New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-23
GOODRICH'S MURDERER.


rent IN police circles Ia Brooklyn and this city to the
eneot that the confession time put forth by
Commissioner Jourdan and Chief-otPolce Campbell as
that of Kate stoddard charged with the murder OF
Charles Goodrich, March 20 1873 whole or ia part
HoutiOus OF positive evidence of s falsty
ean be had, since OF those who heard her state
nents will voluntarily admit having misrepresented
them, but there Is ample negative testimony gong 10
show that the woman never confessed TO beng
The principal in the commission Of the crime
and that che really represented Roscoe to
be the murderer Naturally the police, in order TO cap
ture Roscoe concealed this statement the Coroner was
induced by OF duty to aid the detectives by con-
sealing rather disclosing the truth at the in
quest the counsel of Kate stOddard OF con-
scented whatever would aid in the capture OF the real
criminal These OF the police and others originated
the alluded TO- and investigation has given ere
dence the theory advanced OF the murder This
theory il that the published confession of Kate stod
daTd invention OF the police put forth 10 delude
Roscoe into the belief that his accompice had told
nothing OF bis connection with the affair. In cOrrobora-
ton OF the theory that the published confession was
false great curious facts and Inconsistencies in
the statements cited
confession the murder s stated 10 have occurred
on Thursday morning, March q. The testimony OF
young Richardson that he saw Goodrich on Thursday
evening on his way home disproves this The police
early In the CATION insisted that the murder was
committed only short time before the body found
Dr. Sheppard the surgeon who made the post mOrtem
examination came the conclusion that Goodrich was
alive Friday morning Thursday evening The sup
position is that tie police antedated the murder accord
Eng Kate StOddarts supposed confession 70 delude
Roscoe the idea that he could, II arrested az all,
prove on cib There particle of proof that the
murder place Thursday except the statement OF
the Chief of Police. published and this he has since
sworn he never made. 1t will, doubtless, be re-
nembered that the first statement given to
the tpUble by Commissioner JOurdan,
who sad not word abOut the circumstances Of the
nITder except promise that Kate stoddard would
day the stand and make public confession.
OF :he stand day the Commissioner swoTe he had had
comm lE!catioH whatever with the alleged murderess
statement pUTporDg to be from the Chief Of Police
was punished in which Kate stOddard was represented
detailing 20 him bow she commit ed the murder when
alone with Goodrich on Thursday morning. On the
inquest day Chief OF Police swore he had made
nosuch statement as pubiished declined TO tell what
Kate Stoddard had said 20 him. and said only that
had told him "bOw Goodrich had 10 his death"
IN the statement published the Chiefs be was re-
ported saying that Kate had confessed she killed
Goodrich sth his pistol II was proved on the
jLQuest next day that the weapon used was Roscoes
Nd Mrs Myers she had IN Roscoe's hands
- days before the murder. The promised
~" which Kate was have made on
W 80" suppressed, the Coroner sustaining
the counsel who advl., - !, Nh ~ ,,,o',o.o,
ma1ds Of the jury The D'I' :
war under arrest a week before. -. -, -. r1s,S
IN tb,,rv il that she was 10 L. we Oech Acp' nuueh
until Roscoe could he captured. Tie Pre- 80 noI,aa 80
ton of the tact of the arrest compelled Ia, ,as |
eoueoct the story the false confession II was
that the woman confessed her guilt and WAS
SLED with remorse ana attempted suicide Mrs Jane
Mullen the who searched her the DAY che was ar
rested stated that Insisted that sue had done nothing
criminal. and "was cheerful" Instead Of appearing
flu Of renorse at inquest she behaved with singular
leyty. Commissioner Jourdan on beng asked If Ros-
zoe was implicated with stoddard declined 10 answer.
Luceto Meyers being asked at the inquest TO tell
what she knew of Roscoe, declined on the ground that
' mgat defeat the Justice" That Roscoe and
Goodrich had met and enemies, is proved by the |
testimony Of Meyers that they had quarreled at her
house The woman detective, Mary Handley. admitted |
that she was employed 20 the arrest Of Roscoe
Mr.. Meyers has three occasions vehemently
declared that the police should capture Roscoe
yer vas she WHO FIRST accused Roscoe and known
that she j. in the employment Of the police 10 detect
hm. Finally although the woman Kete stoddard has
been IN custody over month and half she has not
been indicted.
The theory Of The murder advanced and based on
lis negative evidence, is as follows. and for
what il is worth curious contribution Of strange
TuuoTs Goodrich according 10 this theory passed
thursday until o'clock night at the house Of Lucete
Meyer, ar this woman has stated to the police. On
leaving her he went directly home and the
uar by young Richardson about 10 o'clock On reaching
and entering the house he found Kate stoddard, his
mistress, and her love- Roscoe the spaniard Lucette
Meyers lad introduced Kate stoddafd 70 hPseoe and
she Lad at once engaged intrigue with him, che
appears TO have been disposed 10 do with any new
conner Goodrich and -E2ssS..s had previously
met at Meyerss and quarreled abClt the
woman, ard had 1t not been for the
presonce OF mind Of Meyers, they would have come to
blows at that time. Encounterng each other under
these circumstances, conflict ending in Goodrich's
death his stealtny assassination by Roscoe is be-
heved to have ta6n place The woman, Of course nat
urally sought to separate the men, but vainly The
only noise Of the struggle heard by the neghbors as
testified to- the Of the woman heard late at
eight After the deed Roscoe IS supposed to have fed
TIE gcman, undecided, is supposed TO have renamed
~erooniDG" the body until nearly morning, when
the endesyoIed to wipe away the traces Of 9l9odshed
-sp1 prepared the body as found. This conduct
1a-Jal to one who had only been witness Of the
seed. il was highly mS@Obsbs that one who had
tpitied murder should have Gone II. on lbe morning
be left the house and sought Roscoe, but failed TO find
him and While returning 10 the scene OF the murder
learned Of its discovery She had taken the precautoh
20 take away Rcscoes pistol leaving behind that OF
-,sgc6--Tlgt she did not leave BROOKLYN 10 coneeai
Iersef; that she delayed " ue SAINT man,
~ g., ,he woman Meyers mad behaved; mat she
INFESTED when captured - bad done nothing erinl[sr
-, e11cd -I C0Srt Inclined to Levitt rathti than
s, and ha, she has since 6ofG1 herself 70 calmly, is
,,d as Indicative that she is only witness and not
Uminal ---..-FT=''-
|T's fssCTy is one rot only talked but believed; and
now that Il is believed Roscoe has finally escaped
II asserted that TIE facts sustaining II must oou ou
The woman cannot be convicted on her own statement
bs made spch as is here indicated for there IL
,o testimony ether than eIrcumstanuA against
her While the rumors are not OF course. posuVe
proof and the theory is not absolutely estaosheu ~
sonsdeed a. plausible, and IA police circles dlscuese8
a. moss by true any rate The Bro0kYI GeteciNSs
Inner much longer conceal The actual facts particular!
A. the pursuit Roscoe has been practically advancement
ard the proof or dsproOf Of these rUnors VIII DC es