The New York Herald Newspaper, May 15, 1875, Page 5

SHERIDAY'S HOME, Death and Funeral of the Father ot Phil Sheridan. The Sheridan Family—Their History and Traditions. THE RECORD OF A LONG LIFE flow the Peasant’s Son Became the Lieutenan! General of the Armies. PHIL SHERIDAN A NEW YORKER. John Sheridan, a Man of “Intelligence, Integrity and Fair Education.” THE “SHERIDAN HOMESTEAD. The Youthful Days of the Great Commander. HOW HE ENTERED WEST POINT Sommnset, Perry county, Ohio, May 18, 1875, Within three years the village of Somerser, Terry county, Ohio, bas been brought into modern communication with the world at large by the construction of a coal railroad from Newark through it and to the rich minerai flelds in Southern Ohio, For many years Somerset was an Isolated inland village, with scarcely anything to relieve the monotony but the visits of the lignt- Ding-rod man, the notion peiler and the sewing Machine agent. There is no special reason why the railroad shouid accelerate Its growth, and the locomotive whistie, as the coal trains pass, is about the only thing that sensibly mars its ancient serenity, It is @ village of about 1,500 inhabitants, with stores, dwellings, blacksmith shops. livery stables, &c., sandwiched togetner along a street about hall a mile long, with a “pub- le square” at the half-way point, aud with two or three streets courageously branching out for a / short distance atrizht angles with the principal thoroughfare. It is modest In its architecture, ex- tremely placid to its behavior, and in the light of the genial May eveaing in which the writer first »sheld it looked so complacently lazy that the tn- imation would have to be emphasized to make “*n realize that it ever encompassed the spirit ead ambition that made an illustrious soldier of | Poll Sueridan, The death of | JOHN SHERIDAN, the father of the Lieutenant General, and the at- tendance of distinguished members of the family at tue funeral, has been the most notable event of the place of perhaps the last half dozen years. About the most conspicuous buildingin the vil- | Mile from Somerset proper, but within the corpora- tion ines and within sight of the graveyard here- tobefore spoken of. On this property Js a frame cot- tage, given a somewhat Gotnle earance by | four gables, a slight atrempt at ornamentarion of the cornice and an. eigit-vy-ven portico im front. | ‘Yhe large dooryard%s enclosed by a split paling | fence of a little better fnish than the paltngs farmers usually put around their gardens, and 1g flanked on the side next to town with @ venerable peach orchard, whos? antiqua- ted limos have withered unuer the tofu | ences of the late frosts, The roa. to the vil- | lage is pleasant enoush in summer tine, bat in winter the occipants of the homestead have to ‘wade for it’’ to reach municipal civilization, The house ts neat and comfortable, but of very modest appearance. It might easily be taken fur the resi- dence of an Ohio farmer of moderate means, The | interior of the house 18 nO more pretentious tuan the exterior. Tue parlor floor 1s covered with an | American Brussels; the windows are bung with | green curtains, and the walls and celling are plain, | Asetof dark, sola-bottomed chairs aa a dozen pictures complete the exhibit. The largest | picture is a representation of ‘Fa\staff Mustering His Recruits.” Near this hangs @ medium-sized | plato photograph of General Sheridan, in uniform, On the opposite side of the room bangs a smaller photograph of the General, und in still another place a photograph of the General and bis stam, Photographs of four or five other members of the family il up the interstices. Mr, Sheridan occupied tuis Little house muen like A PLAIN FARMER, It is generally supposed that he acquired pos- session of the property through the assistance of his son Philip, but no parade was ever made of such a donation and there are those who believe it was purchased with money left by a brovher who died in New York. Althouga the old gentle- man was placed in a position where he migat live in ease and quiet, his active liie of toil assertea its induence, and he was frequently seen, even at his advanced age, periorming farm labor from choice. He often drove to the village in a rattling farm wagon, bebind a superannuated nag that, in appearance, courted the antagonism of crows and buzzards, The better lortunes of bis v.d age ala not change his habits, and he lived to tne end of his life in the enjoyment of that profound respect Which @ straightforward, honorable and consist- ent life may secure, independent of poverty or riches, THE DEATH OF JOHN SHERIDAN. Mr, Sheridan died on Thursday of last week at the age of seventy-four, General Shert- dan and bis brother, the Colonel, were ad- vised by telegraph and arrived ai Somer- set on Saturday, in time to attend the fune- raion Sunday. Joun Sheridan, Jr., now resides at the homestead with his family; he has been there ever since his return from Canaga, where be was engaged in the general lana office. Thougn the attendance at the iuneral was almost confined to the immediate neighboroood it was very large, probably the largest ever seen ia Somerset. ‘The spacious church waa filed and many people re- mained outside, listening as best they could through the doors and windows, to the mass and the funeral discourse by Father Neun, of Holy Trinity church, Somerset had the spectacle of nearly the entire community joining in the last tribute to a respected citizen. The funeral was the occasion of one ofthe few visits made to this place vy GENERAL SHERIDAN since he first entered tne academy at West Point. Looking back over the straggies of Jonn Sheridan against poverty and misfortune in an obscure place, where a gleam of ligtit from the busy world without could scarcely penetrate, it would seem that the path to such military fame as that achieved by the son must be a thorny one. In- lage 1s Holy Tripity (Catholic) church, with an au- ditorium which will seat 600 people, and embel- shed on the top with a spire that towers far above every other object in the corporation. Across the highway from the church are the ruins of a Catholic educational Institution, which was burned a tew years ago, and alongside the church is the Catholic graveyard—about an acre of ground, enclosed by a common board tence, which leans with age. It is an unpretending country thurehyard, with bat few very conspicuous memo- flal monumencts. The visitor is enabled to deter- mine that the new made grave in the part of the enclosure farthest from the entrance 18 that of John Sheridan. Next to it isa vacant space, ap- purently left asa tinal resting place for the aged lady who must, before many years have elapsed, follow ber husband to the tomb. Next to this vacancy 18 @ grave covered with a heavy growth of grasa, the head marked with a modest monument about five feet tiigh and surmounted by & small cross, On one side of the monument is the in- tcription—"Mary Sheridan, wife of John Wilson, | born June 4, 1834; died January 24, 1863. Requies- | cant in pace.” [The tombstone maker must as- sume the responsibility jor orthography.) On | anotner side of the monument are the words, | “Jufant son of John and Mary Wil:on,”’ and close by isa small grave marked by ® weatherbeaten | beadboard, Next 18 4 grave covered with grass | and the remaing of last year’s fowers, marked by | & plain headstone, on which we read, ‘Patrick H. | Sheridan, born April 10, 1827; died October 7, 1851.” {n the victoity of tie graves are three small cedar bushes and @ whive plue. These tombstones record the death of Jonn Sheridan's eldestson and his only daughter, who was married to Joho Wilson, leaving three members of the family alive, besides the widow—viz., General Philip H. Sheriaan, John Sheridan, Jr., and’ Colonel Michael Sheridan (on the General's staff), tamed here in the order of their ages, from the oldest. THE EARLY HISTORY, and, indeed, the whole history of the deceased Jobo Sheridan, is one to which citizens of Somer- set reler in terms of the highest respect—a respect certatuly not born of the influence of wealth nor yet promoted by the rapid rise oi bis son in the public service. The old gentieman’s head was not turned by the favors of war, but he kept on in the even tenor of lis way, the changes brought about by the civil war not seeming to revise,. even in a remote degree, his daily life and intercourse with | his neighbors. In this little town, £0 small as to enabvle everybody to gather everything pertaining toeverybouy else, John Steridan’s history is as familiar as the alphabet. He grew to manhood and Was married in Ireland. His son Patrick was born in Ireland, or on the passage to this country, | and Philp was bornin Albany, N. Y. Thereis a conflict of history on this point. Those who bave preserved in print the achievements of Ohio's heroes ip the late war have laid claim to General Sheridan for a Buckeye from the moment | of bis birth, Perhaps this error has been cor- rected, but it 1s wellevougn to clinch the trath, coming from the most authentic sources, What he | was born in Albany and came to Oblo when about three years old—i, ¢., in 1834, the year in which his father removed to Somerset. When John Shert- | fan came here ne Was ® poor man and for a num- ber ol years accepted any honest employment that came to his hands, THE FATOBR OF PHILIP H. SHERIDAN, Within the recollection of many citizens he carried bricks and mortar for masons and per- formea common ‘abor on a turopike passjng | through this county. He was a man of intelit- @ence, integrity and fair education, but never met , with pecaniary success. He devoted nis savings to the purcnase of an inexpensive house and jot in Sowerset, and, after a (ew more years of buffeting ith the world, was enabled to go inte dusiness as a sub-contractot on public works, After several smali ventures as @ contractor ne undertook a railroad contract, and about the year 1852 suok his little fortune of two or three thou- sand dollars in a road-bed upon which the ties and Ton Were nov laid til twenty yeaTs afterward. Lett again almost entirely aependent on the labor of nis hands, be barely maintained ownership of a {ttle piece of property near the public square—a own lot of ordiuary size—and an old-fashioned rawe house Witu little bullseye windows and with the shingles vow turning ap to heaven in an ppeallug manner against the ravages of the storms. He changed his place of residence several | Imes, but the curly-neaded domictl just alluded to | Was the last place he resided unti he removed, in | 850, 10 what may now be cailed THE SHERIDAN HOMESTEAD, ‘This 1s @ tract © about twenty acres of land ying in a little valiey avout three-quarters of a | with wings, acd the old maias of the Village did deed, it seems wonder/ul that a boy starting out With such disadvantages shoula ever have his feet directed toward the second military place in the nation. Lut in nearly every case similar to that of the hero of Winchester, good luck, at some Stage in the game, has something to Go with the accomplishment of success, Had it not been | for a sudden flash of fortune it is pos- sible, yea, probable, that the’ brilliant abilities of Phil Sheridan would never have | been directed in their proper channel. Phil was | Known about town as a “smart boy.’’ He was popular among those of his own age On account of | his geniai disposition and superiority im the sports of the time, and he was respected by older people | on account of his industry and the cheerfulness | With which he divided the burden of poverty with | his father. It would seem to be more in accord | with the eternal fitness of vaings to have such a | dashing and succes*fu: officer as Sheridan & bad boy when young, it would make a more romantic and attractive story and do just service in knocking the underpioning trom some of the diluted Sunday school Iterature of the period; but outof respect to the “oldest in- habitants” tue writer is compelied amit that Sheridan was not a bad boy. He was not a cherub not fly at him when teey met him in the street to +‘kiss bim for bis motver;” but there is no case on record wiere le stole watermelons or tied a cow’s tail to the town beli. He was fondof sport, but was not offensive: He delighted in a wild horse, and at ap early age begun the practice which enabled him to make himseif jamous as an equestrian during the war, | For a considerable time he worked industriously | as A CART DRIVER on a turnpike improve neut in Perry county, along with his father and elaer brother. There ts astory which has entered into the bistory of the times that Phil drove a horse and cart on a railroad im- provement pear Zanesville. But dis entire boy- Dood, ili he went to West Point, was spentio Perry county. Old citizens say that when not regularly employed he was always ready to act as an errand boy. His prominent boyish character- stics were liberality, sociability and indus- try. His education was such as could be obtamed at the pudlic school at Somerset, His younger brotners had the advantage of a Catholic college, which was estav- | | lisned near Somerset iu after years; but Phil struggied between labor and the common branches till about the year 1846, when he took a situation in the store of Finck & Dittoe, in Somerset, and for two years dispensed to the surrounding com- munity dry goods, groceries, nails, bar iron, Yan- kee notions and the thousand other linés of goods which are kept in acountry store. It Was while | In this store his good fortune struck him. It was here that bis attention was directed, after dome — Tesistance on his own pari, in the direction of | WEST POINT. Thomas Ritchie was the Congressman from tne _ Perry county district. Two or. three boys who had been nominated to fill a vacangy at the Milt. | tary Academy haa fallea, either on account of | deficient education or poysical disabilities, Con- gressman Ritchie was much vexed, because he | could not got tne place flied, and while “loafing” | in Finck & Dittoe’s store one evening, while on a | visit to Somerset, asked if Perry county coulan’t send a boy who could pass the examination. | There was @ moment of silence in the little knot | of village joaiers who had been drinking in tne greatness of alive Congressman. some person | broke the quietude by asking, “Why not | send Phil?’ Perhaps those jour words gave tho country one of her greatest generals, They were taken up and repeated by every one in the room, There such @ unanimous indorsement that | Ritchie offered to make the nomination. Phil blushed and said it was impossible for him to go, naming, among otuer reasons, the fact that he nad not even enough money to give nim- selfan ontfit aud carry him to tne academy. James Gallon asked how much money woulda be required. Phii revolved the proposition in his mind fora few moments, ana tnen named $50, with the air of aboy who didn’t pave any very lively expectativns of ever acqui.ing thas mucn weaith, Mr. Galion by this time had become | enthusiastic, and promptiy iurnisned tne | $50. Philip then Went lato training for the coming | ordeal, When he received a vriet of the exami- | nation he would have to pass to seeure admis. sion to the Academy he expres-ed to Mr. Brumer o(an old eltizen of Perry county, Who 1s now near his contenmiai aduiversary) the opinion that he would not be able to pas: He placed himself, | however, under the tutorship of William 1, Clark, | fund for the relief of the fami NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1875.-TRIPLE SHEET. ® geutieman of education, who kept a nursery near Somerset, He worked night and day at his Studies for about six weeks, He passed and en- tered the Academy in 1848, This ended Phti Sher- jaan’s residence in Somerset, be being then 6ev- enteen years old. His longest visit to his home subd- sequently was in 1851, when some pranks at West Point resulted in several months’ suspension, Since his entry into the service as an officer his visite have been short—{rom three days toa week. SHERIDAN AT HOME, after he had achieved military renown, was 00 more consequential in Nis manner than the cash- boy and village salesman; tn fact, the villagers seem to be on familiar terms with the whole Sheridan family. They ignore titles, and speak of Philand Mike and John with @ republican sim- Plicity that nas an ood sound to one who has never seen the distinguished Genera! through rural spectacles. When in Somerset the General is frequently s about+the store where he formerly supplied the viliage maidens with thread and needie: He makes the Gis- | tance between the public equare and the Suburban home of his parent on foot, and has | many @ irtendiy greeting with old acquaintances, On the occasion of General Sheridan’s dist visit to Somerset after the civil war a party of bis friends secured a band, and, proceeding to the cottage where he was stopping, with nis father, made a formal demonstration. The General made his appearance, revuking his friends for the formalities of the occasion, and mingled with them in such @ hospitable, everyday style, that they felt ashamed of having projected anything More than a neighborly call. A SEXTON’S OPINION. It ts to the credit of the people of Somerset that, while they admire and honor the successful Gen- eral, there is nO Man worship adout them. They Speak trcely. The old sexton, one of the most venerable citizens of the place, in alluding to the funeralof Sheridan's father, deciared tne people turned out and paid their respects on account of the solid worth of the old gentleman bimself, and not because he had a cele rated military man for MMs son. In fact, the old grave digger ¢id not seem to nave any special admiration for the Lieu- tenant General. He regarded Mike as the best looking man and the most genial gentleman; Phil, in his estimation, looked \ike nothing bat a soldier and was ft for nothing else, On cross- examination of the old man it was found that he objected to Phil mainly on ac- count of the cut of bis hair; he dis- liked to see nature’s headwear mowed almost to the scalp. While condemning Phil for the work of nis barber and denouncing him ‘for bis New Orleans campaign, the old man admitted Phil's kindness to his father, and, in a gushing account of the funeral, described the coffin as splendia, adding, sententivusiy, that “Phil got it. JOUN SHERIDAN, JR., now resides at the Sheridan iomestead along with his mother. He is married to a daughter of James Galion aod has several children, James Gallon is the man who furnished Phil the money with which to fit himself out for West Point. He lives on a farm adjoming the Sheridan property. ‘he junior Jonn Sheridan 1s a hospitable gentleman, of excellent education, very plain in nis dress and manners and as talkative as a sewing society. He has. a great fund of knowledge concerniag the Western ‘Jerritories, where he bas been engaged in the Land Office, He is now somewhat afflicted with rheumatism, and for this and other reasons will remain iu Perry county for an inaefinite period. Waen tnterro- gated as to the General’s departure for Chicago on Monday jast, he said Phil had to go back to headquarters speedily, possibly in anticipation of troable in the Brack Hills. He jocularly added, however, that he didn’t think Pnil stood in anti- cipation of an engagement in the Black Hills so much 48 he did of a matrimonial engagement tn Chicago, He declared it was at last definitely settled that the General was to be mar- ried, and seemed to enjoy intensely tne’ prospective launch of nis brother into the vast sea of jamiy affairs. When John escorted your correspondent to the fron. gate he encountered a party of laboring men working on the highway, and remarked that he haa been summoned to “work on the roads,” but hé didn’t believe he would respona, imasmuch as they wouldn’s let him vote in Ohio, he having voted in Colorado, Barring bis present attack of rheumatism Jobkn Jooks like a rugged farmer; in fact, every person and everything about the Sheridan family is so plain and unpretending that one must be con- vinced that greatness grows from the most insig- | nificant opportunities. THE NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON. MOVEMENTS AND LOCATIONS OF VESSELS AT- TACHED TO THE STATION. Port Royal, S. C., May 10, 1875. The United States steamer Shawmut sailed this morning for Portan Prince, to investigate the truth of the reports in regard to the massacre of foreigners at that port. Probably the Plymouth, under the command of Captain Russeil, bas already arrived there, as sne is cruising in that portion of the West Indies, As soon as the troubles in Haytl are settled the Shawmut will proceed to the ports of Honduras and Bay Islands to look alter our interests in that quarter. Toe Shawmut returned here, a few days ago, hav- ing completed a survey of Watling’s Island and Jocated accurately tne rreefon which the Ocean Queen, of tne Pacific Mai! line, strack, aud on whiow the Guatemaia was lest. The Uniied States steamer Ossipee will leave Pensacola on the Lita Inst. for Aspinwall and will remain there until the election ts over, as tere are rumors of anticipated trouble along the line of the Panama Kailroad, ‘Ihe Ossipee has just returned from a cruise to the West Gulf ports ana perds calking, but 18 in good condition yet for active service i required. Rear Admiral Mallapy, commanding the squad- ron, Will trunsier bis fag on the 15th inst, irom the Coloravo to the Worcester, ana the former vessel will then satl for Noriolk, Va., Where she will remain only @ short time delore going to New York to be put out of commission. A draft will be made trom the crew of the Colo- rado to fill up the crew of tue Constellation, now geiiiog ready for the annual practice cruise of the midsuipmen of the Naval Academy. The ves- sels remaining here are the Worcester, Dictator (iron-c.\ad), Pawnee (storeship) and l’inta (torpedo ug). . The weather has peen cool and pleasant, and the health of the squadron here exceilent—a vast improvement on Key West, the former head- quarters. THE GIOVANNI FUND. New York, May 12, 1875, To THE EprToR OF THE AERALD:— 1 beg to report the following subscriptions to the ‘of the deceased | mariners of the Italian bark Glovanal:— Collected in New York— iy Mr. A. P. Agresta., Less for tuneral expen By Messrs. Slocovich « Co By Mr. John C. seager BY Mr. John Agresta, principally trom ually. By Mr, Joni ‘Total New Gricans— By Mr. Guiseppe Grande ae nore te ne iguead Cutino. .... eiphia— raul Pohl, Jr. By Boston— Sty Moasra. D, H, Tally & Co.. Net total......... Inave remitted the abo: distribution, to Messrs, Pasquale, Ajello & Co., | Pe ermo, ina bill of Messrs. Ward, Campbell & do., at seventy-five days’ date, on Messra, Baring Brothers & Cv., London, tor 4 03, 3d. steriing, | at the exchange of $5 63};, making $1,904 §6. Ke- spectfuily, LOUIS CONLENCIN, Treasurer. Please state ander the subscribers’ list my best thanks to collectors and suvserioe vA, Manager, JUBILEE SINGERS’ FAREWELL. The Academy of Music was crowded last evening With atashionaple and appreciative udience to onjoy the jast concert of these admirable colored artists, The programme was well received, many of theit best selections being redemanded, ‘hey sai] this morning ior a second tour in Great Britain, to renew their former success, Mr, Clinton D, Fisk presided ana delivered a@ pleasing address. THE NANUET MURDER. A Respite Granted the Con-| demned Man. STORY OF THE ORIME. Situation. Michael Murphy was to have been hanged yester- day in the little village of New City, in Rockland cousty, N. Y¥., bad fe not been respited. On Thursday of last week Judge Donohue, upon the application of Henry Daily, Jr., tssued a writ of error in the case of Murphy, ond au‘norized a stay | of proceedings upon the judgment against the prisoner until the opinion of the Court of Appeals can be bad upon the writ. ‘This 1s the second time How the Prisoner Accepts wre} | | | Judge Donoliue has delayed the execution of the | sentence of death passed apon Murphy. Immediately after the prisoner was convicted of the murder of Mrs. Hujus Jast fail he was sen- | tenced to be hanged upon Friday, the 12th day of December, 1874. Beiore the day of execution ar- rived Judge Donohue issued @ writof error and a stay of proceedings, the former of which was soon aiterward overruled by the Supreme Court at 11s General Term, Murphy was therefore sentenced again in Breoklyn, and yesterday, the 14th day of May was appointed as the time for bis exe- cution, The writ issued on Thursday of last week now gives Murphy a new lease of life at least until next month, when the Court of Appeals will render a decision and deny or accord nim a new trial. If the statements which will be detatied below are | exact it appears very probable that the court of last resort will permit a new trial to tne man who is now doomed to die, ' THE CRIME of which Murphy is convicted will probably be readily called to mind by the reader, So mauy strange, even revolting, circumstances preceded and accompanied it, and such equally remarkable testimony dictatea the conviction of Murpiy of its commission, that they must have made a deep impression upon the minds of the people, There appears to have been a_ succes- sion of evil doings in the case—a chain whose first link was the criminal conduct of Mrs, | Hujus and Robert Gamble, during the lifeume of Mrs. Gambleand after the suspicious deatn of thay lady; the final link belng tie murder of Mrs. Hujus, for which Michael Murphy 1s now under mtence of death, This entire chain of crim nality was jorged in the little village of Nanuet, Rockland county, which 18 in a section of country peoplea by Germans, most of whom are thriity, thriving ‘olks—no better and no worse than tne residents of villages generally are, In the middle of this village of Nanuet Robert Gamble and his wile lived about six years ago, in the house of Mrs. Hajus. This woman did not bear such a rep. utation as a good Woman wonld like to nave, amd 1b Was very Olven Whispered that she was | THE CAUSH OF DISCORD between Gambie, and tis wile, Who 19 sald to have been a very respectabie person, » Gamble | having djed very suddeuly her hosbandt merely | announcéd the event by saying in the pubite house | ot the village tat “4tu accident had hap. | pened im his family,” and acted witn so muen sangsroid that it was suspected | that she had been murdered, Her body was ex- | amined and Dr, Doremus discovere. traces of powon in herstomack. Gamble and Mrs, Hujas were both contined in the Rockiand County Jail, at New City, for several monins; Dut were dis- charged for lack of evidence that they had administered polson to Mrs. Gamvie. | They returned to Nanuet and took up their resiuence togetner, seemingly having the Te.ations of ma ried people, aithough Mrs, Hnjus? | husband was alive travelling im cistant States. Mrs. Gampie at the time of ker death was pos. | sessed of a considerabie sum of Muney, ana owned @ larm near tue village of Nauuet. Her nusband ciaimed aud 100k po-ses-lon of this property, but Mrs, Gamble’s brothers and sisters, the former of whom were Michuel and Thomas Murphy. con- | vested pis claim, aud endeavoured to for m to Tender up the estate of their sister to them. Tney were ail moraiiy convinced that Mrs. Gaimbie had been murueied and they entertained vitter feel- ings toward her avs rand, THE MURDER OF MRS. HUJUS, | ‘The suit lor tte possession of the property went | on jor years, being tried at intervals. A hearing | was to liave been had on Monday, the voti or Apri, 1874, but a sinister event whic: happened on the previous evening deiayed it. At nail-past seven o'clock ou the evening of Sunday, tue ivth inst., a shot startied the quietness of Nanuet. The sound came from the direction of the h use in which Robert Gambie lived with Mrs. Hujus; wud two persous ou tue main road not only neard it, but saw the flush which preceded it and also tue person who discharged the weapon. They were Ayoung mau abd @ young lady, who, as s00n as the shot was fred, saw 4 man bound past mist and dark. them and disappear in the ness. Yet they say bis ight was not too sudden, aud they were not too muca Startied to discover that the = jugitr wore a frock coat falling two Inches be'ow hi knees, and a siouched hat pressed down over his face.” Waoen the house of Gamble was entered it was found that Mrs, Hujus had been shot dead and Gambie wounded by @ 800 fired through a window irom the outside of the house. Tuere were no exact indications as to who had committed the crime, Nor were there any as to the direction which the murderer (ook in @ssaping, As Michael and Thomas Murpliy were kuown to hoid both Gambie and Mrs. Hujus in enmity, it was inferred ies seer wight have veeu impelled to commit tue murder, BOTH MEN WERE ARRESTED at their residences in Jersey Uliy ou Monday and taken for couiivement to tae jail in New city, Thomas soon proved an alibi cusively aud Was ciscoarged from cusiody, ia0i Was held jor triai and Was convicted of murder just fall, although several persous testified that they saw bim in Jersey City on tue day oi the muruer after the only train for Nanuet had started, y IT 13 A STRANGE FACT that but fow persons outside of Kockland county Knew (bat Judge Donolue oad granted a second writ of error, although the iustrument was issued in this city. Im order to jearn the effect upon Murphy of this second respite from death the writer visited tim yesteiday in the jail at New City. This Villuxe is the county seat of Kockland county, and though not romantically Situated it is surrounded by hilis, Until within two weeks there was 00 raliway access to it, but now @ braneli of the New York and New Jersey line rans to ‘he village irom Nanuet. the reporter was fulroauced into the jail and to Marphy by Mr. Wilk jam ©. Seaman, who acis as one oi the special guards over the condemned man Upon beiug calied Murphy came forward irom the :ear OF his Celi and jeanea against its grated door. Lie appeared to vo man about thirty-five years oid, sturdily bunt, about five ieet eight inches high, having @ ‘ace expressing a fitiul dis position, oue would pass quickly Irom the mood of pieasantry to thato anger. Lis jorehead protrudes somewhat, but is of very wood shape. lbe general iui ression producea upon | one who sees Murphy is that be isu man who might do a violent act in a moment of anger, but, although obstmate, Would not deliberately pian and execute a crime. ‘ MURPUY'S STATEMENT. In the course of conversation cordial. 1 greeting given him oy reporver he said:—I don’t Want to say any- 1 have already said all 1 camsay, and F meant what said to the last reporter who came to see me to be my dying words. It I had oeen hanged toway they would have been, What dv I koow shout new evidence? (This ne said, irritaply, in re- sponse to a query irom the writer.) {only know that l amp ipnocent, and thatif | kLew the names of all the people Who saw me on the day that toe became quite murder Was committed | would nave been all right long ago. But I dou't know their names. | Only Know them by sight. [ never did learn tie names of the people 1 met from day to day, not even thos most of my Relghbors, A great many peop.e knew me by nawe whom | only knew by sigut. tow coud L work in one shop, With mj name over tue aoor, ani live im one neighboraovd for five years without many people knowing me by mame and by signt? On the day of the murder as I walked through the street L met a number of people who knew ie and woom iknew by sight, bat | canno: call upon tiem to be my Witnesses, because I don’t know their names. AS | Weht past the green corner, on Monmouth street ({ dows Know Whether it is bait on DoW or not), there were about fifty voys playing wmaroies and other mies. 1 knéw sume of the boys, bat I cau’t tell thelr names. Why, there js Mi. Layman, who lived opposite to me! He bas a number of sons, bur 1 don’t know the uames of any ot Yhem, except that of tne eldest, Johnny. Ou that evening, as 1 was sitting on my door sili with Josie (that’s my boy), Lay men was In irene of bis house \OOkiy ata Tu: tree, and toe man who lived near ime, on tue i oman’s piace, was standing m his lot wih @ iieud, lovking ata peach ree, 1 gay at my door that evening until Josie became peevisn, and then as tt bevan to ain | went into we house. L am all right now, [ think, jor i don’t believe they can (ake me out of this cell uuless to clear ime; butif they hang mei wilt die saying what t said to the last reporter, twat Fam innocent, Why, sir, ti Suerti? Bensen said to me, “Mike, go Into that fleid infront of ihe woul go and stay there until I was Ireeg- | excusing bis crime. charge now against me. If the District Attor- tola me to go vutof bere I wouldn't go un- Jess | was redeemed. ALLEGED WIFE MURDER CONSPIR- ACY, TRIAL OF CUNNINGHAM IN NEWARK FOR MUB- DER. William Cunnimgham, who stands charged with the extraordinary offeuce of having conspired to murder his own wife, the mother of a large fam- lly, was placed ou trial yesterday, in the Essex County Court, After opening the case the Pros- ecutor of the Pleas called to the stand Mrs, Ruth Hatield. She alleged coat Cunningham came to her house and asked to see one of her boys, who went with him to a saloon, The princi+ pal witness was Norwood Hatfleld, who con- fessed to having served two terms 10 tue Staie Prison, He eaid that Cunningnam told him be wanted a person’s skull cracked, If the person were muraered he would like it better, Cun- ningabm askea him, be said, if he (Hat | field) would do at, and Hatieid id | "No, pot for all tie money in Ne ” | Cunningham subsequently told bliin it was his Wie he wanted murdered, He bad uot spoken to her for three montos. Hutfetd alleged that Cunning: ham odered him $100, and, a8 au earnest, gave Nin | $2. Hatfeid then went on to testify that Cunning. ham bad plannea the crime with tim, but tiat he “listened”? only and tue told the iacts to the po | lice, who told him ro jead Cunvingham on— LEAD HIM INTO TEMPTATION. Cunningham, he deciareu, laia out the plans jor murvering Mrs, Cunningham. On cross-examima- tion Hattield coniessed facts showlug: that le was wn exceedingly “hard ease” and not over reliabie G Pouee Justice Mills and Chiet of whboid Lota tesutled to having had inter. views With liatieid and to haviog counseled him to go aud see how far Cunninghaur would go. Ve- tective Haggerty was sworn and téstified tat upoa being arrested Cunningham was very excited, and woen wssured that his wile was not uead said, “Tank God that that 18 sol? Otuer wit- hesses were called to prove that QCuoningham said the whole thing Was a joke to scare his wie so that she would leave him, The case was then closed and will be given to te jury to-day. A NEGRO MURDERER HANGED, SE RE EE EXECUTION OF JOSHUA FRAZER, AT CAMDEN, &. C., YESTERDAY—RELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT AT THE SCAEFFOLD—CONFESSION OF OTHER REVOLTING CRIMES—DETAILS OF THE MURDER. Campen, 8. C., May 14, 1875. The wildest excitement attended the execution of Joshua Frazer to-day, at forty-five minutes past eleven, for the murder of Benjamia Cooper last Christmas, By daylight the crowd had assembled jrom thirty miles around, and to the number cf | 7,000. One white and one colored fre company | Was ordered out and armed to keep order. an armed guard took the prisoner frou: the jail to the | gallows, southwest of the town, erected in wo old field, The prisoner, having been respited once, Would have been lyncnel by bis own'race if not hanged to-day. Sherif John Doby had or- | ganized po Meet every emergency, and an extra | force of police maintained order, Frazer nas tried twice to com nit suicide ia his cell, where he hi been chained to the wall, On the scaffold he main- | rained a spirivot laughing bravado, and died in that way, professing to be converted, and then | woman in Camden, and the burning of gin houses. The wildest religious excitement pre- vailed among. the surging maga, whicn prayed and sang hymns in the brotiing sun. Frazer’s neck was not broken, and he was not strangled for | seven minutes. The last execution befure this was in 1862. THE MURDER. During the holidays, which in the South are characterized with an abandon of gayety and de- bauchery not usual in other parts of the United Siates, the number of murders and homicides is horrilying to contemplate, and the opening of the present year outdid ail others in this respect. Ker- shaw county, the home of the gallant General ana honest statesman whose name it bears, has been comparatively free trom crime, the blacks appear- ing to heve partaken of the straightforwara, stead. fast, dadustrious bavits of their superiors. But during the recent bolidays Kershaw county tal- lied one in the Jong and bioody list. This was one of those plantailon murders so diMcult to trace, About eight miles irom the county seat is situated the jarge plantation of Colonel Ward, an old and successiul farmer. The houses of the laborers are arranged in (wo rows a suort distance from that occupied by the overseer, which stupas at the cenire and head of the miniature viilage. Io ope of wWese loases lived J shua Frazer, murderer, his Wie, @nd two of her cblidren by a jormer husband: a short distance celow and on the opposite side Benjamin Cooper, tue victim, lived Im one of the log hous Cooper was a light molatto, not married, aud very mighty re spected by both whites and blacks. Ihe over. seer, @ white man, testived during the trial that | “he never knew Cooper world.” On Christmas had ap enemy tn the ve the murderer aud lus victim met, Cvoj taking occasion to ask Frazer for a small sum of money due him, Frazer replied that te fad the money in his pocket, but wouki see im 19 hell before he paid | iu, and with a large suck struck @ biow at tae he.d of Cooper, which would doubt- less vave killed him then if it nad not missed its aim. The bystanders iuterfered, and apparently tie difficuity was ended satisfactorily to both par- ues. cabin, sod about mianight, when the merry nak. ing Was at its helent, tue mugzie o1 a dondie barrelied shotgun Was Lirust through a chink near the chimney, Where Cooper was sitting, aud the contents discharged into tis side, He fell trom the chuir, aud soou alter expired, Bre duck shut, with which tae gun Was joaded, having passed turough his stomacn ana into bis spleen. Great excitement foliowed immediately alter the kiliing, and ll the murderer Could have been iden- ioe) be would have been lyncved upon the spor. The overseer and the owner 0} the plantation were early at the scene, and learning of tne recent diff. culty between the two men correctly surmised that Frazer had committes the deed. By te light of candles these (wo gentlemen and some of the party were examining the footprints of the murderer, When gfrazer appeared comug from th direction of # small thicket of pines, several rods distant, and in au excited mauner inquired if they could “tind any fovt- prints.” Mr. Ward and the overseer directed their attention to Ms shoes, alter waicu, the light failing, they gave up the eXaminution unt the next inoruing, They sound the tracks jeading irom the house of Frazer to the chimk in the wall of the house of Cooper, and frou thence to the thicket, passiog througe wWhica the murderer made a circuit and revurned agai to the house where he m tue Inquiry toe night belwre. Tae soul Was i and (oe footprints and pecuilar marks Of tue sees were easily traced, TELL-TALE SHOES, They then went te Frazer's cabin and called him out. He was very willing to Ovey, but it Was no- ticed that he bat on new shoes, the fastenings of which be lad not yet tied. He was told “that would not do,” and to go for the old shoes he had on the night previous. He denied haviog any others, but finally brought an old pate covered With mould, and was told again to bring the snoes he wore the day wefore. He insisted he had none, but threats sent tim in for them, and alter an absence of haif an nour he returned with one old shoe on and tne upper of another in his hand, The thumb of ms jeit hand he keptin his mom. im auswer to in- quiries be said ke had cut the apper of the stove severai days belore ior the purpose of maxing & strap fora cow beil. Fresa blowd veing noticed on tie pleco he had, his thumb was pulied trom his mouth and found fo be freshly gashed in the hurry vl cul ting the save in meces; neither had any part of the upper been used for astrap. A search of the house revealed tae fact that the sole had been cut im three pieces and stowed away under tue eaves, also spotted With iresh biood, Frazer stated during the seurth that he had tarown the sole away. The shoes were identided by the owner of tue Plantation as those he had puchased sor Frazer, and by the overseer as Waving been wora daty vy the prisoner, and also tie same as those tmey had noticed otf H13 feet the previous aight and a fur- ther comparison of thein Wita tne prints made on that pint leit no rooy lor doubt, Frazer was then arrested, protesting bis inno- cence, and Was Saved irom injary at the hands of the miuriated rienas of ooper, Who were anxious to punich him summarti hey were prevented, however, by Colone| Ward and the overseer, who tied him and marched him to Camden Jati, where he was kept Naudcufled and chained until bis trial @anuary 21). protesied continually his in- hocence and manifested a desire to ve tried speediy. CHURCH EXTENSION AND MISSION- ARY SOCIETY. A meeting of the Boara ot Managers of the New York City Church Excension and Missionary So- | ciety was held yesterday alternoon at the mis- sion rooms, No, 805 Broadway, J. B. Cornell pre- siding. Verbal reports concerning the progress of the work in the various missions under the charge of the society Were made, and the sev- eral committees presented their reports, which were adopted. Ihe Treasurer, W. B. Colgaie, reported the receipts since April 9 to be $19, ana the expenditures $10,6 . leaving & Dalen of $2 20. fe also made a statement taat during the coming month there would tall due $4,000 for jail," i before 1 Would leave Witaout being cleared of | current expenses and a mortgage of $6,500, a He confessed to the killlog of | Cooper and to the killing of bis wife’s cluld and a | the | Two days later Cooper gave a party at bis | NEW YORK CITY. 5 Comptrolier Green will pay the salaries of the meneut teachers this morning at the Comptroller's omice, The steamboat Armenia, of the day line, wil! commence day trips to and from Albany on Mom day next. William Utz, an Infant one year old, accidentally fell irom tne iourth story window of No. 1,647 Seo ond avenue to the yard, yesterday afternoon, sus taining probably fatal injuries. By request of many frie.ds the fourteenth aunty versary of the Howard Mission and Home tor Lit | tle Wanderers, of No. 40 New Bowery, will be re« | pened in Brooklyn, at toe Academy of Music, Om | Tuesday evening, 2510 tust. During an altercation yesterday morning-be- tween James Hogan and Heary Norton im the liquor salooo No, 28 Bowery, where they were employed, tas lacter was cut tn the cneeK quire severely with akuife, He was taken to the Parl | Hospital. The sale of pews in the new Fifth avenue Pree byterian cnurch will take place on Monday. 17th inst., at half-past seven P. M. Certidcates of pew property in the old church, corner o1 Nineteentt street, have been exchanged by a comunittee of the Board of Trustees lor scrip of twice thet amount, applicable as cash in purchase of seats in the new edifice. The annual meeting of the Thisue Benevolent Association was beld on Thursday evening, wh the followiag named gentlemen were dury elected the oMlcers for the ensuing year:—Prestdent, George Giliuly; Vice President, Malcolm S, Taylor, ‘Yreasorer, James Warnock; Secretary, Joon Tay: A board of mapagement, consisting of twene | ty-one memvers, was uiso elected, The Sinking Fund Commissioners yesterday Passed @ resolution at their meeting that lessee of city prope: ty to be leased, and alist of which was handed in by the Comptroller and which aré to be soid at public auction on the 18th inst, should not be sold at a Valuation jess than tM made by Samuel ©. Holmes, who was employ some time ugo to appraise vue property. The Board of City Record held @ meeting yes terday and opened the bids for the printing of the Record, The bids were as follow: The Spectator Company, new matter, 60c,; standing matter, tabular work, three columns, $1; foar cok , $1 50; paper, $13; pressworX, 90c.; altera- tions, 0c. ; J. H. Craoksvaw biG Jor Lhe same work $1, lée., $1 80, $15, $1, 75¢.; M. B, Brown as fol- lowS:—T0c., 8C., T0e., $1 50, $13, 75e., 0c, The contract was awarded to Mr. Brown, as being the lowest bidder. BROOKLYN. The total number of deaths in Brookiyn during the past week was 201, which ts an increase of 12 over the mortuary of che previous week, The aiferent deparcments of the city goverm ment are sending in their estimate of expenses fog the ensuing ‘The Uity Treasurer's estimate | is $10,000, ‘Tho estunate tor the expenses of the Board of Education 1s $1,200,000. LONG ISLAND: Henry S. Debevoise, late’ Mayor of Long Island city, 18 lying dangerously ill at his residence im that ciiy. ‘The asparagus season on the north side 1s about | two weeks iater than usual, but it is now be- ginning to come forward in liberal quantities, Five car loads came through trom Locust Valley on Thursday night, It 1s thought that the aggre- wate yleid Will Dot be lesseued perceptibiy m Come | sequence of Lue severiiy of the past winter. | The old Cenrreviile race track, at Jamaica, which for some years has been 1n disuse, except for traiuing purposes, has been leased for a tera of years by a party of Jamaica gentiemen, whe propose to put {tin complete order immediately, ine track Nas alWays been considered one of thé bestin the coantry., inere ts a rumor also that Mr. Join Morrissey is negotiating for the HH cuase of (he oli Union Course, between East Ne! York and Jamaica, Franz “Wuittaker,” as he has been called, but whose Bohemian name is Wodica, who attempted suicide on the public road near Jamaica village, leit Holbrook about two Weeks ago, intending te returo and resume work at cigar making. He has been desirous that his wife, who 1s still 1a Boe hemia, should join him in tais country, nae wor ot and sent ner all b be her to do so, A short tia passage tickets, when, at toe ia Te. Tused cocome. it is velleved that this preyed upom | his uiind untd, in a ft of despondency, be deter- | mined to emd his own lite. He 1s represented to ba a quiet and deserving man, Uf infammation cag be prevented he wil (oubiless recover. STATEN ISLAND, A hat manufactory is to be establshed at Ste pieton. Tue annual charter election of Edgewater wiD be held on Tuesday next, when Trustees will be chosen for the First, Third, Fifth, Seventh and Ninth wards, ana ao Assessor jor three years, Broad st eet, Stapleton, tormeriy known as Gore street, 18 now one of the Muest streets in Edge water, having been thoroughiy macadamized aod beaurified. A numoer of ouldings lor stores and dwellings have receatly been erected on the ling Of the stceet, | Mr. Lawrence Dempsey, of Factoryville, while | out riding late on Thursday nigot, temporarily left a valuable horse and wagon standing in the street, and during his absence some th cap. tured the turnout and iett for parts opknowa, Early yesterday moraing the bourse and Li i 4 wero seen going @t a rapid rate toward tue Jerr! THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY. | The Joint Committee of the New England Society held a meeting at noon yesterday in the office of Aldefman O. P. C. Bilings, No. 54 Wiliam street, There were present Colonel J, H. Bally, cnairmans L. P. Huobard, secretary; Coione! Wiillam Bordem and Messrs. E. L. Gaul, A. W. Tennie and 0. PO, Bulings. The committee proceeded to discuss the best means of transportation to Boston upon the occa sion of the Bunker Hill centennial, ana it was flaally agreed that im all probaoitity tue society would embark in New York, along with the Old Guard, on the evening of Tuesday, the 16t0 of June next, on board tue Fall River steamer Provi- dence, Phe question of fags and decorations wag orougnt up, bas Rothing definite resolvea upon, It Was agreed fo issue » circular nor all the members, taviting them to signify ir intentions: as to whe:her they Will atvend the approaching celeoration or not. A meeting of tae society been called jor Friday next, at hall-past seve o’ciock P, M., in Detnonico’s. The commute adjourned to meet at the same place aud hour next Tuesday, DARWINISM. Last evening J. B, Hodgskin delivered lectare before the Liberal Club at Piimpton Hall, The suojecs was “Darwinism and @ Special Ref- erence to its Bearing upon the Conflict Between Science and Religion.” He a gued that there conid be 0 confict between science aud religion, as the only questio: between tne two was one of limits, The bounda- ries were movable and Would always be so. To prove this assertion he reverred to the ancient bee lies—the worsiip of fire, of the heavenly podies, &c.—each of whicn forms had been suc ceeded by others more rational, Every organic being from the moment of its birth entered the sirugglé for existence, the race for life, question came up, Who savuld live—who was be preserved? This depended upon sight aiferences 10 organizanon Of the individuals, no two ot whom were alike, Some escaped destruction by a greater Pape some by a seeming eck, fue struggie lor existence in the vegetable world Was ju8t a8 ineXorabdie as in the animal kingdom, Slight differences In individnais determi whe isto survive, This Was nature’s selection ot the Attest. Ths, Coupled with tne indisputable ol the inheritance of individual qual tormed the third principie of Darwinism, “the oricin 0} species by natural seection.’’ The eternal of this system Was What Was least Mt lor lite aval) die. The fittest aione survived. Progress aiong was life. QUARANTINE, ~ Deputy Health Officer br. McCartney takes ay his oficial residence to-day as Quarantine Officer in Lower Bay, on board tue tuik of the quaraatine snip Lilinois, which has been lying during tht Past Winter, and While not tu service, at the cottog docks at Tompkinsyilie, St-ten Island, The illt HOis Was (owed down to her woortngs yesterday by toe Quaranune steamer Nelson K. Hopkins, Vessels irom tavana ana other infected ports will ve gh gon eee a eee Herel every eitort wil made by t thoriies to keep \eaow Jack, caviar, ton at arm’s lengtu. *