The New York herald., 1870-02-16

6r. JonN, N. B., Feb l5, 1870.
On tho l4th Of September las. human remains
were discovered near the Black river road, twelve
miles from st. John. On the following day Coroner
Earl visited the spot and found the skull On adult
Will, bullet ho.e IN the lett side; also the remains
Of female and cnild's clothing lying near. An in
vcstgatlon commenced, winch lasted from Septcm-
ter 10 10 October 2. Inquiries were made for five
days. At length one Robert waroen, coacnma.l,
was found, who stated tnat ne remembered driving
Mr.. Munroe ana y Mrs. CLARK from Lordly's Bruns-
wick House to the Black river road In October. 1868.
They professed TO DC gong to Cons', and left
him on the road, about half . mile beyond
Bunker's, to which he returned. They, however,
soon afterwards returned to Bunker's, not finding
the persons they wanted NJ home, Munroc stated,
and be drove them back to town. taking MRS. Clark
on ,his OCCASION 10 Mr Lakes boarding house. On
the following Saturday the same coachman, at the
request oi Munr0c, drove tno sauc parties to the
same place. On both OCCASIONS Mrs. Clark was ac-
companied BY her nle girl. On the second occasion
inc woman ana child ala not return. The ast that
warden saw Of Them to2ther the woman was carry.
ing Inc child IN her arms on one side or the road
Munroc was walking on the other, and al seemed
proceeding towards Collins After leaving them
and coming hack to Bunxer's Munroc told Warden
that tho woman had gone to the people whom she
vented to sec and found them ut home. Munroe was
about three-quarters OF an hour absent Warden
was ready to take dinner when Munroe came back,
but nc hurried MN away without dinner, taking u
glass OF brandy himself and paying the bill. Mum
roe was sweating wnen he came back and remarked
tnat 1t was hard walk.
lhe coachman was taken out to the place which
he had described that where he lef; the parties
both occas.ons and without knowing where the re-
mains were found he pointed out place on the
Back river road nearly opposite the spot where the
remains OF the woman and child were found. John
Warden subsequently identified Jonn A. Munroe az
the person he had driven TO Black river road.
lie also testified 10 having, by Munroe's
order, seen to tie despatch OF Mrs. Clark's trunk
Monday morning. Munroe, who was on the floats
that morning. Informed him that the lady had
In and he, Warden, got Hatfield to take down the
ana sending IL OIL.
ARREST OF MUkROE.
These and other facts having led TO the arrest OF
John A. Munroe, the prisoner In his intercourse
with various officials furnished some important ad-
ditl0nal links In the cnain OF evidence. lie identi-
lied Mrs. Clark as Sarah Margaret Vail, OF Careton
and mentioned some facts connected with his early
intimacy with her. tie sale OF ner property, their
TRIP TO Boston together their return to ST. John
taking up he quarters at Lorjlys, the second trip
| 10 the Black river road detailed by Worden her
L
MS seeing her or, having barely time snake hands
with ner ater seeing 70 her tickets and trunks.
| TIE EVIDENCE.
the facts OF Munroe having visited the woman
called asrs Clark at the notes, Mrs. Lordy protest
was staying at ner mousse, OF Munroe's intimacy viii
Mss Van. OF ner having borne ch'ld 10 him KnowI
as Ella May Munroe Of his being with her occasion
ally after the brtn oi the child, OF her nayng sold hc
property and getting for It the Of $780, of Miss
vaii stating tnat she mad given the money 70 Nun
roe an being In the naDit or receiving several sna
| sums from MIN. were testlued to by various wit.
nesses IN the preliminary Investigations The va
parts OF the clotnng found tue remains OF
the woman and child were Identified as those wnicn
had belonged TO Sarah NJ. Vail ana child. Her sister
| Mrs. Crear idenu an embroidered skirt made for
| Miss val, under Mrs. Crears Inspection and varl.
Gus other articles, both as regards materials trim
ming and Workmanship, Portions OF the dress Of
nesses also beads given 10 the child by little girl
when she was at mrs Lakes, and aboves all q little
truss made OF lead sewed up IN cotLOn which II was
prov d had been used In cOnnexi0n with o disease
TO which the child was subject. These several lacts
were considered very remarkable ana very com-
| plete, but They were not all Mrs. Crear believed
herself able TO idendy the hair OF her sister by part
| OF the remains with hair, which had been very
ABUNDANT ~ several witnesses testified having been
| worn In particular manner. She also identified
tooth OF her sister, wnicn projected In q peculiar
manner
Meanwhile the trunk OF Sarah Margaret Vail
/ uncacd for and with check No 70o. was found In
| the office or the International Steamship Company
Boston. IL was sent back to st. John in charge or
the officers OF the company. Both the trunk and ITS
several Witnesses as that Of Mrs Clark Otherwise e
MISS Vail Tne recovery OF the trunk caused auile y
| sensation lts contents included photograph OF
mad been opened by the United States Customs
Officers on the voyage. no one appearing to nave
New England from st. John.
A long array OF witnesses was produced TO prove
that no persons answering 10 the description OF rs
Clarke or Mss Vail aud child had been seen at or
near Black river on Saturday, the 3lst OF October
!iai,SwEen( On h the .oa iolown! SUNDAY or Monday
In any OF the other houses around Black river. The
last that had been seen OF them, 80 far any evi
| dence could be found, was when Warden saw the
| woman carrying her child, sue walking on the one
side Of the road and Munroe on The other on the
additional testimony were produced at The
trial. The prosecution dwe.t on the com.
pietoncss OF the chain Of evidence against
| the prisoner. They claimed that he nad virtually
made himself accountable Tor her safe keeping until
| or by him on the New England. Tney dwelt on the
relations existing between Munroe and Sarah Mar.
dered beyond any doubt, and they ask The jury, on
calm review OF the facts to ma the prisoner guilty
| OF the murder OF Miss VAIL
MUNROE'S Defence.
The defence was conducted by Mr. Thomson with
extraordinary ability particularly regards mis- ap-
good character Of Munroe, mis- ability as an archi-
tect, and the great mprobabiliiy OF his committing
such crime A faint attempt was also made TO
prove that the alleged deceased and enid dd nc
tually leave 81. John by the New England on
Monday the I'd Of November. lie tried TO excite
l
| ment; he made an onslaught on the criminal pro-
cedure OF England and the deceptive character OF
circum5tantal evidence; he pointed TO the good
character OF Munr0e, his nourishing business and
the absence OF any motives suicient TO lead him to
perperate such crime, and without once referring
TO tue Witnesses who profcssed TO prove that Mss
Vail and her child went away by the New England
He concluded With an appeal 70 mercy during the
! delivery or which members OF the jury and many
persons or all ranks were unable to restrain tnem.
selves fr0m weeping.
SENTENCED TO DEATH
The trial lasted ten days. the prisoner was found
guilty and sentenced to bo hanged on February 15.
| Toe jury recommended hm 10 the mercy Of the
Crown chiefly because several OF them were op-
posed to capital punishment; but the Crown would
not interfere on the petition OF large number
| OF the people OF the province.
BEHAVIOR OF THE CONVICT
Though apparently penitent II was not until two
days before execution that she clergy were con-
vnced OF nls sincerity. lie admonlshed his father
and brother on taking lass farewell and was per-
fectly composed during the night previous to the
execution. lie Joined In prayer, TOOK sacrament
and retired at twelve O'Clock midnight rose at four
A. NJ, prayed aud dressed himself aud was engaged
In devotional exercise until the hour Of execution.