Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-03-16
The Roxbury Tragedy.


ling tragedy, at the time, created good
deal of excitement, and was the occasion
of much speculation. and also ofactive ex-
ertion of the officials whose immediate du-
tv it was to ferret out the criminal. The
circumstances of the murder were these;
The youthful victims, Isabella. beauti-
full girl of but fourteen years OF age al
though almost woman grown. aud her
brother Jehn, some years younger than
herself and great favorite with all who
knew him, had been spending week with
their aunt, who resides at the South End.
During the early portion of Monday, the
twelfth of June, the two children left the
house of their aun. for days frolic in
Mays Woods, a delightful retreat in West
Roxbury, taking with them only small
amount of change with which to pay their
horse-car fare, and a basket oflunch: as it
was there intention not to return home un-
til near night fall. Before taking the cars
the children called at the house of their
grandmother, where they were last seen.
When the sun had set on that Monday
the two wanderers had not returned
Much anxiety was felt for their safety, and
vigorous but fruitless search was made
for them. All night long relatives. friends
and neighbors kept up the search. Mes
sengers were sent to scour the woods and
the highways in the vicinity, but no trace
of the lost ones could be found. 1t was
not until Sunday forenoon. almost week
from the time that the children had left on
their holiday excursion, that some gentle
otrnlfinfr in. IF ,rnnIs known q :
"Buzzey.s Woods" discovered the body
of the young girl stabbed in several places.
There was every indication of a most ter
rible struggle between the girl and the per-
son who murdered her, her hands and arms
being cut in several places as if she had
grasped the knife or other sharp instru-
ment BY which her life had been taken
Her mouth was found filed with grass,
probably to prevent her outcrics.
The body of the boy was not discovered
until about an hour after that of his sister
had been found. In thiciet, lying upon
his face, his body horribly gashed in many
places, the poor boy was discovered by a
party of lads who had joined in the search
for the brother. after it had been announc
ed that the sister had been found Appear
ances indicated that the lad had fled in dis
may, had stumbled headons into the bush
es, had been oveEaken by his heartlcss,
brutal pursuer, and had been cut aud CASH
ed to DEATH
Near the body of the girl were found
some unfinished wreaths of forest leaves,
from which it was inferred that the child
rem had heen engaged in twining wreaths
of oak leaves, and constructing mounds of
moss. When the brute appeared before them
and the fiendish attack was made. The
girls hat, lying on the ground near by, was
tastefully trimmed with an oak -leaved
wreath, and the boys cap. found subse-
quently, was also similarly adorned.
Recent events have transpired tending
to fasten this great crime on an inmate of
the State Prison at Charlestown Mass. In
August last fellow was arrested, who
gave his name as scratch Gravel" for
breaking into dwelling of a .Hr Brown
of Gardiner. He was arrested in East
resistance and was subsequently tried by
Judge Allen at Fitchburg. and sentenced
o three years in the State Prison, where
he was taken the 9th of August. Sheriff
Wetherbo who arrested him had suspicion,
from the first that he was guilty of the
crime of numbering the Joyce children, he
saving when arrested substantially to the
sheriff: Il don't care d-n for being ar
rested for stealing a silver watch; but
have done something which il wonld be a
feather iii your cap to tasten on me.
had rather 70 to prison for two or three
months than to be travelling about the
the country as have been" While in
Jail at Fitchburg in concret with other pris
oners, he plotted the murder of the turn
key of the jail, which failed by the officer
being warned. On being tainted with a
want OF courage to carry out the design, he
he said: "Do you think" said he TO his
comrads, that a man who did the Ro1bury
job would hesitate to kill a man To get his
liberty }" Strengthening himself up. he
continued-"That was some ofmy work.
did that job. That knife {alluding tc
the weapon found upon him when arrested)
has sent two id Yankees to h-ll since
came to Massachusetts. ] am willing tt
go to State Prison for year or so, as am
suspected of doing something bad.
While in the Prison a scheme was plan
ned to draw him out, and after while
admissions enough had been drawn from
! him to make it almost certain that he i
the guilty one. lie is still in Jail and it i
not yet determined whether Il preliminar,
examination will be had, or whether th,
case will be held for investigation of III
Norfolk county court held on the fourtl
Tuesday of April. We give the followin:
from the Boston .AdreniSer:
HISTORY OF THE SUSPECTED MAN
The following is a somewhat disconnect
ed history of the criminal. drawn from hin
by the detective while in State Prison.
He is now twenty-seven years of age
and his real name is Rolla Ampudia, hi
parents being Spanish. At the age OF
years he was taken from an asylum Ol
fremont ST.. in this city. and adopted b,
Mr.. Aaron Dodge OF Hamilton. His nam,
was on the books OF the institution a
! Charles Scott, but Mr.. Dodge. by permits
sion oil the legislature, changed 1t to tina
of Charles Aaron Dodge. At the age o
thirteen he went Ia sea, and since tina
time has been rowing round the world. a
one time hunting Indians "by the head in
Florida.
AT the outbreak OF the rebellion he say
he vas in the South Carolina State Prison
for murder. having served six months O
his term. Being pardoned ont on condition
ot joining the rebel army, he desertel
once; was in Morgan's command in hi