The New York herald., 1868-05-07
THE IEATH PENALTY.
The Brutal Murder of Mr.. Maxwell at
FrancOnia. New Hampshire.
Execution Of Samuel Mills for
the Crime.
Graphic Account Of the Crime, Escapes from
Jail, the Tr.al and the Eypiation
HAvRRHrLL, n. H.. Nav a 1ses.

HAvRRHILL, n. H., May @, 1865
The death penalty, always horrible TO contemplate
dreadful to witness and painful to nct has seldom
been carried into effect under circumstances more
richly deserving than those attending the crime for
which Samuel Mills was executed in this town to-
day. The terrible horror generally Incident to the
scene OF an execution seemed to have been partially
or wholly removed in the remembrance Of the cool,
deliberate and atrociOus murder of Old, inofensve
George Maxwell, one OF the kindest and most be-
nevolent men that ever honored the town of Fran.
coma or the State Of New Hampshire with his resi-
dence SO terrible IN design and so cruel in execu-
ton was the tragedy for which Mills yielded
his life as the penalty that the citizens for
miles and miles around have ever been clamorous
for his early execution, and instead of the usual
army OF phlanthropsts mploring mercy and re.
prieve for condemned criminal there have been
what may almost be termed Inobs anxious that the
murder OF old Mr.. Maxwell should be avenged
speedily, even at the sacrifice Of the regular pro-
ceedings Characteristic Of law-abiding community.
This feeling although quite prevalent especially In
the immediate vicinity OF where the tragedy was
committed has been kept in check by the threatened
not actual presence of the State military force and
now that the condemned has been disposed OF in The
manner every one desired he should be, the people
will quietly rejoice in their own hearts, recover from
the excitement in day or two and pursue their
various vocations with the feeling that there is at
least less villain in this world and one more In
the next than there was when the sun dawned this
morning.
THE MURDER.
To call the crime murder is stating il mildly II
was butchery-a cruel massacre as record Of the
rough facts viii readily convince the reader 1t was
on the Sth OF December, 1865 that Mills, who is on
Englishman by birth, broke open the trunk OF fel-
low bOarder in Lisbon, where he was employed in
the gold mines, and distracted watch and about
500 in greenbacks Wth this plunder he started for
Francona, where h, had formerly resided, arriving
at the house OF old Mr. Maxwell about seven O'Clock
in the evening This man single siXty-iive years
OF age, and lived alone in peaceful bachel elorhood,
and, unfortunately, was acquainted with Mills, who
had time and time again accepted the hospi talty of
the old mans table and roof and frequen tly re-
ceived other substantial assistance in the hour of
need. The next morning (Which was Sunday some
Of Mr. Maxwels neghbors called at his house,
and presently made discovery which curdled
the blood with horror and sent thrill Of
terror through the whole town. On the floor OF the
pantry lay the dead body OF the old man, manged in
the most shocking manner. The face had been
pounded to jelly the head was nearly split In twain
ana likewise almost severed from the body. The
ceiling of the pantry was despatched with blood:
the floor bcsneared with IT. the furniture i'm the
vicinity was disordered and everywhere there were
evidences OF fearful and desperate struggle Of the
victim with his murderer. III the adjoining room
stood the supper table ana upon 1t were two plates
indicating that wnen assailed the Kind hearted old
man was preparing 10 share his hospitality with the
nendish wrelch who was awaiting the opportunity tC
say him. The manner In which the murder was
committed according to a subsequent con
fesslon OF Mills, was in this wise:--As the old
gen gen'ieanan s,rn was stepping into the pantry he
OF wood, which, however, did not inca
pacitate him for resistance. but rather served TO
M
commenced On his part o most desperate struggle
for life Mills managed to draw knife as soon as
plunging Its blade less than eleven times into the
neck and body OF his victim. The old man attempted
ashe grasped the bade was drawn through his hand,
fearnlly aceratng his fingers and rendering him con-
stanty less powerful In spite OF all this, however
the old man still struggled and Mills, wrought up
mad desperation by MaXwelrs unexpected resist.
anoe seized an iron weight near by and with single
b0w managed TO knock his victim PROSTATE on the
floor. Mo- satisfied them but TO make assurance
doubly sure" the wretch obtained axe and buried
II deep in the old mans skull and rs the murderer
mas since "a lsactorly expressed IT, that was what
finished him."
QUIET MEAL AFTER THE MURDER.
III anything was required 10 fOrciby illustrate the
dlab0nca coolness OF the wretch 1t would perhaps
be well to single out his movements Just after he had
committed the deed After making himself certain
that the old man was dead he sat down TO the table
his hands yet unwasiIed of the blood OF his VICTIM
and very coolly and complacently eat hearty sup
per- fleces OF biscuit daubed with blood, the ham
dies OF the fork and teapot also besrneared were
found on the table when the crime was discovered.
Having satisfied the inner man with a bountiful re-
past the murderer took the axe and proceeded to
carry out tue purpose which he had inaugurated by
murder, and which seems to have been an acgusl-
tion TO his financial resources He broke open all
the trunks In the house, selecting several articles
from each, but only securing s25 thereabouts in
money
TIE FLIGHT. PURSUIT AND CAPTURE
Inc next matter which would naturally suggest
Itself TO the murderer were the means and manner OF
escape. without meditating any unnecessary lcIgth
OF time he proceeded 10 the stable hGrnessed up
old mans horse, filled bag with oats to feed the
morse on the way drove out OF the yard, fastened
the gate leaving the bloody prnas Of his hands be-
hind, and drove rapidly 10 Gorhaui, Nc, distance
OF about forty miles, where IL hs intention 10
get aboard one OF the OF the Grand Trunk Rail-
road and proceed West. Reaching Corham he left
his ,horse ut stable, with orders To have It kept
until HIS return. During the day he spent most OF
the time with an lrishinan In the town, and early
the next Mug started FOR Norhumbcrland,
where he took breakfast, making the trip inside Of
freight car unknown 10 the conductor or any of the
train men, He pushed on and in tue evening was at
liquor Don and remained until the arrival OF the
night train for Montreal, upon which he embarked
Montreal however, but took the irst train bound
West and proceeded through to Galcna. ILL.,
the Montreal train, were traced nv the New Hamp,
shire officers. but subsequent that they could get
no tangible or definite clue to his Whereabouts. The
murder continuing TO be The cause OF great excite
ment In Francona, town meeting was called. at
which 1t was voted TO employ detective. Moses Sar
gent formerly Cher OF the Boston detective force,
secured and he Immediately commenced to ''wOrk
upr the case. Proceeding TO Franconia on the 10th
OF January he surveyed the scene OF the murder took
note of such facts and incidents as presented Them
selves, converscd with those with whom Mills had
worked, and finally obtained what subsequently
proved TO lie accurate idea OF the character, al
pearance and nature OF the murderer The olleor
then had printed description OF the murderer his
habits character &c. copies OF which he sent TO the
superintendents OF most OF the mining districts In
Canada, the Lake superior region and points more
distant West, Mr.. Safgents theory being tnat Eng
lishmen rarely change the vocation adopted when
young, and believing that II was specially 80 with
mners he felt confident that Mills would not long
Keep Out OF mat business, aud II soon turned ous
mN hs suspicious or opinions were correct. The
oceI visited several Of the mines In Canada, found
lnat Mus nad been there, and gathered other infor
NATION winch led him to believe that he had gone
west IN MS pursuit, and wnilc going 10 Racine,
WIS, Mr. D received despatch from Francona that
q man answering Mills description had been arrested
In the lead mines In Gaeua, III. Tie detective then
went TO Chicago, then to Galena where he iouud that
the real object OF his search was In durancp vile The
necessary papers were procured and In few days
the officer and his prisoner started for New uamn-