The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-28
WHO KILLED ROSE AMRLER.


attention in the east than any other sub
iect. and the answers to 1t are almost as
various as to that other interrogatory,
Who killed Cock Robin?
Aside from the mystery surrounding the
murder public attention is further attract.
ed TO it by the fact chat it Is the third
mysterious murder of women in Connect
cut within a very few years. In neither
of the former instances was it possible to
fasten the crime upon any person to the
satisfaction of jury, and the perpetra-
tors of these fearful deeds still go IN
punished.
The circumstances of this latest murder,
briefly stated, are as follows: Rose Clark
Amber was a comedy young woman about
twenty six years old, who had been di-
vorced from her husband Norman Amber.
She was engaged to VIM. Lewis, a,former
partner of her ex-husband. and the mar
rage was appointed to take place in a
short time On Sunday evening, Sept. 2,
she visited her lover according to her Gus
tom Ghe lady appears to have done the
courting), and Lewis says she left his
hous alone about nine O'Clock. lie claims
that he offered TO accompany her
home bat she declined his escort. Early
the next morning she was found dead in a
Held about mile from Lewis house and
short distance from her own home, Her
clothing had been disarranged, her flesh
scratched and bruised, and she had evil
IDENTIFY been choked to death after terri
bic struggle. From the appearance of the
ground 1t was apparent that she had been
killed elsewhere and her body afterwards
thrown into the field
1t was at first supposed that lust had
inspired the deed and suspicion fell upon
a negro called Boston White. He was
arrested, but nothing could be proven
against him and he was discharged. He
was afterwards rearested and again dis
charged, and was also the case with 9
young Irishman named Mike Hesley. Ii
was thought at one time that a strong
point had been made upoa Hesley when
it was discovered that there were the
marks of but three finger nails on Rose
Ambler's cheek and that He sley had but
three fingers ON his right hand. 1t was
subsequently, found that the woman had
not been outraged and the suspicious
against White and IIesley were dis
missed. The detectives then reasoned
that if the motive were revenge
who so likely to be the murderer as Roses
divorced husband, Norman Amber,
They alleged that Amber still loved Rose
and that he had threatened she should
never marry Lewis. Amber, however,
had no trouble in showing that he was
many miles away from the scene of the
murder on that fatal Sunday night, anC
the detectives were again at standstill
In their perplexity they began suspectins
right and left and anybody who lived
anywhere in the vicinity of Stratford wal
in danger of being accused of the terrible
crime. Their researches were especially
directed against one L. S. Curtis,
wealthy Philadelphian, who had beer
summering in the neighborhood. They
were sure they had at length found thu
criminal and it was long time before
they would admit the eOnclusiveness OF
his alibi, but at last they were compelled
to do so. The mysterious captain of al
oyster sloOp, whom no one kaew, was
next charged with the crime, but as tar a!
could he discerned upOn no other grounds
whatever except that he anchored il
StratfOrd harbOr on the evening of tn
murder and set sail at midnight
Fooled in every other clue the detec
,ivsn have fallen honl- ,,por William To.
wis, the dead womans lover, and are di
recting all their energies TO proving hin
guilty. Their theory is that Lewis wa
tired of the women ard killed her L
avoid marrying her. They think tina
Lewis either either killed her at his hOus
and then carried the body to the field in
his carriage, or else started to drive hel
hGme and killed her on the way. The,
support their hypothesis by calling attpn
ton to the fact that it rained on Sunda,
night between the time Lewis said In
parted with her at eleven o'clock afte
which it was clear. Now Roses clOthe
were dry. but her parasol was wet, just a
If she had been protected from the rail-
by a lap robe and parasol. They bring
forward as further proof certain myster-
iOus stains on Iiewis's clothes, carriag
and lap robe and sundry incriminatin
remarks made by him since the murder
Lewis like the others, sets up an abb. bu
his enemies claim that it is weak. On tn
other hand Lewis friends say that he
of too cowardlya disposition to commi
murder and was contented with his en-
gagement; that he had furnished hous
and made other preparations for marriag
1t is said that Lewis short tire age
while under the influence of liquor, h
flew INTO passion, and trampled $50 il
greenbacks under his feet. To the New
England mind it looks as if a man VIII,
could treat good money in that way
would if in passion be reckless enougl
TO do anything.
Lewis is well to do, being worth pro
bably $4,000. He is very much dislike
which may have something to do wit
the belief in his guilt among his neigh
bOrs. which is said to be universal. ii
has not been arrested yet, but is likely t
he Mt any moment.