Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-05-06
THE MURDER OF THE JOY
CHILDREN!
strange ReyelatiOns-AMy Mystic
r1ous Letter.

Some Of the evidence before the
committee Of the Metropolitan Po-
lice of the LEGISLATURE relates to the
murder ofthe JOY children IN tue
woods, at West Roxbury, on the
18th of June, 1865.
1t will be remembered that the
girl, Isabella n. Joy, was outraged
and murdered, and her brother John
s., of twelve, killed under circum
stances indicating that he was at
tempting TO run from the scene OF
The tragedy. The bodies were found
the next day at abort ten o'clock
Large rewards were offt rcd for the
detection of the murderer, and one
or more arrests we're made. but no
evidence bearing directly on the
real murderer has ever been made
public, and the parties arrested on
suspicion were released. But while
the matter is involved in mystery
there has been evidence in posses
sion OF certain parties which seemed
to point out the real murderer. For
some reason the train of evidence
has not been followed up.
4 we'll known merchant of this
testified before tie police commit
tee to facts substantially as fol-
lows:
On the Monday afternoon sue
ceeding the murder, which was on
the afternoon of Saturday, he was in
the vicinity of the Bussey Woods,
and having heard of the murder,
took stroll through tbs woods in
company with friend. Between 2
and 3 O'Clock he got near the scene
of the murder and saw some of the
traces of the struggle. While there
he saw detectives Jones and Heath,
and others After these men went
away, the merchant found on the
ground, near tile scene of the MUIR
der, four letters, which he picked up
and now has ill his possession. One
or more of these letters bore stains
of blood, and On examining them
they proved to be portion of a
correspondence between two men
and two women whose names are
yet withheld. Enclosed in the let
ters were colored obscene pictures,
and their contents showed the bad
character Of the writer's and parties
to whom they were addressed. Upon
this discovery the merchant
to Boston, called upon the
Chief of Police, and showed him the
etters. AS soCn as he saw the let
.ers, the chief said he recognized
the writing, and knew who the wri-
.ers were. The chief said he would
attend to the case immediately; but
he parties, who are known to the
merchant have never been arrested.
In the Boston Herald OF June p,
line days after the murder. the fol.
owing paragraph appeared in refer
,nce to these let: \:
at was shown veyond doubt
hat these letters had accidentally
dropped from the pocket Of a coat
If gentleman who was wandering
through the grove, while it was on
lis arm, and tue party could not
ave known of the murder before it
vas announced in the newspapers. |
This paragraph is believed to have !
,ome from the chief Of police. Why |
he parties we're not arrested, is not
,nown to us. but we suppose the
hief can readily explain.
The developments Of corruption
n the Boston Detective Police De-,
'artment are still multiplying and
he public excitement snd indigna
ion are increasing. The statement
published some time since that there |
vas, possibly, existing evidence
vomiting to the murderer of the Joy
children. and that, when brought to |
lie notice OF the Boston officers, no |
ttention was paid TO it, was the
ause of bringing about the secret |
investigation OH the part Of the Leg |
slative committee. at which all the |
tatements we're fully sustained. 1t
s, therefore, generally and reasona-
,ly believed that certain of the pc
ice are now, and have been for
ong time in possession OF evidence
which would warrant the arrest OF
'arties probably guilty of one of
he most diabolical murders ever
in this country. The on
y popular explanation why the Off
'ers have failed to do their duty Is
hat their movements were retarded
" greenbacks in this rs in other ca
'es exposed.