20 Nov 1893 - The Burlington Free Press (Burlington, Vermont)
Belief That This Female Demon Was Party to the Hutch Murder
Kingston, NY, Nov 20 - There is but little doubt that Levi Rogers, a professional horse thief, confined in Dannemora prison under a seven years’ sentence, and Mrs. Paul Halladay, the murderess who is awaiting trial in th eMonticello jail, were either accessories or principals in the killing of Samuel Hutch, a Hebrew pedler of this city, whose dead body was found in an abandoned lead mine near Wurtsboro in May, 1890.
Hutch had traveled through that part of Sullivan county for several years, marking frequent visits to his home here, which was among a colony of peddlers of his faith. Early in the spring of 1890 he started out on a trip through portions of Ulster, Sullivan, and Orange counties. Those who saw him just prior to his departure say that he had a stock of jewelry and notions worth at least $400, and that he never started on a journey without having $100 or more about him, as he also made a business of buying and shipping furs from the mountain regions which he visited.
It was his custom to write every few days to his associates here, and as no word was received from him, fears were entertained that something had befallen him. Word was afterward received of the finding of a body in a lead mine which answered his description, and relatives from here went and identified the body. There was a large would on the back of his head made by a 32-calibre ball, and which had evidently produced instant death. Nothing could be found of the pack of notions or of his money.
A few weeks afterward Police Sergeant Cahill and Detective Sullivan of this city captured Levi Rogers, a noted horse thief, near here with stolen property in his possession. The officers retraced the route taken by Rogers, and found that he had stolen a horse and wagon at Unionville, and after driving to the old lead mines left the wagon there.
Blood spots were found on the wagon. Suspecting that he was connected with the Hutch murder, the officers followed the trial of Rogers to Middletown, and learned that he shipped by express a package to a woman at Albany. A visit to Albany proved that the officers were right in their theory, for the package contained jewelry which was identified as belonging to Hutch.
The woman who was to receive it is supposed to have been Lizzie Halliday, as she had left her home for two weeks at that time. Rogers pleaded guilty to horse stealing and was sentenced to seven years at hard labor in Clinton prison. It is believed that he pleaded guilty with a view of escaping arrest and trial for the Hutch murder.