The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-12
Scratch answered in the negative. Tn

'Scfatch" answered IN the negative. In
reply to further questions, the prisoner
stated that he had never been in Massa-
causetts, and knew no one here; that he
was in New York state all of last Nav
and in Connecticut during the latter
part of June. Where he was the first
part Of that month he refused to tell ;
and when pressed upon that point he
said, what has that to do with my be-
ing m this prison? l know what you
are driving at" The warden saying to
nm mat MS question was a proper one,
scratch" replied. II know what you
want. You think murdered the Rox-
bury Children" The warden told him
that he was suspected Of that crime. and
that it would be for his own Interest to
show where he was during the fret part
OF June. lie also told the prisoner that
he was friendly to him, and would spend
500 in enabling him to collect the eyi.
dence ofhis whereabouts during the Pc
Rod which he had not accounted for.
The prisoner cast his eyes to the floor
and began to tremble violently, mani
Testing the most extreme agitation, and
talked in confused manner Of his
whereabouts at all times except during
the fatal first part of June.
On Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff
Kimball of Fitchburg had an interview
with the prisoner, who then admitted
much which he had in the forenoon de-
MED to the warden, but was still silent
as to where he was during the interval
which it concerned him SO deeply to be
accounted for.
Yesterday morning, having had a
nights reflection, the prisoner sent for
the warden, and said he was ready to
tell him where he was during the whole
of June (; he then proceeded to state that
he was in New York state all that month
but on being asked to give precise locali-
ties, he again became con fused, naming
one town which the officers have not
yet been able to find in any gazetteer,
and speaking of another locality us Is
miles distant from another town I'M
known to the officers. The remainder
OF the month he accountedfor by stating
that he was in the woods and upon the
road.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE PRISONER
The steps which have been taken to
Identify the prisoner as connected with
the crime have revealed facts W hich bear
as strongly against him as his own de-
clarati0ns. A person answering to his
description is known to have been at
rats hotel, in West Roxbury, three
quarters of mile,from Buzzey's woods,
at abiut the timeof the murder. some
OF the articles of clothing worn by the
prisoner have been recognized, by slrik.
ingly peculiar marks, us having been
seen upon the individual at Taft's hotel.
Persons living in Roxbury have pointed
him out, among collection of convicts
at the prison, as the man whom they
should say they saw at West ROxbury,
IF his skin was little darker,"-it be
ing stated, moreover, that he has lost
much color since his incarceration. The
knife taken from the prisoner on his ar
rest has been shown to the surgeon who
made the post mOrtem examination Of
the murdered children, and to the cOro-
ncr who conducted the inquest, and has
been found to correspond precisely with
The appearance and size of the wounds
which caused the death CT the unlortu-
nate victims. Other evidence of a SINH.
lar nature has been obtained; but in de-
ference to the expressed wishes of the
officers of justice, we forbear to make
anything more than this brief state
ment.
III this connection it will be we'll to
state that when the prisoner was arrest
ed by Sheriff Wetherbee he had on a
pair of boots, apparently nearly new,
VIII 'ch he at first stated lie had stolen at
Randolph county. Subsequently, he
however stated he stole them from
two story white house few miles from
Worcester,on the county roal to SPRING
field. Great efforts has been made by
the officers to find the owner of these
boots, without success. Further identi-
iication may yet be obtained from this
| source.
HISTORY OF THE SUSPECTED MAN.
The following is somewhat discon-
neeted history of the criminal, drawn
from him by the detective while in the
State Prison:
| He is now twenty seven years of age,
and his real name is Rolla Ampudia, his
parents being Spanisli. At the age of
| years he was taken from an asylum on
fremont street, In this city and adopted
by Mr.. Aaron Dodge of Hamilton. His
name was on the books of the institu-
ton as Charles Scott, but Mr. Dodge, by
permission of the legislature, changed il
to that of Charles Aaron Dodge. At the
| Age Of thirteen he went to se8, and since
that time has been rowing around tie
world, at one time hunting Indians "by
the head" in Florida.
| At the outbreak of the rebellion he
says he was in the South Carolina state
prison for murder, having served six
months of his term. Being pardoned
out Oh condition of joining the rebel
army, he deserted ohce;' was In Nor
CANS command in his raid through
| Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, was cap
| tured and was parOled. Subsequently,
he enlisted in Massachusetts regiment,
having served on the United States ves-
| sells South Garolina, Minnesota, Sayar-
nah, Shawsheen, and Dao6tah, tiesect-
ing from each and all of them. He has
at different times given the names of
| Charles Wood, Charles Odell, Charles
A. Dodge, and his present assumed
| name OF 'iScratGh- Hrayet.
In person the prisoner is compactIy
| built, having great breadth of chest
stands five feet'five inches in height;has
black, curly hair, large and piercing
eyes of the same hue, high forehead, a
face narrowing toward the chin,
| sWarthy complexion, and sinister and
feroci6Gs expression OF countenanee,
though he wbGlf be generally regarded
% ratheta good looking man when we'll
dressed and in a pleasant mood. His
weight is about $50 pounds.
IN o II E RN CAPITALIsTS.-The
Charleston Courier Of the 81 inst. states
that several northern capitalists, who
had visited South Carolina with the OBJ