The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-04-06

until We have uncovered the truth Of the
mystery. although It seems the case is
hopeless"
The Furfnans have at times been OF
keen interest to Middletown people.
The elder Furman died about ten years
ago and there were stories that he had
come to his death violently. Of the
thirteen children six are alive. There
are five sons. Joseph. Eugene. Russell.
Webb and Theodore. and the daughter.
Eula. One son. Arthur. who died not
long ago. got into trouble for breaking
into a railroad station at kerhonkson.
on the Kingston division OF the Ontario
and Western. and spent thirty days in
jail
1t il a curiously secretive family aaG
not very we'll understood by its neighbors.
The sons have always, IL IL said. been
They are big and blonds Mrs. Furman
is small and dark. When she crooks her
little finger the sons step lively 80 the
neighbors say. At any rate they are
following their mothers course closely
at present.
intended to tell the police they had killed
their brother and that confessions werA
extorted from them by the police after
third degree methods. Police Chief
McCoach denies this absolutely. He
says Eugene accused Joseph and that
Joseph accused Eugene. Hut why they
told a story that they knew was false is
what puzzles the authorities
II is certain man was murdered under
circumstances similar to those described
by Eugene and Joseph in the fiction as
to their brothers death. but the authori-
ties are absolutely unable to make head
way because Of the impossibility of iden-
car. They have nothing except a part
Of q head and a right arm. A careful
search of the cinder car and OF others
near by revealed nothing more.
A story which has reached the police
brought in the names of Mrs. Betsy Steele
and her sister. Bella Shaw. young women
to the Furmans and who were on friendly
terms with several OF the Furman boys.
Mrs. Steele often gave parties at her
house which were attended by Joseph
and Theodore Furman. and Mrs. Fur
man. it is said. objected to her sons going
there and had it out with them on several
occasions.
Chief McCoach says young Mrs. Steele
has had four husbands. and that their
names were Hamilton. Vreeland. Potter
and Steele. taking them in chronological
order. vreeland. the police learned,
boarded at the house after he had been
succeeded by Steele.
Late on the night OF December 81. 1911,
the police say. a neighbor Of the Steeles
heard a shot fired: A beer party had
been going on and it is said that sav-
eral OF the Furman boys attended it
Nice zach thinks this story. slim as it is.
is the bnly bit OF information he has that
might have a bearing on the mystery
Mrs. Steele and her sister moved away
from Middletown last February and arc
living in Cincinnatus. n. Y. The police
are trying to find Vrceland and have not
succeeded. They are anxious also to
question Mrs. Steele and her sister, Bella
shaw.
This afternoon The Sun man talked to
Theodore Furman while his mother sat
by. silent and watchful. Theodore is a
young giant. blue eyed, blond and ood
looking. His glance is direct and there is
something rather taking about his per-
sonality. He said he couldn't understand
Joseph Of killing him. or whv Joseph
turned around and accused Eugene. He
had left home three months ago to see q
little of the world and to hunt good job
why did you 60 away without telling
your mother?" he was asked.
Mrs. Furman looked up swiftly.
-Oh. boys do that now and then. said
Theodore with a laugh. III was afraid
mother wouldn't let me leave home.'
His story Of working on a farm near
Philadelphia most of the time he was
away from home and of applying at
Philadelphia to Lieut.. W. Dulty Smith
Of the Marine Corps for enlistment has
Deen confirmed Whatever his extraor-