The New York herald., 1872-12-27
HEARILE!!S,Ss ASSASSINATION.
The Bloody Washington Mystery
Of Mondav Cleared Up.
aQGERSKTS MURDERER ARRESTED.
A Brutal African Kills Him for
Christmas Money.
- xsry--S
F.-ssx9gs. sss-Es

sMurder vil outv The old adagc has once more
been verified by the discovery OF the pcrpetrator
OF the awful crime Monday night, which, up to
last evening, seemed shrOuded in the most inscru
table mystery Two little children named Francis
Kidwell and Alice Sorrer1, who were sent out on
an errand, trudged over the frozen ground in the
bitter cold on Monday night, when they discovered
the lifcless body ofa man lying in vacant lot in
South Washington, between Ninth and Tenth and d
and Il streets. The face and head OF the dead man
was hacked to pieces, and his body, yet warm, was
besmeared with blood. 1t was apparent shat life
had been extinct but short time, else the body
would have frozen stir with the intense cold. The
little ones
FLED IN HORROR,
ana meeting two policemen few minutes later,
they told them what they had seen The corpse
was conveyed to q station house. but the face was
so terribly disdgured with q network OF gashes
that 1t seemed past recognition The mutiated
fragments OF the scalp hung In shreds the frontal
bone was cut completely through, and the nose
and lower lip were nearly severed from the face.
Those who saw the mangled body that night
''supped full OF horrors" The deceased was ap-
parenty forty years OF age and was OF herculean
build. After q careful search through the pockets
OF the murdered man his identity was discovered
through an envelope found, which bore the address
SAMUEL ROGERsKI
1t was apparent that the bloody deed was done
at some distance from the place where tho corpse
was found. for the pantaoons and boots presented
an appearance OF having been dragged along the
ground, and two straps were fastened around the
body, which were seemingly used as handholds for
the murderer who dragged away the body. The
victim was subsequently identified as Samuel
Rogerski Polish pcdler, and the motive Of the
murder was found to be robbery. Rogerski it is
said, had sum OF
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ABOUT HIM,
besides the wares he carried and exhibited for
sale. Chief Clarvoe and his detectives set about
with great energy to find the murderer. Their
suspicious were directed to the inhabitants OF q
miserable lonely frame structure on the south
west corner Of Il and Tenth Streets a little dis
tance from the place where the murdered man was
found 1t stands in large enclosure, the nearest
house being at least one hundred feet distant. 1t
is very Old and seemed from Its location con-
venient for so dark q deed. The inmates OF this
house were Tom Wright, negro rufilan OF power
full build, and black and ugly as grim night his
colored paramour, Margaret Woods, and her boy
and another negro named named Sam Bembry.
Last night, between nine and ten O'Clock, they
were all arrested and removed to police station.
TOM WRIGHT DID 1T.
Here they were questioned separately. Tom
Wright pretended ignorance Of the crime. The
woman Margaret, however, made no attempt at
who murdered the pcdler while she absent
from home, and that the wares belonging to
ROycrski were concealed In a shed in the rear OF
the house. The police officers went back, and, with
lanterns in hand, made thorough search OF the
The snow storm heightened the fantastic horror
of the scene, as the policemen searched for
TIE MARKS or THE MURDER.
Their lanterns cast a itfu light over the snow.
covered, lonely, desoate place. the wind drove
dense lakes into their faces and enveoped them
from head to foot in a thick coat OF white. They
overturned large pile OF lumber, and discovered
that the ground underneath had been disturbed
when they unearthed sack containing oil the
WARES BELONGING TO ROGERsKI
consisting OF shawls laces and fancy articles. They
also found hatchet under the bed. the instrument
with which the assassin had Dutchered his victim
On a close examination blood was found on 1t, and
murdered man. Marks OF blood were found on the
doors and walls, but the loor where the murdered
man lay was carefully washed.
MARGARET's DETAILED STORY.
The account OF the murder as gathered from the
confession of Margaret Woods is as follows:--
ing his wares was struck from behind with a
hatchet either by Wright alone or with the aid OF
a confederate Blows followed in quick succession
until the victim was helpless. The woman
Margaret confessed that when she came home Tom
Wright was engaged In washing up the noor, and
~ have killed that damned Dutch pedler,' and
that late in the night the murderer fastened the
straps which held together the pedler's wares
around the victim and dragged him out to the
place where he was found.
THE GUILTY MAN
shows bold front. He even assisted the detect
ives in the search after the marks or the murder.
He is nearly six feet tall, about thrty-nyc years
old, very black and muscular. He has never been
steadily engaged in any kind OF work. In October
last he was shot In the thigh by man named
Hooper, owner Of an oyster boat, at whom he 1ung
a heavy log just grazing his head Hooper was
| arrested and put under $500 bonds to answer
| the charge OF assault and battery. Since then
Wright has recovered from his wound. The qucs-
| tion Is now, Had Wright
| CONFEDERATE IN THE CRIME
| It is possible that the negro, Bembry, who Is
| also under arrest, took part In the murder, but
the woman Margaret stouty asserts that no one
was in the house but Tom and the pedler when
| the murder was committed. She also states that
last Friday. Tom asked her, "Whcn is the Dutch
| pcdler coming here 2" She answered ''On Mon
day." upon which he said, ~ am going TO rob him
| and get some Christmas money"
THE VICTIM sOIEMNLY INFERRED.
The remains OF Rogerskl, who was an Israellte,
WIRE buried with all the rites OF his religion by
Hebrew society connected with the Synagogue on
Pennsylvania avenue.
SMAsH-UP ON THE ERIE RAIL-