Dexter would be the
hrst victim Opinion, he said, seemed to
incline toward William Rockefeller as the
man whom the Adirondack woodsmen
would first do away with, to show their
scorn and hatred for men of means who
have acquired vast holdings In the Adiron-
dack region. This statement is significant
as indicating the feeling toward big land
owners In the North Woods.
Concerning the killing OF Dexter, John b:
Badger OF this village, who long represented
the murdered man in his legal affairs. this
afternoon gave the first authentic details
of the crime. In the company OF Sheriff
Stsenberg, Mr.. Badger visited the scene OF