Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-22
One of the most Horrible Murders on
Record.

John a. MunrOe was hanged at st.
John, n. B., the other day for the
murder Of Catherine Vail, his mistress,
and their child, in September last
He left a written confession of his
crime. The youth was of high social
position, and his victim a beautiful
woman. The history OF the crime is
as follows:
Last September, as some negroes
were gathering berries in a thicket
situated about one hundred yards from
the Black River Road, ten miles from
St. John, they came upon some human
remains. 1t was lonely spot by a
nearly unfrequented road no houses
were near, except a farmhouse and
tavern. Search in the thicket
brought to light the skull of an infant,
which fell in pieces on being taken
up from the ground. In addition to
these, roll of hair, portions of wo.
mans dress, wooden jacket and a
piece OF underclothing, were found
which probably-certainly. as the jury
afterwards Said-had once belonged
to her whose body was so decayed
that it was utterly unrecognizable.-
At some distance from these was dis.
covered baby's foot in a little stock.
ing, and piece Of lead. fiat, and
about the size of silver half.dollar
Limbs bad been torn from the sur
rounding trees and placed upon the
corpse to conceal them and moss had
also been gathered and scattered
above them, evidently with the de
sign Of hiding all evidence of the
crime. Reading this, cabman nam
ed Wordcn remembered that last DC
tober he had taken in his carriage tC
the neighDorhood where the bodie!
had been found a woman and child
accompanied by man. Worden sale
that the man was John A. Munroe, {
well-known architect of St. John anC
a young married man, of whose integ
rity there had not hitherto been ;
doubt. Muuroc was then arrested
1t appears that few years ago Nun
roe became acquainted with a girl il
Carlton named Susan Margaret Val
had seduced her, and she had borne
child. ln last October she sold
house which had been left to her b
her father, but disappeared from Car
ton, and since that time had not bee
heard from. In the latter part Of o.
tobcr a woman giving her name a
Mrs. Clark. and having child wit
her, came to the Brunswick House i
St. John, aud a day or two afterwar
had been visited by Munroe, who ha
hired Worden to take them all in h!
carriage along the Black River roa
to a place near where the bodies wer
afterward found. When near thi
spot they left the carriage, and, te
ling Worden to await them at Bunl
er's tavern, they walked away, bt
returned again shortly afterward an
drove back to town. Some days a
terward they repeated the same thin
but this time Munroe returned to tt
tavern alone, saying that the wOma
had seen a friend with whom she i
tended to remain. He was excite
and in haste to return to the city
was so anxious to get away, that
paid for Worden's dinner before
was fully eaten. 1t now remained fl
the Coroner to prove tina: the remain
of the dead woman and child we
those of Miss Vail, who was suppose
to be also Mrs. Clark. Miss Val
sisters were summoned before Il
= Coroner, and recognized the hair
S the person found in the thicket-
r, was their sisters. They recogniz'
e. also the teeth and dress, and the fl;
le tened piece of lead was identified
K one which had been used as a tru
J. for Miss Wallis child. A clerk in
Il hardware store swore that in Octob
: Munroe had bought of him a revolvt
8 and the doctors swore that the ia
ged edges of the skull of the murder
woman were such as would be ma
, by bullet of such a weapon. Th
was formed the last link in the Gu;
of evidence, and Munroe was CT
victed. At last he confessed hims
guilty.