Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-23

OF the prisoners who had overheard
the conversation of the potters. On
receiving his sentence, Scratch Grav-
ell was conveyed to the State Prison
in Charleston.
A detective was introduced into
the prison, put in the same ward with
Scratch Gravel" wormed himself in
to the confidence of his comrade by a
simulated plan of escape, and finally
extracted from him a doubtful confes-
sion-a confession that might excite,
but could scarcely confirm, suspicion.
On Wednesday last the Warden OF
the Prison had a conversation with
him, in which he asked him where he
was last June. He refused to tell
and when pressed said. "What has
that to do with my being in this pris-
on? know what you are driving at.
YOu think | murdered the Roxbury
children" The warden told him he
was suspected Of that crime, and that
it would be for his own interest to
show where he was during the first
part of June. The prisoner cast his
eyes upon the floor and began to trem-
BILE violently, manilesting the most ex-
IRENE agitation, and talked in a con:
fused manner of his whereabouts at
all times except the fatal first part OF
June.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE PRISONER,
The steps which have been taken to
identify the prisoner have revealed
facts which bear strongly against him.
A person answering his description is
known to have been at Taft's Hotel,
in West RoXbury, at about the time
Of the murder. Some of the articles
of clothing worn by the prisoner have
been recognized, by peculiar marks; as
having been seen upon the individual
at Taft Hotel. The knife taken from
the prisoner on his arrest was shown
to the surgeon who made the post NOR
TEN examination of tn e murdered
children, and to the coroner who con-
Quoted the inquest, and has been
found to correspond precisely with
the appearance of the wounds, which
caused the death of the unfortunate
victims. Other evidence of a similar
nature has been obtained.
The following is a history of the
criminal, drawn from him by the de-
tective while in the State Prison: He
is now twcnty-seven years of age, and
his real name is Rolla Ampudia, his
parents being Spanish. At the age
Of four years he was taken from an asv-
lum and adopted by Mr.. Aaron Dodge
Of Hamilton. His name, Mr.. Dodge
by permission Of h Legislature
changed to Charles Aaron Dodge
At the age Of thirteen he went to sea
and since that time has been rowing
around the world, and at one time
hunting Indians "by the head" in Flor
ida. At the outbreak of the rebellion
he was in the South Carolina State
Prison for murder, having served siA
months OfhiS term. Being pardOneC
out on condition Of joining the rebe
army, he did so; deserted once; wa;
in MOrgan's command in his raiC
through Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana
was captured and was paroled.
Subsequently he enlisted in a Mas
sachusctts regiment, and served OF
five United States vessels, DESERVING
from each and all of them. In person
the prisoner is compactly built, having
breadth of chest; stands five feet five
inches in heighth; has black, curl,
hair, large and piercing eyes of thu
same hue, high forehead, face mar
rowing toward the chin. a swarth,
complexion, and a sinister and Zero
cious expression circumference, though
he would he generally regarded a
rather a good-loo!ling man when wei
dressed and in a pleasant mood. Hi
weight is about $50 pounds.
He is said to be in terrible angus
ofmind, apparently debating the ques
ton with himself whether he shall
make a clean breast Of it,