New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-30
THE .rySTFPTES on MURDER.


certain late occurrences have reminded us that
either our detective system is very loose one,
or criminals in the United States have a won
derful knack of battling discovery and avoid
ing the fate which in other lands is pretty sure
to follow the evil-doer. 1t you'd be strangely
suggestive work if one were to search through
the police returns Of the last ten years and
make catalogue of the murders whose perpe-
traitors have never been discovered. How many
assassins, we wonder, are now walking about,
unsupported, in this city alOneP How many
persons have been quietly put out of the world
by the thrust of knife, or a stealthy blow,
and have found no avenger and left no record
Of their fate except the brief chronicle OF
"mysterious disappearanceT How many OF the
daily cases of "found drowned" have dark
deed of violence behind them, which the law
never sees, and none but God ever Furnishes
Look at the celebrated Burdell murder In this
city, 1t seems almost incredible that the cir
eumstances of that crime should never be dis
covered; but to this day we know not whose
hand struck that guilty blow, and probably we
never shall know. Ten OF eleven years ago, In
n little village of Litcbfield County, Conn,
gambler named Foot was found dead, with
his skull crushed, in the horse-shed attached
to a church. The circumstances OF the case
were such that detective OF moderate acute
ness could hardly have failed to get at the
bottom of it yet it still remains mystery,
though one man was tried three times for the
murder, and was finally released. About two
years ago, portions of human body were
washed ashore at various points on the Brook
lyn side of the East River. The remains were
never identified, and it never was known
where they came from. Many supposed that
they had been thrown out from some dissectlng-
room; but when the head was washed ashore,
bullet-hole was found in the skull. In June,
1865, two little children, brother and sister,
named Joyce, were murdered while gathering
wild-flowers in the woods at ROxbury, Massa-
chusetts. The perpetratOr of the fiendish out
rage never has been discovered; but a few
weeks ago the skeleton of man was found
near the scene of the crime, and was popularity
supposed-we know not on what grounds--to
be that of the criminal. A year and half ago
an Italian named Diodati was shot near the out
skirts of Brooklyn. 1t is supposed that he was
assassinated by gang of cOunterfeiters, be-
cause he knew too many of their secrets, but
no proof was ever obtained, and the mmderers
still go unwbipped of justice. Many of our
readers, no doubt, remember the painful sem
satiOn which was created not very long ago
when young Mr.. Embury of New-York was
murdered at Fishkill. His body was found by
the wayside, with q bayOnet-wOund in the
back. lie had no enemies, so far as known;
he was gentleman of singularly frank and
upright character; and he was not killed for
purposes of robbery since his watch and.mOney
were found upon his person. To this day his
fate remains mystery.
A very remarkable murder was committed at
a house in Magazine-st., New-Orleans, on the
night of December 14-15, 1885,. and, except on
the principle that public excitements are gov
erned a good deal by the public caprice, it is
not easy to understand why it has not created
as great n stir as the memorable Burdell case.
The occupants of the house in question were
Mr.. and Mrs. McLin, and a girl of 16 named
Dora Hennerichs, who lived with them as a
friend and companion. She was a young
woman of excellent character, plain in her APP
pearance, retiring in her habits, and a great
favorite with the McLins, who purpOsed adopt
ing her. She had, as far as any one knew,
no enemies, and-what is perhaps not less I'M
portant--no lovers. On the night of the 14th
the family sat up late with some guests Dora
went TO bed just before IL; Mrs. McLin, being
sick, retired earlier; Ar. McLin sat up until l.
His room was separated from Dora's only by a
very thin partition. He heard no disturbance
either before or after retiring. In the morn
ing Dora did not appear at the usual hour,
and her room, after some delay, was broken
open. She was discovered lying in a corner
with fearful wound in the back of the head
apparently made with blunt instrument. A
smoothing-ron with blood on it was found in
the room. There was blood on the pillow, as
if the girl had been struck while in bed, and,
strange to say, feather bed had been re-
moved from the bedstead and dragged to the
corner where Dora was lying. Otherwise there
were no marks of disorder; there were no lndl-
cations of struggle, and apparently no attempt.
had been made upon the girls person one
was stiIl breathing, but unconscious. She died
in the course of an hour or two. s'A |
II il equally difficult to conjecture the mo-
tive and the perpetrator of this deed. "A few
articles of underclothing were missing, but they
were of too trifling value to have tempted
any one to murder, even admitting that they
we're stolen; and beside, there were other
things in the room which burglar would have
been much more likely to take. The traces left
by the murderer seem to compicate the mys-
terry. These traces were handkerchief,
marked with certain mrecognized initials, and
footprints stained in. red brick-dust. The
prints were foupd % the window-siu. and On