The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-12
THE WEST ROXBURY TRAGEDY
From the Boston Daily Advertiser of Friday !

the brutal murder of Isabella N. and
John S. Joyce, only children of a widow
lady residing in Lynn street, seems
about to be fully unravelled For nearly
three months person supposed 10 De
| guilty of the heinols crime has been I'M
der surveillance of the officers OF the law,
and it now appears almost indubltably
! certain that the criminal has been dis
covered in a convict who is now and has
for some time been incarcerated in the
Massachusetts State Prison, under con-
yiction of an offence of much less mag
nitude than that for which he has thus
far eluded punishment.
Before proceeding to the exciting mar
rative of the developments brought out
by the vigilant officers who have been
so long at work to bring the miscreant
to justice, it may be well to give brief
history of the tragedy which presents
features of such unparalleled atrocity.
tus BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MURDER.
The two youthful victims, Isabella, a
beautiful girl of but fourteen years of
age, although almost a woman grown.
and her brother John, some few years
younger than herself, and a great favor
ite 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 aunt for days frolic in Mays
Woods, "a delightful retreat in West kox-
bury, taking with them only small
amount of change with which to pay
their horse-car fare, and basket of
lunch, as it was their intention MOTTO re.
turn home until 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 Mon
day the two wanderers had not return
ed. Much anxiety was felt for their
safety and vigorous but fruitless search
was made for them. All night long re-
latives, friends and neghbOrs kept up
the search. Messengers were sent to
scour the woodsand the highways in the
vicinity, but no trace of the lost ones
could be found. 1t was not until Sun
day forenoon, almost week from the
time that the children had left on their
holiday excursion, that some gentlemen
strolling in tract of woods known as
"Buzzey's woods" discovered the body
of the young girl stabbed in several
places. There was every indication ola
most terrible struggle between the girl
and the person who murdered her, her
hands and arms being cut in several
places, as if she had grasped the knife OF
other sharp instrument by which her
life had been taken. Her mouth was
found filled with grass, probably to pre-
vent her outcres.
The body of the boy was not discover
ed until about an hour after that of his
| .,tx |, 4 l,t bat Ix,
ing upon his face, his body horribly
gashed in many places, the poor boy was
discovered by aparty of lads who ad
Joined i'm the search for the brother, af.
ter it had been announced that the sister
had been found Appearances indca-
ted that the lad had fled i'm dismay, had
stumbled headlong into the bushes. had
been pvertakcn by his heartiess, brutal
pursuer, and had been cut and gashed &c
death.
Near the body of the girl were faunG
some unfinished wreaths of forest leaves
from which it was inferred that the chill
dren had been engaged in twining
wreaths of oak leaves, and constructing
mounds of moss, when the brute appear
ed before them, and the fiendish attack
was made. The grille hat, lying on the
ground near by, was tastsfnliy trimmed
} with an oak leaved wreath and the boys
cap, found subsequently, was also SINH
larly adorned.
OF course the discovery of this double
murder OccasiOned the most intense ex
citement in the immediate vicinity, and
in the city and state as well. Every
person considered himself self appoint
ed detective, and no effort was spared t.
find out the perpetratOr OF the ATTRACTIONS
crime. Several persons were arrested
but as nothing could he proved against
them they were discharged. Full and al
complete testimony as could he obtained
was taken before a corOner's jury, but ne
clue could be found to the murderer
Detectives visited the grounds, asked
questions, collected notes, but did moi
apparently meet with success. Heavy
rewards were offered both by the city
authorities and by private individuals
but money did not succeed i'm bringing
the guilty party or parties to justice
The bodies of the Hlr4erfd children
were tenderly carried to Lynn, and sol
emn and touching funeral services were
held, in which the school children sor.
roWfplly joined. For time the matter
was talked of in the newspapers and in
public and private circles, and was then
dropped for more exciting and freshel
topics. Meanwhile the mOtfer mourn
ed for her children, and the murderer
roamed at large.
During the middle of the month Of
July q man was arrested who, it was
confidently supposed, Committed the
murder. He was one John Stuart, q re-
sident of West Roxbury and a notorious
bounty jumper. He was arrested al
Fort Independence, where he was on
duty, upder order of the Chief of Police
and was brought to Boston and locked
up in the Toinbs. On the Goth of the
same month, the prisoner was brought
before Justice WofthipgiOp at Dedham,
charged with the perpetration of the ter
ribic crime. District Attorney b. W.
Harris appeared for the government,
and y. D, Ely, esq, for the prisoner.
BY request oft4s counsel for the govern
ment, the case was pastpened. When
it was again brought up, Stuart WAS dis.
charged, and was clearly and fully ex-
onerated from the guilt Of 50 horrible a
| crime.
| SUBSEQUENT HISTORY OF THE CASE
evil now proceed to give the his
tory of the subsequent efforts to detect
the author of the crime, and to state the
circumstances which lead to the con-
viction that those efforts have been sue
cessful.
1t appears that on the afternoon of
Saturday, the fifth day of August last,
/ Mr. Marshall NVatbar,eo Of Al