The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-13
THE RECENT TRAGEDY.
Arrest of the Supposed Murderer.
HE IS NOTORIOUS BoUNTY-JUMPER.

y
resulting in the brutal murder of two
innocent children-Isabella N. Joyce
and her brother, John S. Joyce-whose
dead bodies terribly mutilated were found
in piece of woods upon the estate of
Mr.. Thomas Motley, on Sunday the 18th
of June last, are still fresh in the minds
of the public, and it Is therefore unne-
cessary for us, in this connection to re-
call them. The whole affair was shroud-
ed in mystery; the bodies were discov-
cred in such condition as led to the
conclusion that the murder. had been
perpetrated full a week previous, and
therefore the murderer or murdererS had
had ample time to leave for parts un-
known. Nothing of any account could
be found near by which would aid the
officers of the law in their search, and
it seemed next to impossible for them to
bring to justice the perpetrator of the
crime. Several persons, it will be re-
membered, were arrested on suspicion,
but as nothing could be proved against
them they were discharged from custe.
dy. 1t gives us, therefore, great pleas
ure to announce to our readers this
morning, that through the unceasing
exertions of our worthy Chief of Police,
aided by his jealous detective force, a
person has been arrested, who, it is con-
fidentially believed, either committed
the flendish crime or was Immediately
concerned in it. "a
A few days after the discovery of the
bodies in Buzzey's Woods, Chief of Po-
lice Kurtz received information from
reliable source that one John Stewart, a
resident of West Roxbury, and dis
charged soldier, was the murderer. The
Chief then quietly proceeded to investi-
gate the case, with the aid Of but one Of
ficer. Further information was received
of like character, but from an entirely
different party, and subsequently third
communication, with the additional and
somewhat important fact that Stewart
had confessed the crime, and had also
told the manner in which it had been
committed. With the information thus
| received and the feeling that they were
| certainly on the right track, the Chief,
| with detectives Heath and Jones, at
once vigorously set about the task of dis.
| covering the whereabouts of this Stew.
art. 1t was ascertained that an aunt OF
the man charged with the crime resides
in West Roxbury, and it appeared that
to her house Stewart went on the even
ing of Monday, June 18th (the dayupon
which it is believed that the murder was
committed), with his hand cut and his
clothes badly torn and covered with
blood. To this house the Chief and the
detectives went, and upon inquiring as
| to Stewart the woman denied all knowl-
| edge of his whereabouts. Getting nc
information in this quarter, the officers
| turned their attention in another direc.
ton, and few days since it was ascer
tanned that the man they were after hat
re-enlisted in the regular army and wa!
stationed at Fort Independence.
A visit was accordingly made to the
fort on Wednesday last, the fifth instant
but the man was not recognized, owing
to an erroneous description which had
been given the detectives. On Satur-
day, Detectives Heath and Jones again
went down to the fort, this time taking
| with them young lad who was ac-
quainted with Stewart. AS the troops
stationed at the fort were passing in re-
! view, the lad saw Stewart and at once
pointed him out to the detectives. A
peculiar mark on the right of the neck
and the cut upon his hand, the scar OF
which was plainly visible, completed the
! Identification, and by the courtesy OF
Major Huston, commanding the post,
Stewart was handed over to the officers
dllu UTOuSItJUy tucLulIiluiculduCIy w tIilS
| city. The party arrived here between sew
en- and eight O'clock in the evening, and
| the alleged murderer was committed to
| the TOmbs, upon a warrant previously
| issued by Justice Worthington of Ded-
| ham. 1"-
| The man who is charged with this
horrible crime is of Irish descent, and
| about twenty-four years of age He is
stout built, of medium height, has a
short, thick neck, full face, dark brown
hair, and cold blue eyes, withve heavy.
shaggy eyebrows. He has mother liv-
ing in Pittsburgh, Pa. Taken altogeth-
er, Stewart hardly has the appearance of
being so hardened q wretch as to be ca
pable of committing the brutal crime
with which he stands charged. He is,
however, a perfect bounty-jumper, and
has followed that rascally business, ac-
cording to his own confession, for some
time. He acknowledges he has deserted
from the service as many as nine differ
ent times, and has re-enlisted sometimes
under an assumed name. He says that
for two years he, was on board Of the
sloop-of-war Pensacola, and that he af-
| forwards enlisted in the Fourth New
Hampshire Regiment. He enlisted the
last time June Is, in the Twentieth I'M
tied States Regulars, at Fort Indepen-
dence. -
Stewart was naturally much troubled
| upon being arrested. He denies posi-
lively all knowledge of the crime, and
when spoken to about it, said, with
much feeling: am bad enough, God
knows, but was never bad enough to
commit a murder" He declares that
he has ample evidence to prove where
he was at the time of the murder, and
to establish his innocence.
Numerous obstacles have been met
with In the way of obtaining informa-
ton with regard to the prisoner. There
are other more important facts of cir
cumstantial evidence which, as is per-
fectly proper, are as yet held in reserve,
and which, it is thought, will go far to
fix the crime on Stewart.
The prisoner will probably be taken
to Dedham Jail to-day, as the crime was
committed in Norfolk county. During
the entire day yesterday, and, in fact,
all the time that he has been confined
in the Tombs, Stewart has been calm
and unconcerned, perfectly confident
that he can clear himself from all suspi-
cion. 'lN1. -
/ The aggregate amount offered by va
rious parties for the arrest and convic-
ton of the person or persons who COM
mitted the murder is S., 500--the town
of West Roxbury having offered 81 900,
+bo oif;,apo of that tour, 60 mn tho ost