The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-03-10
The RoxBuRY TRAGEDY.
Arrest Of the Supposed Murderer Of
the JOicc Children. G
TERRIBLE RECORD OF CRIME.
DC. 10. DO.

From the Boston Advertiser March Of
Tho mystery which has 90 long shrouded she tragedy
which occurred In West Roxbuy In juno last involving
the brutal murder OF Isabella and John joIce only
children Of a widow lady residing in Lynn, seems about
to be fully unraveled For nearly three months per-
son supposed 10 be guilty Of the henous crime has
appears almost Individually certain that the criminal
been discovered convict who an has for some
under conviconlof offence Of much less magnitude
than that for which he has thus far cIuded punishment
Before proceeding to the exciting narrative OF the do
been long at work TO bring the miscreant justice IL
may be well TO give brief history Of tho tragedy which
presents features Of such unparalleled atrocity.
BRIEP HISTORY OF THE MURDER.
Tho two youthful victims Isabella beautiful girl OF
grown and hor brother john few ss
him, had been spending week with their aunt who
sides at the South End During the early portion OF
houso q their sun. Cor da;s frolc in NAYS Woods
delightful retreat in West Roxbury, taking with them
only small amount OF change with which to pay their
horse fare and basket OF lunch a. II their In
teDtion not TO return home until near nghtfa Before
taking the children called the house of their
grandmother, where they were last seen.
When the had set that Monday the two wander
had not returned Much anxiety felt for their
safety and vigorous but frutless search made for
them All night long relatives, friends and neighbors
kept up the search Messengers sent the
woods and the highways in the vicinity, but of
the lost ones could be found 1t not until Sunday
forenoon almost week from the time that the children
had left on their holiday excursion that gentle
men, sroling in tract Of woods known "Buzzey's
Woods discovered the body OF the young GIRL stabbed
in several places. There every indication ola most
terrible struggle between the girl and the person who
murdered her, her hands and arms being cut in several
places II she had grnsped the knife other sharp in
srment by which her life had been taken. Her mouth
was found filed with grass probably to her out
cries.
The body Of the boy discovered until about
hour after that Of his sister had been found In thckc
lying face, his body horribly gashed in many
places the poor boy discovered by party OF lads
who bad Joined in the search for the brother after II had
that the sister had found Appear
ances indicated that the lad had 1ed In dismay, had
stumbled headiong into the bushes had been ovcraken
by his hearcss brutal prsuer, and had been cut and
gashed to death
Near the body OF tho girl found some unfinished
wrcaths OF forest leaves from which IT inferred that
the children had bsn engaged In twinng weaths Of oak
leaves and constructing mounds OF moss when the brute
appeared before them and tho endsh attack made
The girls hat, lying the ground by, was taste
fully trimmed with oak leaved wreath and the boys
cap. found subsequently, was also similarly adorned
or course tho dis overy Of this double murder oc
casioncd the most intense excitement in the immediate
vicinity and in the city and State AZ we'll Every per
considered himself sefappointed detective, and
eort was spared to find out the pepeirator Of the
a;rocous crime Several persons arrested but as
nothing could be proved against Thorn they dis
charged. Full andsas complete testimony could be
obtained taken before coroDers jury, but no clue
could he found to the murderer Detectives visited the
grounds asked questions, collected notes. but did not
apparently meet with success Heavy rewards were
offered both by the city authorities and by private
diyiduas, but money did not succeed In bringing the
guilty party or parties 70 Justice. The bodies OF the
murdered children were tendery carried 10 Lynn, and
solemn and touching funeral services were held In
which tho school children sorrowfuly joined For
tmc matter was talked OF in the newspapers aud in
public and private crjlcs, and then dropped for
more exciting and frcsher topics Meanwhile the mother
incurred for h,r chdron and tho murderer roamed at
large.
During the middle OF the month Of July a man was
arrested who, II was confidently supposed committed
ffsst d a, For. sSdepsndenoe. where he was duty
under order OF the thivf Police. and brought "a
Boston and locked up in tho Tombs On the Goth OF the
ame month the prisoner was brought before Justice
Worlhington at Dcdham, charged with the preparation
of the terrible crime District Attorney B W. Earris
appeared for the government AMI w. d. Ely, ESQ.,, for
mcnt the postponed When Il again brought
up Stuart discharged, and clearly and fully
onerated from the guilt of 80 horrible crime
SUBSEQUENT HISTORY OF TBB CAFE.
We will proceed 10 give tho history OF the srbsc
qucn efforts 20 detect the author OF the crime and 10
state the circumstances which lead the conviction that
those efforts bayo been successful.
II appears that the afternoon Of Saturday The oh
day Of August last, Mir Marshall Wciherbee, OF Ash
burnham, deputy sheriff OF Worcester county, in
formed that the house Of Mt Brown, of the town Of
Gardner had boon entered that morning and robbed OF
silver witch aud several other articles OF less vauo
sheriff wctherbce started pursuit thief
tracked him successfully, ami arrested him East
Wilton, N. II, at about noon OF Sunday, the following
day The cuprt refused 10 give any other name thau
too poor to give HIN any better Although well AIMED
he offered resistance To arrest saying substantially 20
the sherin-who was without arms OF any kind-"
don't damn Cor being sica,ng silver
watch; but have dono something winch u would bo
feather In your cap TO asen on mo had rather 10
prison for two tirco months than To be- travelling
about the country ~ l have been"
Before placing his prisoner ia iaii Mr. weherbcr took
him 10 his Lou,e and provided him with sGprer Ailcr
supper, ''>craich Gravel - az must cali him In The
rain part OF thus narratv- with the little children
~ tic shcrifs family and entered into conversation
will he Moth 10 tn
draw his attention TO spiritual matters, and 10 MAKO
some moral mpresson upon him. For this purpose shc
offered him Testament with the request that would
rCBd it. Scratch Gravel" refused read a. saying
that hc wicked that he had done hat since he
man wogld forgive him. Nrs WeAerbee assured hun
thnt there opportunity for tho West sinner 90
peni but he reriseniiy refused N read the sasrcd
volume and repeated his declaration that he had
United decd which could not DO forgiven.
Ar. Wctlerbcc took hts prisoner % the jail at Fitch
burg and al the August term of the Superior Court, be-
fore Judge Allen. he convicted the charge OF RIB
bcry and senicnred TO bo confined three years IN the
state Prison tSwhca he was taken tho Goth day %
August.
From the time Of the lrst comm,tmcn nj OF scratch
Gr1ve ShcriN wetherbee cuterta ned suspicion that
was guilty OF tho crime with which nc Is charged HIS
conduct while In Jail at fiichburg tended 10 confirm
these sisplc ons In concert with two other prisoners
confined there with him. he plotted the murder of the
turnkey cf tho jail Snpposng thai that officer carried
the key, " the jail in his pocket tho plan formed
10 Kill m when he should unlock tho cells In the
Ing and LET the prisoners for their customary morn
i'm sbIntions 'cra,ch Grayep was TO brcak 10 from
stool In his cell, conceal under his jacket and when
the turnkey opened his cell door tie morning 10
fall upon him and knock him down with the club take
the Keys from his pocket and escape with tho other
couvicts
ON being tainted by OF ihc other prisoners with
lack OF courage to carry out this design Scratch Gravel"
ead he would Kill man II necessary get Of the
Jail. "Do you think, SAID he 10 his comrades chat
man who did tho Roxbury job would hesitate Ia XIII a
man to 81 his liberty" Strengthening himself ID he
cont nuei-"fbai was SOHO OF my work did tina; job
That knife fsuding TO the weapon found upon him
when arr stc,) has sent two damned Yankees 10 hell
nee canc TO Massachusetts, am willing 10 60 70
State Prison for year as suspected OF doing
somcth ng bad I"
scratch Gravel" then won't on to give the most re-,
voting details OF the crimo which he declared no had
committed At West Roxbury. He stated that he stabbed
the Joce hoy In the back several times having
had hts way with the girl he put her out of the way
These details he repeated 10 the prisoners unrcservedy
on several occasions using language whose grossness
forbds repetition hero He stated that the muir
der he had travelled nights and slept daytmes order
APPS detection.