New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-11
THE JOYCE TRAGEDY.
Arrest OF the Supposed Murderer OF the
JONce Children.
From Mondays Boston Journal.


On Saturday afternoon John Stewart of West
Roxbury soldier of the Goth Regular Infantry in rem
dezyons at Fort Independence was arrested at tina,
Dedham. charging him with the murder Of Isabella N
Joyce and John s. Joyce. In Busseys Woods, Wes'
Roxbnry. on the 10Th dav OF June last. Stewart was
brought to this city and lodged In the Iomo, IRON
whence he will probably be conveyed TO Dcdhsm JAIL
The circumstances attending the discovery ana atres
of Stewart so far as 1t is proper now to ascioSe the
are as follows:
few DAYS after the bodies Of the outraged ana mur
6ered children were found Chief Of Police. Hurts re-
ceiyed information that the man now under arrest,
John Stewart Of West Roxbnry. the perpetraor oi
the horrible deed and on Friday June % being Class
day at Cambridge proceeded quietly With one officer
10 trail otbe suspected individual Shortly after
the Chief received similar information from another
and quite distinct party and subsequently, from tbird
with the additional circumstance that Stewart had
confessed the crime and the manner in which the deed
that he was the right track, the Chief with renewed
vgor set about the task Of discovering the whereabouts
OF Stewart, and. In company with detectives Heath
and Jones went TO the house OF his aunt Mt west ROY
bury where 1t appeared that Stewsr had called on the
night Of the murder Dune 2). with his hand cut and
his clothes torn and covered with blood Upon inquiry
however the denied all knowledge of his where
abOuts
Notwithstanding the innumerable and unaeconntabe
obstacles which seemed beset them In their attempts
TO gain information the Chief and his detectives were
not discouraged but aborcd day and night, until few
DAYS since their toll was rewarded by the discovery
that the prisoner had enlisted June 6 the FRIDAY after
the murder. and was at Fort Independence. On the
9Th of July inst the officers visited the Fort hut from
the erroneous description which had been given them.
unable to recognize their man, But after gaining
some additional facts bearing on the case. they again
went to the Fort on Saturday afternoon in company
with a bright young lad who knew Stewart The
troops and recruits having been paraded by order of
Major Huston. commanding the post. the men were no
in line than the boy pointed out Ia the detect
the man they wanted. A peculiar mark on the right
side of the neck and the upon the hand the scar
from which still remaining. completed the deniif
.atta md Statra AFT Mt Ial IN ha
civil authorities and brought to this city. Chief Of
Police kurz speaks in warm terms OF the courtesie-
extended himself and his detectives by the officers vi
the Fort.
The prisoner Stewart is o. years Of age five feet Ave
inches in hight stout bn, has short thick neck full
face cold. blue eyes. with very heavy eyebrows. but
hardly has the appearance Of being wretch sufficiently
with which be is charged lie is. however an accom-
pshed bounty jumper. acknowledging that he ha, de-
serted nine several times. reonstinR under different
names He says he has been q very bad man. but Is
innocent Of the murder OF the joyce chilrcn. II
theless appears that be well knew why he arrested
Speaking TO detective JONES shortly after being taken
In charge he said: can tell you all about where
that night" What nightf' asked the detective.
why, the night Of the murder I" replied Stewart
Stewart born in Ireland. has mother living
Pittsburgh Pa, and was stationed at Camp Cad
walader. from which place he deserted He says he
board tic sloopof Pensacola two years and
aferward enlisted in tho fth New Hampshire Regi.
ment There other facts Of circums'anid evidence
held in reserve which will probably go far to fix tho
understand 81 the case II II result otherwise II VIII
in nowise deract from the credit Justly due 70 Chief
Kurtz and his for their unrcmiiting eKeTti0ns to
discover the pcrpetrator Of the murder.