Webster, Massachusetts, USA
1888 - The Lillie Hoyle Case - Medical Student McQuade of Webster, Under Arrest.

The Relations Between Him and Dixon R. Cowie - What Henry T Downs Says of the Latter - The Latest Developments

The arrest of Dixon R. Cowie Friday night in this city for the murder of Lillie Hoyle of Webster, Mass., full details of which were given in THE JOURNAL Saturday evening, was followed Saturday night by another important arrest in New York. It was that of the young man referred to in Saturday's JOURNAL as the one implicated with Cowie in the crime.

He is a tall, handsome young fellow with black hair, smooth face, splendid physique and fashionably dressed. He was taken to the police central office by Detectives Adams and Rogers. The prisoner was arrested at his boarding house, 471 West Fifty-seventh street, and when taken before the desk in the Detective bureau gave his name as Thomas B. McQuade, said he was a medical student and that his home was at Webster, Mass. The detectives had hunted for McQuade for nearly two weeks.

The New York Sunday Herald gives these details of the arrest: When the young man was brought in before Inspector Byrnes he asked:

"What is the nature of the charge against me?"

"Murder," responded Inspector Byrnes looking the medical student squarely in the eye.

McQuade's face blanched, he grasped the metal railing for support, while he shivered like a leaf in a wind storm.

The veteran thief catcher watched every movement made by the prisoner. McQuade, with eyes cast upon the floor, stood for a few minutes, but he soon recovered himself.

"Who is it I am accused of killing?" McQuade further ventured to ask.

"Lillie Hoyle," answered Inspector Byrnes.

Again the medical student began to shudder, but he did not attempt to ask any more questions.

UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
"McQuade," said the Chief Inspector, "I have a warrant for your arrest from Webster, Mass., and I hold you until the officers arrive with the requisition papers."

The prisoner was thereupon searched and taken down to the prison where he was locked up. When the key had been turned upon him McQuade, realizing the serious nature of the accusation on which he was held, burst into tears. He kept his own counsel, however, and was not at all anxious to make any statement regarding the case.

A fortnight ago two detectives from Boston, Mass., who for months had been endeavoring to clear up the mysterious murder of Lillie Hoyle, arrive in New York in search of Thomas B. McQuade, the principal in the matter. The latter's home was near the residence of the Hoyles and McQuade it seems was on terms of intimacy with the murdered girl, and also her sister. The detectives stated that they have evidence to prove that the young woman who was about to become a mother while riding in a carriage was drugged and strangled by McQuade, and that her sister and her uncle, Dixon R. Cowie, were accessories to the crime.

HUNTING FOR THE STUDENT.
McQuade came to New York soon after the murder for the purpose of studying medicine for the purposes of studying medicine at one of the colleges. Inspector Byrnes detailed Detective Sergeants Adams and Rogers to aid the Massachusetts authorities in search for the suspected slayer of the girl. All the colleges were visited, and at the Vanderbilt institution, on Fifty-ninth street and Eleventh avenue, it was learned that McQuade was one of the students. The college, however, had closed its course of lectures for the season on April 23 last, and no record was kept of the student's address in this city. Thinking that McQuade would probably return home, the Boston detectives left this end of the hunt to Detectives Adams and Rogers, and hastened back to continue their investigations.

THE PRINCIPAL LOCATED.
McQuade was located at the boarding house in Fifty-seventh street on Friday night, and word to that effect was telegraphed to the detectives in charge of the case, who immediately proceeded to Meriden, Conn., and arrested Dixon R. Cowie, Lillie Hoyle's uncle, as an accessory. The murdered girl's sister, who is said to have made a confession, will probably be used as a witness against McQuade and Cowie.

Word of the capture of McQuade was telegraphed to the Boston detectives who have gathered the evidence against the prisoners, and they answered that they would start for New York without delay with the necessary requisition papers to claim the medical student now in custody.

COWIE'S LIFE IN MERIDEN.
Henry T. Downs, in whose house Cowie lived, said that the statement in another paper about Cowie's luxuriantly furnished apartments was very much exaggerated. Cowie, who had been boarding with Mrs. Chapman on Center street, came to Mr. Downs to hire a tenement on March 25, and his manner then, as on all occasions afterwards, was gentlemanly. The only thing peculiar about him was a quick nervous moment. He occupied three rooms on the third floor of Mr. Downs' building, corner of Hobart and Myrtle streets, and his furniture was very ordinary.

The most valuable part of it was a chamber set recently purchased of Howard Bros. Apart from this set the furniture would not bring at auction over $75.

Mr. and Mrs. Cowie appeared to live very happily together despite the rumors that she had a suspicion that her husband had committed murder.

He always bade his wife an affectionate adieu when he left the house for work both morning and noon and threw kisses to her from the yard. The neighbors say that apparently a more contented couple did not reside in that vicinity. Unless a silk hat and a Prince Albert coat are considered signs of wealth, Cowie would not be considered a man of means. Mr. Downs added that Cowie was one of the last men he would suspect of murder, and were it not for his arrest Friday night he would consider him a peaceful, inoffensive citizen. Mr. Downes further remarked that he had no interest in making Cowie out a saint; he simply told what he knew about him. Mr. Downs feels that such exaggeration as that indulged by the report who wrote the account of the "luxuriant" furniture for another paper should not be allowed to go uncontradicted, when it is liable to weigh against Cowie. The latter may be a murderer, Mr. Downs says, but if he is he did not live like a gold king in his house, as has been stated.

McQuade is twenty-three years old, and became quite famous throughout this section as the phenomenal pitcher of the Holy Cross college nine. He played with the Hartfords two years ago. His father is worth $50,000, and Tom, as he was familiarly called, was his favorite. He met Lillie Hoyle frequently in the candy store where she worked, adjoining his house, but he never appeared to be on more intimate terms with her than with other female acquaintances.

THE NEW EVIDENCE
On Which Cowie and McQuade Have Been Arrested.
WEBSTER, Mass., May 7. - Beyond a reasonable doubt the mystery of the Lillie Hoyle murder case is solved. A confession has been obtained by the authorities which is said to be backed by strong evidence that the principals in the crime have little chance to escape. It is stated that one of the accessories after the fact has become a government witness, and that Alice Hoyle, the murdered girl's sister, has told much that she knows of the latter's last hours of life.

The new evidence fixes the crime upon the unfortunate men now under arrest - Thomas B. McQuade and Dixon Cowie. It is believed that the officers now at work upon the case have satisfied themselves that the girl came to her end through the administration of chloroform, and by perhaps later injuries. It is said to have been established that the anaesthetic was given in Dixon Cowie's own house by either Cowie or McQuade, who is held as the principal; that as soon as the victim was in a state of unconsciousness she was removed in a team to the corn crib where the remains were found on September 20.

The Journal
Meriden, Connecticut
May 7, 1888

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