18 Aug 1841 - Brooklyn Evening Star (Brooklyn, New York)

Case File: Mary Cecilia Rogers

ARREST OF THE SUSPECTED MURDERER OF MISS ROGERS - Yesterday morning Officer Hilliker of the Upper Police Office arrived in this city in the steamer from Norwich, having in custody a man named Joseph W. Morse, wood engraver, late of No. 120 Nassau st. suspected of being concerned in the murder of Miss Mary C. Rogers at Hoboken on Sunday evening, the 25th July. He was arrested at West Boylston, seven miles from Worcester, Massachusetts, on Sunday by the officer - having been loitering about there for several days under an assumed name. Prior to his arrest a letter was found in the Post Office at Worcester, directed to him, and written, doubtless, by one of his companions in this city, informing him of the examinations that were progressing here, advising him to shave off his whiskers, change his dress and alter his appearance, so as to escape detection and arrest. This was opened and read, and tended to strengthen the suspicions against him. As soon as arrested he inquired what he was arrested for, and on being told for assault and battery on his wife, he replied. “Oh! Is that all.” On being asked where he was on Sunday, the 25th July, he first said he was at Hoboken, and on the officer echoing the answer, he then said he meant that he was at Staten Island. He was conveyed to the Upper Police Office and committed.

Soon after he was brought out in the presence of the Mayor and Justice Taylor, and identified by two gentlemen as the person they saw at Hoboken at 6 o’clock on Sunday, the 25th ult., seated on a beach and conversing with Miss Rogers. He was also identified by others, but was not examined touching the crime with which stands charged. Several witnesses, however, were examined in the case in private, and Mr. Daniel Payne, the lover of the girl, who said he had boarded with a Mr. Morse, an engraver, in James st. but had not seen to converse with him for a year or more - went to see and ascertain if he were the same - the result of which did not transpire. Morse assumed considerable apathy and composure, and maliciously insinuates that the gentlemen who identified him must have been guilty of the murder themselves and to exonerate themselves charged it upon him. He will be examined today at the Upper Police before the Mayor and Justice Taylor in the presence of the counsel he may select.

Morse is a rather short but somewhat strongly built man, with handsome black whiskers, very neatly and fashionably dressed, has been exceedingly licentious in his conduct, the companion of gamblers, and sometimes a gambler himself. He was a frequent inmate of the store of Mr. Anderson when tended by Miss Rogers, and evidently knew her well. It is well understood that, if guilty, he was not alone in the violation and murder, as the evidence at the inquest and of Dr. Cook before the Mayor conclusively prove that more than one were concerned.

To discover and arrest these accomplices is now the business and duty of the Police, though no evidence is yet obtained to fix the guilt on any others. The evidence against Morse is his being seen with the young lady in the evening shortly before her death - his absence from home all that night - his having left home a day after, clandestinely getting his three trunks from his home to his office, then into a cab, and flying from the city a day after the body was discovered, and leaving his business - his changing his name when away, and the letter written to him at Worcester by a his friend in this city, advising a change of dress, cutting off his whiskers, &c. More, however, will doubtless be elicited to strengthen suspicion. One of his apprentices applied yesterday to the Police Office to have his indentures canceled, as his master was absent, and was astonished to find him in prison charged with murder - To Justice Taylor, who managed this business, aided by the Mayor, and ot the officer who went in pursuit, great praise is due for the judicious manner in which they conducted the affair to a successful result. Whatever additional information is elicited we shall hasten to lay before our readers.