Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-10
MURDERER'S SECRET
IS BURIED IN COURT
SUPREME JUDGE HIDES NAME
OF GUILTY ONE
Indictment Is Dismissed Against uni
Identified Western Manufacturer
Who Years Ago Killed
Rival in New York
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
KINGSTON, N. Y, April 9.-In some
western city, the name of which is
scrupulously guarded lives promi-
nent and respected citizen from whom
the supreme court of New York yester-
day removed the stigma of an indict-
ment which was returned twenty-six
years ago. and charged John Taylor
with the death of Thomas Murray.
The present home of Taylor and the
name which he has since lived, married
and risen to the head of a, big mercan-
tile establishment, are known to but
three men here and his secret will be
kept.
Taylor's Identity was made known by
him to the court after search for him
which covered two continents and took
several years, had been abandoned.
Throwing himself on the mercy of the
prosecutor, Taylor invited an inquiry
into his life for the past quarter of a
century. This was made and it proved
so satisfactory that former Supreme
Court Justice Clearwater, who, as dis
trict attorney. obtained the indictment
against Taylor, decided that it would be
a gross injustice to reveal the mans
new name.
All Witnesses Dead
Yesterday Justice w. r. Howard of
Troy, sitting in the supreme court, dis
missed the indictment against Taylor
after 1t had been shown that all posi-
BILE witnesses against the defendant
were dead. Justice Clearwater, who
personally investigated the case, and
the present district attorney seconded
the action of the court. Only Justice
Howard and Mr.. Clearwater have
knowledge of the facts in the case. Ex-
Justice Clearwater said:
THE killing of Murray was a case of
love, rum and politics. Manslaughter
which was charged, could not be proven
now. Taylor has made new home and
won the honored name. He is at the
head of a big manufacturing establish
ment in the west and his wife and six
| children, all ignorant of his early mis-
fortune. His character is above re-
proach and it would be an outrage to
revive the story now"
The killing of Murray and the subse-
quent pursuit of Taylor created great
interest. Murray was killed at Port
Even, Ulster county, on an election day
when there had been riot at the polls.
Men Were Unfrlendly
Taylor and Murray were unfriendly
for various reasons. They belonged to
opposing political parties and loved the
same girl. On election day they quar-
relied at the polls and then fought on
the street. A brick with which Muir
rays skull was cracked is still in the
office of the district attorney Several
days later Murray died and Taylor fed.
In 1882 a grand jury indicted Taylor
for manslaughter in the first degree and
| a search for him was instituted. He
was traced to Pennsylvania, where it is
alleged he had allied himself with the
Molly Maguires.. He escaped from th'
country, but was traced to the home 9
his mother in Ireland. He was appre
hended, but again escaped.
Later he returned to America and set
| tied in the west. Recently he deter
mined to clear his name He CORE
sponded with the officials here who
had long before given up hope of his
arrest, and yesterdays dismissal of
the indictment resulted.