Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-19

The MURDERER OF TIE JoIcE CHILDRES-
A LOCAL IrEE-The Boston Journal pub
fishes a sketch of Charles A. Dodge, alas
Scratch Gravel" who is charged with the
murder Of the JOice children, near Roxbury,
Mass, in the course of which it shows that
s. G., in the course of his infinite wander
ings, resided in East Cleveland, or stayed
there long enough, a year ago this spring, TO
write his parents a letter which he posted
at that office. Under cover of this fact we
proceed to give an outline of the sketch:
Mr.. Aaron Dodge and his wife, of Essex
county, Mass, adopted the boy, having
found him in the Boston Orphan Asylum.
Mr.. Dodge gave his protcge the name of
Charles A. Dodge, and when he was about
seven years Of age sent him to the district
school Of the village. The lad was q good
looking, bright and playful boy, but early
BETRAYED a disposition to wander from home.
From a very early age he took delight in
sailing small boats, and when he became
old enough to make these toys for himself
he frequently employed himself in making
miniature vessels of various models.
At the age of twelve years, young Dodge
began to assist his father, during the school
vacations, in working upon the farm and
in pegging shoes in the shoemaker's shop,
near the house. At thirteen years of age
he began TO evince an uncomfortable desire
to 70 to sea, and constantly importuned his
parents to crafty his wish. His parents
endsavored to dissuade him from his notion,
but at length Mr.. Dodge allowed him to
| ship on board a vessel which sailed on a
f~reighting voyage up the Hudson River.
Soon after his return his father shipped
him on a voyage to the North Atlantic
Oceans he was absent about nineteen
months.
On his return from this trip he remained
home but a short time, when he sailed for
the West Indies, and was again absent from
home about three months. Subsequently
he made trips to ports in South and North
Carolina, and sailed twice from Beverly on
fishing voyages.
After having made the voyages above
spoken Of young Dodge, when nearly
twenty years of age, ven to school one win
ter, Mr.. Dodge Persuading him that he
needed a better education. He still exhib'
tied an cratic disposition, and would leave
the family without giving notice, and re-
main away for long periods of time. Though
generally tractsble and d0cile, he wOulC
sometimes, when his will was strongly op
posed, exhibit violent temper, lasting sew
eral days.
In the spring of 1861 Dodge enlisted in al
Irish regiment; deserving from which h
enlisted in the navy, and was on board tn
shawsheen when that vessel was blown u
in the James river. Swimming ashore, b
was incarcersted in the Libby Prison g
Richmond, and thence transferred to An
d~ersonville. On deserving from the arm
he had changed his name to Charles Wood
, His parents, hearing nothing Of him for
long time, wrote to the Secretary of th
Navy for information, and that functionar
, informed them, over his own signature, tia
Charles Woods died in prison October l, Is6-
To the surprise of his parents, howeve
Dodge returned home on the 2lst of Decen
Der Of that year, aud remaining until Eel
ruary Is, 1865, again departed. and has nj
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