Year: 1876

greatest tragedies that has been perpetraiea on
the island The facts relating 10 the tragedy "hieh
have thus far been discovered somewhat eohuiot
Ing from present Indications there is every reason
10 believe that four persons three men and one woman
have been made the victims OF most terrible family
vendetta It appears that the house Of man named
Bkidmore was set on Gre at midnight on Sunday and
che inmates consisting Of Howell skidmore,
or, as he should be properly known, James
or John Skidmore a man named Wright, . woman
supposed 20 be his wife, together with man named
Fleet Weeks were burned TO death. There, however,
appears 70 be considerable doubt 20 whether these
parties with the exception OF the woman the
victims Of foul murder before the burning Of the
house Of which they residents, took place, and
whether the subsequent firing OF the premises but
q ruse conceal the evidences Of previous crime.
skidmore has been known in the neghborhood as
OF rrasping disposition He carried on the busi-
Of charcoal burning and willing all times TO
take advantage OF his neighbors In every particular
where sharp bargain could be made or an advantage
obtained.


He had two sons named respectively David and
Carl with whom for years he has bad serious diner-
snces so much so that several legal suits have been
instituted and carried out between the three Bad
blood has engendered, and the sons have often
been heard by the residents Of the vicinity TO express
their determination "to get square with the old man"



toned that Wright who kept livery stable in Brook
lyn was a son-in-law OF skidmorc having married his
daughter who subsequently died, and that he
lately living with Skidmore with another woman who
was supposed be the divorced wife or man who oc
cupied respectable position in Now York. In addition
10 these there was another man named Fleet Weeks,
q farm hand or aborer, employed by Skidmore,
who met his death by the burning Of the
house with Mrs Wright as she was called, there





escaped the fate OF her mother by Of having
left the house in company with named Terrell
farm hand employed by Skidmore, in order to set up
with a sick neighbor named Heggeman, wood chop
per- who resided in hut about 800 yards from Skid
more's house with his wife and four children.
AT the time Maud Taylor left the house the
ERE in the kitchen, which was the only one,
had burned very low, and, in fact almost out
This at eight O'Clock on Sunday evening The in
mates of the Skidmore house then retiring 10
bed. About midnight Maud Taylor happening to so to
the front OF the hut where she staying noticed
bright light through the window OF the Skidmore
house on the west end First she thought this
The reflection OF the charcoal kilns but locking
intentiy discovered that IL fire raging under
the staircase west end OF the Skidmore
house. She at once gave the alarm to the inhabit-
ants of the shanty and she and Terrell went TO
the building, which was now found to be in flames On
arriving within twenty-five yards of the house and





alarm the inmates In few moments what appeared
10 be woman appeared at OF the windows, but a
second later the form disappeared as the floor gave
way.


heard threats made against Skidmore and Wright by
tho of the Skidmore it appears. has been
married twice having by the first marriage two sons
named respectively David and Carll He lost his second
wife some years ago, and since the second
marriage q feud has existed between himself
and his sons as TO the possession of
property This quarrel finally reached such pitch
that the old man ordered both Of his out Of the
house, and since that time number Of law suits have
been carried on between them. As natural conse-
quence the bitter feeling between the father and
was greatly augmented, and about month since the
his property but which CARL Skidmorc carted TO the
depot and shipped TO New ork to be sold An action
was then brought in the, local courts by the father
against the which resulted IN favor OF the former.
There have been other litigatons between the
father and his sons, running over several years,
resulting from business transactions In fact Il would
seem that q constant fight in the courts going
among the family. David Skidmore, the eldest son,
was some time since q track superintendent on the
Brooklyn City Railroad and had a farm near Deer
Park, l. l. This, however, he was obliged to give up
After leaving the railroad referred To- he TOOK place
his fathers residence and is now living there IL
is said that they have lately had some transactions
which brought them together at the swords
point The old man lately has repeatedly, so says
Mand Taylor declared TO her that he believed his life
in danger from his sons. These facts have been
thoroughly discussed by the people OF the neighbor-
hood and the universal impression is that foul play
has been used, and that all Indications point TO either
both OF the being concerned IN the tragedy,
for such IL undoubtedly is


The fact that four persons should be burned almost
10 crisp without being able to give the slightest alarm
escape from~the burning building strongly CON
firms the opinion which is gradually gaining ground
that the parties burned were murdered before the
flames started at least the male inmates OF the
house singular fact appears IN the family history,
which is that the old Skidmore separated from
his wife; David the eldest son, was living apart from
his wife; CARL separated from his and Wright
living with woman divorced from her husband. The
Skdmore house was situated on lonely road IN the
woods and hall miles east OF Deer Park ana the
Long Island Railroad track. Skdmore owned about 100
OF land the most Of which was cleared, but he
frequently committed dopredatons his neighbors by
cutting wood their land which brought him into
frequent law suits The house was one story base.
and frame about 20 by 81 leet with several
buildings attached II was completely consumed
by the flames, also cook house situated twenty
feet from the main building. Fleet Weeks who has
the reputation Of being man OF rather Incorporate
habits occupied small room the southeast corner
Of the second story adjoining the room OF the old
Skidmore who said have been OF temperate habits
and a cripple. Wright and his wife occupied the north
cas-, corner room OF the attic. The position IN which
the bodies what left OF them discovered yes
terday show that they must have fallen right through
from where they had slept The trunks in tho case Of
the three men we're completely charred so that
lett that could lead TO their Identification,
not even scrap Of clothing. The body Of the woman
Wright found that Of her husband had on Il part
OF her undercothng, such remnant OF her corsets,
underskrt and ether undergarments These we're,
however, all consumed, except those portions imme-
diaely around the waist This goes il is thought
show that the either went TO bad partially
dressed that she met with her death before taking
of her clothing. wrights body was found about TWO
feet from that Of his wife, and partially across II and
partly covered with rubbish.


Those Of Weeks and Skdmore were found In the cor
net about three feet apart also almost covered with
debris Not the slightest Indication Of bedding or any
nrtcle OF woollcn whatever could be dscov
cred The only parts Of the bodies found intact
The hips Of the woman, the muscles OF her back and
part OF her hands What fragments OF the charred re-
could be gathered together severaly taken
from the rubbish by order Of Squire J. B. Cooper Of
Babylon. and carried 10 barn, where 4 guard was
placed them 10 keep them secure from molosta
ton until they are viewed by the Coroner and Coro
ner's Jury, which will be to morrow morning


HEARTLEss son.


David Skdmorc, OF the sons. visited Babylon
to-day. and many Of the villagers remarked that he
was more than ordinarily LAVISH OF money, and freely
invited acquantanocs drink one Of his drst visits
was made 70 Warren Lewis, insurance agent al
Babylon when David called On Mr. Lewis be said he
had come In 70 notify the Coroner about his Ahers
death and he asked II Coroner Preston In town.
Beng told that the Coroner was absent his next IN
nnlrv WAS whether his fatherls pIAco In.