SHOCKING TRAGEDY NEAR MONTICELLO

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, February 24, 1894.

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

AN AGED COUPLE MURDERED AND HORRIBLY MUTILATED.

Jacob A. Moore and His Housekeeper Found Weltering In Their Blood Near Monticello, N. Y.—Both Victims Over 80 Years of Age—The Man

Shot to Death and the Lady Killed With a Shovel.

   MONTICELLO, N. Y., Feb. 24.—Sullivan county has another murder to darken the pages of its history. A double murder, the most brutal crime that ever took place in this county, has been committed. Both victims are over 80 years of age.

   Jacob A. Moore and his housekeeper, Mrs. Jane Raymond, aged 90, were murdered at their home, three miles north of Monticello, by first being shot with a 32-calibre revolver, and then being cut and horribly mutilated with a barn shovel. It is supposed that the motive for the terrible crime was money, although they were poor and their only income was a monthly pension of $12.

   A few days before Mr. Moore was murdered he received three months' back pension.

   William Bebee, a young man and a neighbor of the murdered couple, went to the house with a basket of potatoes which he intended to give to the old people. After knocking and receiving no answer he opened the door and was horrified at the sight he beheld. Lying prostrate on his back on the floor, both arms outstretched, was Mr. Moore, his face so covered with blood that it was almost unrecognizable. Just beneath the left ear was a bullet-hole made by a ball from a 32-calibre revolver. Not two feet away from him lay the dead body of the old lady, more terrible in aspect than that of the old man.

   The murderer had taken a barn shovel and struck her just below the left ear, cutting a deep gash about three inches long, which probably knocked her down, and he then struck her in the mouth with his murderous instrument, lacerating the flesh in a horrible manner and breaking the jawbone.

   The murderer then cut two big gashes in her throat, and a number of other bruises indicate that she lay face upward on the floor after the first blow on the side of her jaw was struck.

   Beside her lay a handkerchief, thickly covered with blood.

   The clothes of both were covered with blood, as were also the chairs, while large pools of blood had formed underneath their bodies.

   The stove, chairs and cots were bespattered with blood and bear evidences of the desperate struggle which must have taken place. Beside the old man lay his cane, which he had evidently grabbed to protect himself.

   Two shots had been fired from the outside, one had apparently been fired through the door and the other through the window, the latter undoubtedly being the one which lodged in the old gentleman's neck. The ball fired through the door was found upon the floor.

   The deed was probably committed as the old people were getting ready to retire for the night, as the man had taken off his coat and boots and the lady had removed her shoes and set them near the stove. Shavings and kindlings were near the stove ready for the building of the fire in the morning and the beds were undisturbed.

   The house in which they lived is a two-story structure. The first story contains four rooms, one of which is a small bedroom. In this room they kept their trunk which had been burst open and the contents thrown out as though in search of money. One of the old man's pants pockets bore bloody finger prints and the inside door knob was covered with blood.

   The coroner has arrived and subpoenaed a jury. He will hold an inquest today. The blood is so thick on the victims that it is impossible to determine the full extent of the mutilations.

N. Y. Times, 1894.

Another Reformatory Victim.

   ROCHESTER. Feb. 24. —Daniel Leahy, who was committed to the Elmira reformatory two years ago from the State Industrial school, has been brought back to the latter institution and brought before Judge Raines, one of the managers. The boy's head on the right side was black and swollen and his right ear was terribly bruised and purple in color. The boy says that he had broken the rules of the institution by talking, and for this trifling offense three of the officers knocked him down, and while he was prostrate one of them had kicked him on the side of the head.

USS KEARSARGE.

TO FLOAT THE KEARSARGE.

Secretary Herbert Concludes That the Undertaking Is Practicable.

   WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.—The proposition to attempt to float the Kearsarge, wrecked on Roncador reef, has taken a definite form.

   Secretary Herbert has been in consultation with Admiral Stanton and has concluded that the undertaking is perfectly practicable and moreover that considerations of patriotism require that the effort be made. Therefore, he has prepared a bill, which will be submitted to congress, conveying upon him the necessary authority to contract for the work and appropriate $20,000 for the purpose.

   The secretary invites responsible persons and companies experienced in wrecking, to submit, at the earliest possible moment, proposals for floating the Kearsarge, and it is hoped that in view of the patriotic object in view, and the national interest that will be enlisted in the project, bidders will be forthcoming to undertake it at figures within the secretary's command.

SPEEDY SOLUTION PROMISED.

One of the Perpetrators of the Cornell Tragedy Will Confess.

   ITHACA, N. Y., Feb. 24—The mystery attending the Cornell tragedy already gives new promises of speedy solution. In conjunction with the clues pertaining to the auger purchased at Rumsey's, and the permanganate potassium obtained at Druggist Haskins, the detectives will be furthered in their efforts by the confession of one of the perpetrators, who thus far has refused to make any disclosures because some of his colleagues are unwilling to concur in the step.

   The jug story proves to be true in its essential particulars. The occupants of the house at 6 Cook street disclaim any knowledge of its purchase or its use.

   One of the gentlemen who rooms there, however, has left the city and, according to the latest developments, did so because he feared detection. The students bore the expenses of the funeral of Mrs. Jackson, which was held at the Zion M. E. church.

BREVITIES.

   —Reports from Pitcher this morning show that the mercury got down to 28 degrees below zero.

   —Mr. C. H. White will conduct the men's meeting in the Y. M. C. A. rooms Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock.

   —Rev. J. L. Robertson will conduct the services at the East Side readingroom tomorrow afternoon at 4:15 o'clock.

   —The work of the Cortland Steam laundry this week included seventy family washings and five hundred packages.

   —All members of the Y. M. C. A., who are selling tickets for the Lotus Glee club are requested to report to the secretary Monday evening.

   —Dr. H. A. Cordo will preach in Memorial Baptist chapel on Tompkins-st., Sunday at 4 P. M. All are cordially invited, especially residents of the neighborhood.

   —Do you read the "Want" or "For Sale" or "For Rent" advertisements in The STANDARD every day? They are the best means of finding what you want. Read them.

   —We now have a full supply of parts one, two and three of Shepp's Holy Land at this office where one of each can be obtained for three daily coupons and ten cents or for one semi-weekly coupon and ten cents.

   —The Cornell students held a meeting yesterday afternoon and arranged for a mass meeting to be held next Monday afternoon at which time it is expected that a vote will be taken to forever do away with rushing [sic] in that institution.

   —Now is the time that people are beginning to advertise houses and rooms for rent or for sale, or are seeking for the same. The best place to advertise is in The STANDARD, daily or semiweekly. It costs but one cent a word, each time, and brings quick returns. Try it.

   —A few evenings ago Mr. M. Alexander of Fitz-ave. [West Main Street,] the well-known real estate dealer, placed an advertisement in The STANDARD announcing a small place for sale. At noon on the day following he had received four applications for it. This is only a sample of what is happening every day.

   —The 28th annual convention of the Young Men's Christian associations of New York state began at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon in the First M. E. church of Jamestown. Vice-President John B. Squire of Buffalo presided. About 300 delegates were present. A fine program was arranged for the convention which concludes to-morrow.

   —The thermometer registered 24 degrees below zero at 7 o'clock this morning at Cooper Brothers foundry on River-st. The man who looked at it couldn't believe his eyes, and then he thought the thermometer was incorrect and two more were hung out, with exactly the same result. This is the coldest snap of the winter. The man who two weeks ago prophesied extreme cold for Feb. 20 to 25 was about right.

Tea Table Talk.

   There is a little green card in use by the postoffice department that is a terror to careless letter carriers. This card is dropped in a letter box; on it is marked the time when it should be taken out. A record is kept at the office, and if that card does not turn up when due, it is clearly to be seen that the carrier has not taken the mail from one box, at least.

   When there is any complaint on the part of citizens about the tardiness of the local mails, the tell-tale card is dropped in one or more boxes in the district from which the complaint comes. It is, however, not necessary that there should be complaints, for frequently the cards are put in the boxes of efficient men. Of course they are happy when they discover them.

   When a box is missed in which there is a green card the carrier is bound to get into trouble, at that. This card has been in use a good many years in all parts of the country.