Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-05-18
spd gave him (Edward) part Of the money

snd gave him (Edward) part of the money
and the watch and chain, the latter OF WHICH
he gave a colored man, fearing 20 retain pos
session of the articles. This confession, II
was afterwards learned, was mate undef
compulsicr, and proven tn have been I'm
true
Edward Tappan's confession seemed Ia
make the conclusion irresistible that the
man who murdered the Maybees committed
the Townsend crime. Edward Tappan 8 de-
scription Of some u! the movements CT ms
brother or the day of tie Maybee murder
were found to he correct, and tins lacl
strengthened III confession. Both ;he Tap
pans were SEN. 30 jail and pec'c r.: clam
orine fer !,er speedy trial anG execution.
A few daya a'ierward the community WAS
again startled - :: iuurderouH :s-nu!i on
Seeley Spsaaun IL ;,s barn at Pas edge,
on HemDstead Piaiiis, .nd at iH= a. negro
(Rugg) who una banged ''riaS, The riur-
derer OF the Maybfps ana I::e ae-a!inHt Of
the Townsends, irii !Gto the clutches nl tn"
law. IF Rugy has not spared Ms "l'Tdauc
or rather il she ha.: rot .2cal.e.i ftom him
at the time ofthe assault! on her hus' ard-h
might never have hecG app -"'i'Hhed, as
MANY hours would havc nccessaEi, e!af3ed
before his crime would have hcen discov-
cred
Rngg's capture was in i.;,'; aG>:,! ,Hi.I. He
was arrested on suspicl"n ~ : ..inre n
which he Was making pnrc!" e' the day
following the Sprague assault. After lis ar
rest, the development Of his quill Of the
Maybee ard Townsend crimes gradually
caused the circumstances wht' >"iousl?
involved Simon Rapelye aud 'hr fapians
10 disappear. Aia ToUmsend'~ ..vidence
was enough to convict kareiye. Ruag na"
rlsnpcd tho murder cf the Townsc:iGs so Us
to murder Rapelye and John Iappan. He
used Rapelye'; name TO induce Mrs Town
send to open the door of her house for him
at the time Of the a:sault. He stole Tap
pans overalis and hammer, AID ley them
where they would serve as clews. and walk
ed to Tappau'1 back door expec!orating
tobacco juice along the path just as Iapnan
would probably have done. Rugg, like
Rapelyc and John Tappan, IS also left
handed
Tho first link in the chain Of evidence against
RusE WAS struck By Lance Conkln OF Glen Cove,
a negro who had assisted RugE to spend some OF
his plumber and following Up the clew, the rest
came comparatively easy. The maybee jewclry
vas recovered from pawnshops in New York and
not only was the watch stolen from the Towns
heuds recovered but Rusg Was Identified po.itivc.
ly US the man who lott it III Joyce5 Jcwelry store
in Fulton street for repairs
Rugg was defended i'll his trial by tho coorcd
lawyer, Quarles, who died recently. Ho had becA
only a week or so in prison when he made his
escape and was captured three days afterward
hiding in q church. Since then he has been
shacklcd to tho floor Of his cell The cool manner
in which Rugg committed the double murder
showed what deliberate desperate ne was. Mrs.
MaYbee went to the barn, and Rugg, who had been
in hiding there, s,iancl.d her and hid her body
under leaves. Her daughter wondering why she
did not return went TO tho barn 10 see about her
and met the same fate as her mother. Rugg then
entered tho house and plundered it. Mr.. Maybee,
who was blind and helpless, could offer him no
resistance, and tho murderer had no difficulty in
pursuing his plan Of robbery.