The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-21
MURDERER SEEN ON STEAMER
PASSED 4 PORTER As HE CAME
OFT or H4RTS ST4TEROON.
Described as Rather short, Thickset Young
Man. Win a Iishtish Complexion and
smooth shaver Face-IIad the Hest
Berth IN the Room Hart Paid For

The Joy Line steamboat Larchmont, on
which tie young engineer John A. mart
was murdered in stateroom u on the
Saturday night trip from this port to Provi-
dence, got back here yesterday. negro
porter, Moses Thornton by name. had
good view of the man who is believed TO
be the murderer. Thornton has given a
description of the man sufficiently de-
tailed to aid materially IN the search, and
he is sure that he would know the man
again If he sa v him.
As related in The Sun yesterday, John
A. Hart was thrifty young man, of steady
habits, whose home was in Providence,
where his parents are in comfortable cir
cumsta He was a capable marine
engineer and last summer was engaged
in that capacity on H. II. Rogers yacht
Vixen. This winter he had been employed
on tug owned by the Pratt Astral Oil
Company. He drew IS wages on Saturday
and when he put it away in his pocket ex
hbited rather large roll Of bills He was
given TO wearing jewelry Of no great value
but Of snowy appearance.
He started home for Providence, and
Hnen the boat got in he was found dead
in his berth with pistol bullet in his head
all appearances indicating that he had been
shot as he slept His valuables and some
Of his clothes were missing.
Adjacent to room ~ and opening into
the same narrow passage of the main saloon
j. q silver closet. In this cloaet, eating his
breakfast, with the door wide open, Thorn
ton, the porter. sat az the boat was tying
up at its dock in Providence on Sunday
morning Thornton told Detective Cary
yesterday what happened.
Tine door OF No. II was opened" said
Thornton, and ! heard somebody come
out into the passage and lock the door
behind him. Then he appeared opposite
the door Of the silver closet | shouldn't
have paid any attention to him il he had
gone right by. But he sort of halted in
front OF the door and looked in at me with
a kind Of grin and said Eat EN- up, Jack
Eat EN- up
4 said You bet or something like that
and looked up at him, Of course. and I'd
know him again anywhere. He was rather
short and thickset. He looked as though
he might be about 20 years old. He was Of
lightish complexion, and had a smooth
face beard or mustacha. When he
got to the gaugway opening into the saloon
right by where was sitting he sort Of
stopped for n moment and stood with his
hand resting on the wall. Then he went of
forward. and that il the last saw of him.
f. NJ. Dunbar, president Of the steam
ship company said:
Hart himself engaged the stateroom.
and he must have had ticket, or he could
not have got the room. His ticket was
missing along with his other valuables
when his body was found. The man who
was in the room With him may not have
had ticket when he came on board the
boat. and il that is the case he must have
used Harris 10 pass him ashore when he
got 10 Providence.
The steamboat officers think nothing Of
seeing two persons coming from a state
room that has been reserved for one per
son. The man who occupied the room
With Hart may have been some chance
acquaintance he made on tho boat. and
whom no invited to share his room and
divide the expense. Or Hart and the man
may have agreed 10 occupy the room to-
gether before they came on board. Hart
reserving il in his own name. Often n
man in engaging accommodations for him
body hut himself
Porter Thornton * a trusted employee and
has been in our service for a long time He
owns considerable property in Providence.
Hart was clad simply in his underclothes.
He was found in the upper berth, with two
blankets thrown, over him. In the lower
berth. which looked as though it had been
occupied, were scattered a number Of
papers. Among them was a letter to Hart
from his mother Hart had no baggage
when he came on board.
Many of Harris acquaintance knew he
was thrifty and that he frequently had
considerable sum Of money with him. par
ticularly when he went 20 visit his home in
Providence.
John school" FIGURES IN THE CASE.
PROVIDENCE, Feb. 20 Under the lower
berth In the stateroom Hart occupied
where the crime was committed. was found
shoeboI Of white pasteboard bearing
on the cover the written inscription. This
is the property of John School"
In the box was a whiskey bottle CON
timing about half pint The steamboat
people are sure that Hart had no such box
and that it was not in the stateroom when
he took II.
John Clifton Of Lime street this city
who is a rigger and has been working In
New York for Capt Baker occupied bunk
directly beneath Stateroom No. ~ on the
Larohmont. At about o'clock on Sunday
morning he heard pistol shot that reused
him out Of fitful sleep.
Hart carried life insurance policy for
81 200 in the New York Equitable life Insur-
ance Company. made payable to his par
ents and less than a year old. His brother
has taken steps 20 obtain from Medical
Examiner Pegram an official statement
OF murder as the cause of death The
policy contains clause which invalidates
it should the holder commit suicide within
"A wear