Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-21

crime. who did, and what was the motive for
Il murdel? They were In the house at the
motive for perpetrating it, SO far as they were
concerned: Uut If some other person did 1t, 1t
must have been done for robbery, and no rob-
berry had been committed. Death only was
sought; and the only persons who could be
shown to have an interest In the Doctors death
were thOse who were accused of causing It, But.
Legally, me perpetrators OF the crime remain
The murder Of Mr.. Charles M. Rogers is COM
paraI1vely recent. Mr.. Rogers was cleaning
the snow from the sidewalk in front of his
the morning Of December 81, 1865: While thus
engaged he was suddenly stabbed In the aDdO-
men by some man, and died from the WOUND q
few days after. Before his death ne related tne
men were coming down the street, wnen one
started toward Mr.. Rogers, while the other, 10
whom he had given his oyercoat 10 nold, ren ION,
Immediately attacked Mr.. Rogers with knife,
slash1Dg him about the head and cutting his
hat to pieces, but not touching the scalp. IN
the struggle the aSSailant seized Mr.. Rogers
watch and chain and took his pOcket0ook, but
Mr.. Rogers In turn tore of the skirts of the
thiefs coat, and the articles were found In the
pockets IL was at the last moment that the
IObber gave the fatal stab In the s1de from
which Mr.. Rogers died In this case the police
had portion OF the mans coat and his hat
which was left on the sidewalk, as evidence 70
the discovery OF his identity; they had also the
facts that he was with companion at the tim
and place, and that he was known by the nam
OF Jun; IL VIII occur 10 l., m4 4S peopS enat IL
police had so good evidence to work upon, there
would be slight chance for the murderer to es-
cape detection; but in 1869 the administration
of New York was In q state which enabled al
most any ScOundrel who had money and pollt =
cal influence to go scot free. The city was In
the hands OF thieves and ScoundrelS; and posi-
bly, On this account 1t was that the ruffian who
murdered Mr.. Rogers could never be discover
ed. A number OF arrests were made, bat no
conviction obtained.
The next murder which startled the city was
that Of Mr.. Benjamin Nathan, the wealthy He
brew, which occurred on the morning of July
90, 1870. Mr.. Nathan was found lying dead, with
his skull smashed, In his house in west 18th St.
heavy iron instrument used by ship carpen-
tiers, called "dog," was found near the body,
and shown to have been that by which the
murder was committed. In this case 1t was
and from the fact that an Immense reward was
offered for the discovery OF the murderer, with
out bringing response, 1t is logical inference
that one man only was concerned in the affair,
and that he had no accCmpliceS. He probably
obtained entry to the house by false keys, and
was engaged In robbing the place when discov-
cred by MIR. Nathan. single heavy blow on
the head with the massive iron dog would have
inalS were arrested on suspicion, but there was
not the slightest evidence against any of them:
and the Nathan murder remained the last Gun
solved mystery" until the murder Of Mrs Hull
Mortified the community last week.
In the several cases cited above 1t will be OBJ
served that In two instances robbery was the
motive OF the crime; In another, 1t must appear
that pecuniary gain through the death OF the
victim could only have prompted the asSassins;
in the case of Mary Rogers, brutal passion was
the cause; while the motive for the killing OF
Helen Jewett remains as undiscoverable as the
perpetratOr OF the crime The story that young
Robinson murdered the girl to prevent her ex-
POSING the fact OF his consorting with her is
scarcely credible. 1t would have been the act
OF lunatic. Yet it was not known that the
girl had any enemies and robbery was not the
purpose Of the murderer, for no robbery was
committed. The motive was as much mys-
terry as that which prompted the shooting Of
COrliSS. murder which antedated the JeWett
case. In that instance man was called to the
door Of the hotel where he lived and shot dead.
1t was In the early evening, and in a public
street; but who. did the shooting was never
known. 1t was suspected that it was woman,
and revengeful jealousy might have prompted
her to the deed-fN.Y. Times.