The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-04
MURDER WILL OUT"
Strange Story Of Massachusetts, Tragedy
and Its Discovery.
Trial and Conviction Of Joseph COstlty for
Killing Julia Hawkes..

vi y pleasant SaUDttu III may last, Wulle bWO UT
three young men we're leisurely strolling over the
Washington avenue bridge, in the town OF Wey-
mourn. one OF them looked into the water and
say what he thought to be a human foot. The
onect was drawn up and with II came the body OF
: goman around the head OF which was wrapped
: horse blanket, tied on with rope around the
neck. ana attached to the rope was very large
tallor's goose. The remains were conveyed to .
neis hboring fish house. ana an examination
showed that the head had been pierced
by a bullet. The body had apparently been In the
water some days and was very much decomposed.
but not beyond recognition and 1t was subse-
quently identified as that OF Julia A. Hawkes.. 1t
was found that she had on but one shoe, which
was Of the Newport style, size No. 8. An investi-
cation disclosed the fact that the woman was o
former housekeeper Tor man named Joseph Cost.
ley, at Hanover Four Corners, where he had been
running a small hotel; that upon the 81 OF April
she had drawn sos IRON the Union Savings Bank,
In Boston, at which time she was living with
Mrs. Bowdtch, at Jamaica Plain, and that Costlex
was in the habit OF taking her to ride.
DETECTIVES ON THE TRAIL.
This, with other circumstances which will
presently appear warranted the ofrcers In arrest
Ing Costley and he was taken down to Plymouth
Tor examination. In one OF COstley's pockets was
found bullet which corresponded with the one
taken from the wound OF the murdered woman.
hotel at Hanover, where 1t was iound that there
was tailor's goose which corresponded exactly
marks upon shelf whence one had been taken
nom beside the remaining one. 1t was also found
aaS SO IS Boo
Upon the 18th Of May she was visited by
Costley, and upon that day hao paid her board 70
never returned. At a later day Costley called ana
took her clothes away. While packing the things
about q bottle OF hair oil being packed to which
Costley exclaimed, "Oh, never mind that She
the MSn ocers WORKING with Unusual energy and
after some time they discovered an important
link IN the chain which they were gradually weav-
place IN Van Rensselaer, place, Boston, at a stable
kept by Mr.. Riddell. where man giving the name
to Weymouth and upon the 18th-the day
Of the murder-had nired another to 60
was shown si to the Stable employees and identified
as that OF the person who had hired the team. 1t
was iurtner stated 10 me 0mcers tnss 10 sne Dos,
comparing proved TO be the mate to the one
found on. the murdered woman; new car
penter's hammer was also found In the carriage.
THE EVIDENCE ACCUMULATING.
AT subsequent search Of the house at Hanover.
In the brick work which had been used 20 close
up the kitchen fireplace four cartridges were
found, the balls In which corresponded with the
1 am 1n upon C9ey ana the 0ne
around the head OF the woman was Identified by
former hostler Of Costley as belonging to Costey.
ent parts OF the house. and 1t was thought that
the murder had been committed there. With
these circumstances before the officers they took
Costlev from the jail. where he had been kept
since his arrest, and be was arralgned before
charged with committing the murder at Hanover,
but as evidence enough could not be produced to
show this he was discharged: This was expected
by the officers, and they had fortified themselves
with another warrant. He was immediately re-
arrested and taken before Judge Bumpus, at
act In Braintree Norfolk county. In this Court he
was 1ully committed to wait the action OF the
Grand Jury OF Norfolk county in september. Hav.
ing been fully indicted for murder, Costley was
committed to jail to await the trial which has just
been concluded.
PREVIOUS MURDER SUSPECTED.
Some two months previous to the murder OF tho
Hawkes. woman o former housekeeper OF COstley
posed that she had committed suicide; but the
murder OF Miss Hawkes. following so soon in the
train OF the other death, led many to suspect that
Costey may have been the murderer OF botn. Ii
so, what could have been the motive ior the
murder Of the housekeeperf The answer is that
whom, 1t Is supposed, he had been on terms OF
criminal intimacy-and had taken this method OF
Kidding himself OF her company.
At the time OF the Hawkes. murder 1t was known
that Costey vas engaged and about to be mar
ried to lady by the name OF Cushing, OF Han
over, who is OF good family and possessed OF con.
siderable property. and this Iact may have been
Miss Hawkes.. And whyS Because Costley had no
doubt been very intimate with Miss Hawkes.. who
no doubt knew too much about the death OF the
pect Of the marriage OF Costley to Miss Cushing.
had threatened 70 make an exposure OF the first
death that fearful OF such contingency, COstiey
resolved to get rid OF the evidence by removing
the witness. Or course this Ii but guesswOrk,
but Sill IL seems probable.
PROGRESs OF THE TRIAL
The trial at which all the foregoing facts were
elected was commenced week ago and has only
just been concluded. The evidence against the
prisoner was wholly circumstantial but still so
singulary complete as to leave scarcely doubt OF
his guilt. Four days were consumed BY the gov
eminent IN making out their side Of the case and
principal points sought. to be established
not the owner OF the blanket, as al
legged; that the woman was, n murdered
at all, murdered In Plymouth county, and that
she died from drowning instead Of by a pistol
ball, as charged in the indictment. The fact that
the evidence against the prisoner was only car.
cumstantial was prominently relied upon, and
numerous technical objections were also put In.
GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
The case was given TO the jury at about nine
O'Clock last night, and after about three hours that
body came IN with q veruict OF guilty OF murder
In the first degree.
The prisoner was unmoved when the dread YER
dict was pronounced. He Will be sentenced to
death some time next week.