The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-30
A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.
A Brother and Sister Murdered at
Roxbury, Mass.
AtrOcioHs Outrage on the Persen
Of a Little Girl.
Both Bodies Terribly Mutilated by
the Murderers.
FULL DETAILS OF THE SHOCK.
ING AFFAIR.

From the Boston Journal, June 49,
One of the most terrible and revolving crimes
which has ever occurred in New England, was
revealed in Roxbury late yesterday afternoon.
1t is one OF those horrible double tragedies
which sickens the human heart and makes the
blood boil with voluntary desire to infiict
summary vengeance upon the lnhuman and
feadish perpetrators. 1t will be recollected, as
stated in the papers of last week, that on Mon
day last two children-brother and sister-nam-
ed John s. Joyce and Isabella Joyce, left their
mothers house to walk out to Roybury. Since
that time every effort, until yesterday, to learn
of their whereabouts, had been unsuccessful
beyond the fact that a man in RoXbury saw two
children answering their description, on the
day of their disappearance, wandering in the
direction of Dorchester.
The mystery was solved yesterday, however,
by the discovery of their lifeless bodies, bear
ing unmistakable evidences of q terrible out
rage and murder. The discovery was purely
accidental, Notwithstanding active and thor
ough search was in progress to discover the
cause Of their singular absence. Two Boston
merchants had gone to ROXbury for the pur-
pose of recreation, and while strOlling through
what is known as Bussey's woods, they were
suddenly startled by discovering the murdered
body of the little girl Isabella. They at once
notified the city authorities, wEo Immediately
proceeded to the scene of the tragedy. The
only means by which the body could be identi-
fed was the clothing. The features which the
little one pesembled in life were succeeded by
those of terrible and painful death. Upon
examination it was discovered that she had
been outraged in fearful manner, and from
the manner in which her clothiRg was torn it
was apparent that she had violently resisted
the assaults upon her rantil completely over
powered. after completing their terrible viii
lainy, the fiends sought to cover up the awful
crime by another scarcely less horrible. Muir.
der followed, and this was accomplished by
beating and stabbing. As incredible as it may
seem, not less than sixteen stabs were inflicted
upon her body, mostly in the abdomen, any one
of which vas almost sufficient to cause instant
death. Coroner Ira Allen and DR.. Arnold were
called, and the coroner took charge of the
body. The girl was only fourteen years of age,
but was very fully developed, and had the APP
pearance of being scarcely less than eighteen.
After the body had been identified as that of
Miss Joyce, and the circumstances made known
that her little brother Johnny was also missing
a search was Immediately commenced to ascer-
tain what had become of him. The fearful an
ticipations that he too had shared the same fate
of his murdered sister, were soon painful
reality. After two or three hours searching,
his dead body was found only few rods from
and killed. He was lying upon his face, and
death had been caused by several stabs infiict-
ed with dirk or some similar instrument In
the small of his back. Appearances indicated
that the wounds were inflicted while running,
and it is reasonable to suppose that he was be-
ing pursued or driven away by the wretches
against whom he was feebly resisting to save
the life of his sister. He was twelve years of
age, two years her junior.
Near the scene OF the diabOlical crimes were
found several Wreaths of flowers and ever
greens, wrought with great care and taste.
They were apparently engaged in this innocent
and childish amusement when set upon by the
brutal murderers. When they left home each
had ten cents, but only three cents was found
with them yesterday. They had probably
spent the rest to pay their fare in the horse
cars.
The bodies of both of the deceased are now
in charge of Coroner Allen, who will hold an
inquest at once. There is, of course, the most
intense excitement in the vicinity where the
brutal affair occurred, and mingled with ex-
pressions of vengeance upon the perpetrators
of the brutal crime, there is also much sympa-
thy manifested for the bereaped parents. That
such tends as perpetrated the horrible deed ex-
ist in this community, seems almost incredible
and it can be but the hearty desire of every
good citizen that they shall be speedily arrest
ed and punished. There is as yet not the
slightest clue to the authors of the brutal out
rage, but if the adage is true that murder
will out" it would seem almost impossible that
the wretches who perpetrated this double
crime should escape. A reward OF $500 has
been offered by Alderman w. w. Clapp. of
Ward Eleven, in behalf of the citizens of that
Ward, where the unfortunate victims resided.