The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-31
IMPORTANT POSTSCRIPT.
The staten Island Murdcrs-Discovsry Of
the Murderess and her Escape-Arrest Of
N Suspected Accessory to the Horrid Deed
Recovery or the stolen gold lever Watch
treat Meeting OF Citizens mt Staten
Island Last Evening.
ONE O'CLOCK, SUNDAY !

treat Meeting OF Citizens Mt staten
Island Last Evening.
ONE O'CLOCK, SUNDAY MORNING.
One of our corps of interchangeable reporters has
just arrived from the scene of the horrid murders
on Staten Island, in the fast sailing clipper Mingo,
with the above important intelligence exclusively
for the readers of the Herald. The excitement in
the vicinity of the murder was most intense last
evening, and meeting of several hundred citizens
was held at short notice, the proceedings of which
will be found below.
During the investigation before the Coroner
picions were excited duplicating PollyBodine, SEN,
as the person who had committed the MURDERS
which suspicious grew stronger and stronger until
Friday evening, but being the sister of Captain G.
T.. Houseman, the husband of the murdered wife
and father of the child, they were allayed
until 1t ascertained, that at about dusk
on that evening she had left the premises OF
her fathers house where she had remain
ed since the discovery of the murder, hav-
ing previously resided with the unfortunate
deceased Her absence Immediately confirmed all
previous suspicious and trace being made it
found that she had taken passage in the steamboat
from Staten Island for this city that left yesterday
morning In the meantime all was excitement at
Granite Vii age, the scene of the murder, which is
about one mile and half from Port Richmond
landing. In the course'of the evening GeorgeW ate,
| an apoth"cary and physician, of 252 Canal street,
arrived at Port Richmond in the steamboat, accom-
panied by of Polly Bodine, named Albert,
aged about sixteen years, who has been in
his employ.
The peculiar come xion that has existed between
Waite and this woman, prompted those interested
in tracing the murderess to cause him to be placed
in custody for examination A letter from her was
found IN his possession, and other circumstances
afterwards TRANSFERRED that led to a full belief by
the magistrate before whom he was examined,
that he had either visited the Island to aid in her
escape, or knew her whereabouts in this city. He
was still under examination when eur reporter left
at late hour last evening.
In the course of the day, yesterday, it was dis
covered that the valuable gold lever watch that
had been stolen from the premises of Captain House
man after the murders were committed, had been
left at pawnbrOkers shop in this city on Monday
last by woman resembling Polly Bodine in every
particular This watch was taken to the police, and
placed in possession OF Justice Matsell, who with
officer McGrath, repaired to the Of the muir
der yesterday afternoon. AS as they arrived
at Port Richmond, and learned the arrest of
Waite, they immediately returned TO this city
and most probably arrested the supposed murderess
during the night, although they had not when our
paper went to press this morning
John J. Van Pelt, the father of the deceased, on
Tuesday last, the day of the funeral, publicly
declared his solemn belief that Polly Bodine was
the murderess, but suspicion was not then strong
enough to warrant her arrest although it was SO on
her examination before the coronersjury She is rep
resented as bold, determined woman, whose cha
racter certain points has long been questioned.
Her husband, Andrew Bodine, is now in Sing Sing
State prison, where he was sentenced on a charge
Of bigamy He was originally man of consider
able property and character, but after the marriage
with this woman, (rom her conduct as is alleged
became Incorporate aud debased. She finally left
him and he married another woman, named Sarah
Simpson, of habits similar to his own-who, our
readers will remember, was found dead in her bed
about two years since. He was then arrested for
her murder, but there not sufficient testimony
to convict him. and he was tried on the charge of
blgamy and sent to the State prison.
The meeting of citizens of Staten Island was held
last evening, previous to which the following hand
bill was circuated-
| "HoRRIp MURDER AND Arson ON STATEN IsLASp-The
inhabitants OF Richmond County requested to at
the house of John NJ Gaylord Granite Village Satur
day evening" soth inst for the purpose of investigating
the circumstances attending the murder Of Mrs. George
Houseman and child"
Long previous to the hour of meeting the house
was filled to overtiowlng by the anxious and honest
citizens of that vicinity. Rumor upon rumor was
circulated through the crowd until the time arrived
when Judge LITTLE was called to the chair,
and Judge CRoPsY appointed secretary. The for
| mer gentleman called the meeting to order with a
few remarks relative to the affecting circumstance
He was followed by Capt. George w. Gantz and
Mr. Phelps who urged the utmost vigilance the
part Of the whole assemblage, to investigate the
| horrid atrocity that had stained the character of
the peaceable and orderly citizens of that county
Mr.. DISTRICT ATTORNEY, CLARK, then presented
the following resolutions, which were adopted
Resolved That is the Of this meeting that the
late atrocous CRIME pepetraed in our midst calls for the
active vigilance of every citizen and officer of this county
to devote his unremted efforts to the detection Of the
guilty.
Resolved That considerations of private nature
should have influence to the police officers Of this
county from dischagng their duty most gidy and that
ing should be paid by the county and person should
hesitate to thorough personal examination and rigid
search OF or premises thought necessary by such
officers
On motion of GEORGE w. CAN'T the following
gentlemen were selected by the District Attorney
as a committee of citizens to aid in the detection
OF the person or persons concerned IN the murders
III. b. Cropsy, r. d. Little, George w. Gantz,
John T Harrison and Daniel G.. Crocheron.
District Attorney CLARK then remarked that the
character of the investigation required that 1t
should proceed in private, and called upon all pre-
sent as well as all the citizens of the county not
to take exceptions object to search OF their
premises examination before the Commissioners
and committee, if it considered necessary in
the detection Of the offenders. He then offered
| the following resolution, which was adopted
Resolved, That we the citizens of the county, will do
all in our power individually and collectively to obtain
and follow out the suspicious and reports and
communicate the result to the members Of this commee
and will also by every other forward the objects
| Of this investigation.
The name of DR.. f. Clark was then added to the
| committee, and the meeting then adjourned to
| Monday evening next.
The impression is that Mrs Houseman, the de-
ceased, was supplied with some drug before the
murder was committed, and from close examina-
ton the previous suppositon that her body had
been violated before the murder, is considered to
| be erroneous.
| nd dolla in h,