Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-26
From the Springfield Republican. April 25th.
The Murder MNstery in HoIyOke.

The village of llolyole was thrown into a
state of intense excitement Sunday evening,
by the statement OF four men that they had
heard female scream and a spashlng in The
water in the upper canal, near the railroad
bridge. The spot from where the cry pro-
ceuded was searched by men, with boats and
drags but nothing could be found. The next
morning the excitement was increased by the
report that Rosanna Mccormick, one of the
operatives of the Lyman mills, was missing,
and that she had probably been murdered and
thrown into the canal. Suspicion was imme-
diately fastened upon fellow by the name of
Robert Ham, an employee in Thomas Kelts
iron foundry in Holyoke, and on complaint of
Margaret Mccormick, a sister of the deceased,
he was arrested before the body was found.
His statement duplicated couple of fellows
named Robert Noodle and Peter Stuart both
employed in one of the founderies in this city,
who were also arrested. In the afternoon
Ham and Noodle were arraigned before a tri-
al justice on a charge of assault, to which
they severally plead not guilty, and were held
for examination. Stuart was so beastly ill.,
toXcated at the time, that he was locked up in
one OF the rooms in the third story of the
Samoset House, but sometime during the al
ternoon he jumped out of the window, and
went to South Hadley Falls, on the opposite
limansett, where lie stopped Monday night.
The next morning he came 10 Springfield and
was about the city all day, and in the evening
was arrested by deputy sheriff Shaw, When
trSt TAKEN he said he had not been in Holyoke
Tor SIX years, and had heard nothing about the
fearful crime with which he was charged
The officer then took him to the Railroad
House, where he formerly boardal. and he
was identified by Mr.. Burns, the proprietor
and taken into custody.
After Ham and Noodle were arraigned. and
previous to their examination, the body of
Miss Mccormick was hooked up out of the
canal, near tile railroad bridge, and at precise.
ly the same spot where the screams and
spashes were heard Sunday night. Her per-
son showed no marks of violence, and all the
Jewelry and money she had when last seen
was still in her possession.
II seems that Rosanna, the deceased in com.
pany with her sister Margaret, left their
boarding house early Sunday evening to call
upon Camody, one of their neighbors After
they had been there about half an hour, Moo.
die, Stuart, and Ham, entered the house, each
one coming separately, and Ham the last of
all. Neither Margaret nor her sister were ac-
qualnted with any OF the fellows, but they
were introduced, and all acquaintance and
friendship soon formed. Margaret says that
''i'N hOI SlSttI lCIJ lile mouse Il niue after
eight O'Clock, the latter leaving behind her
bonnet and shawl; she waited about half an
hour Tor them to return, and then went home
expecting to lind her sister there but did not :
she then returned TO Camody's house in search
OF her but she had not been there since she
went out with Ham. Margaret then went
nome again, but said nothing about her sister
until Monday morning, when she commenced
searching for her, but without effect. She
asked Ham where he had left her, and he at
nrSt denied ever seeing her, which excited
Margarets suspicion, and she had him arrest
Ell. Ihe other witnesses who were examined
at the coroner'S inquest say they don't recol.
lect OF seeing Ham and the deceased when
they lett Camody's house, and are quite sure
they did not go together
The place where the deceased was found
was directly opposite from her way home
which TACT in connection with her sisters ties.
tlmony, shows almost conclIsively that her
death was not caused by accident. Rosanna
was generally at home by nine O'Clock every
night, and had always borne good character
TOR chastity, but not for temperance.
The parties are all Scotch and the McCor.
mick girls have ither friends uOr relatives in
this country ; they have been in HoIyoke
about three years. Ham was employed in
Holyokss6bout five years ago, but had been
"oSeht uilui TWO or tlree months since. He is
an old offender, and says lie has been before
the courts several times
On Tuesday, Ham and Noodle were dis
charged on the complaint of an assault, and ar.
raigned on the charge of murder and in de.
fault OF bonds were committed to jail for ex-
animation Oh Friday. AS the case now stands
it IS one OF deep mystery, and nothing but
thorough investigation will bring out all the
facts connected with it. 1t there was crime
committeeman there is not much doubt of it
liam is probably the guilty party.