The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-07-10
Annrsr nr MunprRnR FOR CR1Mr Com.

ARREST OF A MURDERER FOR CRIME Com
MIrTEp Two YEARS AGo.-September 10th,
1860 a murder was committed in the quiet
town of North Bridgewater, Mass, which occa-
stoned a great deal Of excitement in that local
ity, and although every effort was made to ap-
prehend the murder he succeeded in making
his escape. The victim of the tragedy was a
young woman. and the murder was Mr. James
Armstrong, her husband, who shot his wife
while he was in state of intoxicatiop, az was
generally supposed. From that day forth the
officers have been constantly on the alert to
discover the whereabouts of Armstrong, but
not until Friday last were they successful,
when officers BOyntOn aud Bowley of the State
Police had the satisfaction of arresting him in
boot and shoe mandatory in Salem, where
he was pursuing his avocation as a boot and
shoe maker. Armstrong was at once taken to
Boston, and on being conveyed to the office Of
Major Jones. he freely stated the particulars of
the unfortunate affair and his consequent
whereabouts, which are briefly as follows, as
published in the Journal
Previous to the murder diff 'ulty had arisen
between Mrs. Armstrong and her father who
was on visit to the prisoners house, resulting
IL 1ArmsIrohSS ofuerlng t9e OH gentleman 10
leaye the premises. He did not go at that
time, but growing more querrelOus, he struck
or attempted to strike his daughter with
stick, when Armstrong forcibly elected him
from the house. Armstrong then went to Mr.
Glfford's store, and borrowed pistol OF a man,
who advised him to shoot his tather-in-law if
he did not leave the premises. On returning
home his wife informed him that she was afraid
to stay with him, and on taking out the pistol
to show her how it worked, it accidentally dis
charged itself, his wife falling back and ex-
claiming that she was shot. Armstrong then
started TO leave the house, and becoming some
what desperate at his wife's father, who taunt-
ed him with being his wifes murderer, he re-
loaded his pistol and fired at him, with deter
mlnation, as he says, OF killing him, because
he had been the author of all his troubles but
fortunately the pistol missed fire, and thus
double murder was averted.
This was about 9 O'clock in the evening. and
Armstrong says that be had drank nothing
stronger than cider, and that his wife was per-
fectly sober at the time. While passing no the |
street from his house il company with another |
party they met officer Mccoy, who inquired of |
Armstrong; friend il he had seen any person |
running up the street, and was answered in |
the negative. That night Armstrong walked |
to Stoughton, and thence through Boston to |
Salem and finally succeeded 10 obtaining work |
az MS trade IN Danvers, giving his right name. !
he remained here about "a week and the reason |
that he gives for not changing his name was |
that le did not know thaa his wife was dead. |
nor did he have reason to believe that her in |
juries would result fatally. On leaving Dan |
vers he SAYS it was his intention to proceed d.
rectly to North Bridgewater, but on re aching |
the Old Colony & Newport railroad depot he |
met man who inquired if his name was James |
Armstrong, and upon replying in the affirma- |
tive, the person informed him that his wife |
was dead. lie thereupon changed his tactics |
and journeyed on foot to South borough, where |
he obtained employment for short time
From there he went to New York, then to |
Chicago, and pats of Minnesota, working at |
his trade, until June, when desire to see his |
child led him to return to Salem, where he was |
at length recognized and arrested.