The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-11-12
The New Hampshire Tragedy.
A GIRL OUTRAGED AND MURDERED BY HER
UNCLE.

y
acted in the quiet town of Northwcod, N
H.-about twenty miles east of Concord
--in the murder Of Georgianna Lowering
by her uncle, franklin b. Evans, proves
to have been one of the most shocking
crimes which the history Of that region
has ever recorded. Georgianua, who was
Il bright aud pretty girl Of IA, lived with
her widowed mother, whose only child
sho was, in a small cottage about two
miles from the village of Northwood, the
other members of the family being her
grandpareuts, Sylvester Day and wife,
Adeine Witham,a cousin about Is years
old, and the murdcrcr-who was the only
brother of Mrs. Day, and SO a grandeur
Gle Of his victim-who has been living
with his relatives since last June. The
father of Georganna, or George, as she
was familiarity called, was a soldier 10
the Sth New Hampshire regiment during
the rebellion, returning home sick and dy-
ing soon aitcrward. The family is in
limited circumstances, their resources be.
ing confined to a government pension and
the income from the mothers labors.
Evans had always manifested much fond.
ness for George, and it is stated that he
once made improper advances to the girl.
which she Indignantly repellod. At that
time he apparently turned over a new
leaf, but only, as the sequel has proved,
that he might the more surely lay plans
for the ruin Of the girl. Beyond pas
ture in front of the house stretches out an
extensive forest, and here Evans com.
menced setting snares Tor birds, last sum-
mer, artiully exciting his niece's curiosity
until she asked to 90 with him and see
them, which she did number of times.
At length, however, she began to tire of
it, and Evans then matured the plan for
his fieudish crime. A week ago Thurs.
day evening, he told George that he was
going away to work the next morning,
and that she must look after the snares,
which though not until after some urging,
she consented to do. Friday was ono Of
the loveliest days Of the season. Immc.
diatey after breakfast Evans went away
saying that he was going to his day.
work, and about 8 o'clock George pre-
pared to go the woods. Her grandmoth.
cr had noticed that she looked unusually
sober that morning, and made remark
to that effect as she was leaving the room,
when the girl said she had promised her
uncle to look after the snares, but that
she should not do it again, for tho woods
were rongh and lonely to her. George
then kissed Mrs. Day affectionately, and
tripping across the road, soon disappeared
among the rocks in the pasture. No per-
son is supposed to have seen her after that
time except her murderer. 1t is now
known that the latter did not 60 to any
place 10 work tina. morning. Soon after
George lett he was seen on hill about
mile distant toward the village, which
commanded u view of the house and pas
ture. where he probably went directly af.
ter leaving Mr.. Days in the morning, and
concealed himself in order to observe
when the girl left her home. At half
past 9-half an hour alter the girl went
out---when she would have had time to
reach the woods, Evans was seen 10 come
down tho hill. oro-s tho road and rastnre
and 90 into the same woods where the
girl had gone.
THE SEARCH FOR THE MISSING GIRL.
When George had been to the woods
on similar errand before, she was usual
ly absent from half to three.q quarters Of
an hour, and accordingly when, about 10
o'clock, after she had been gone an hour
her mother wanted to send her on an er.
rand, she was somewhat surprised that
there were no signs of her return, al.
though she of course had not then any
suspicion that harm had bcfallen her
AS she failed to appear, however, her
mother soon after asked Mr. Day if he
would 60 out and call her. The grand
father started at once and followed the
path the girl was accustomed to take, call.
ing her name repeatedly, but getting nc
response. Thus he continued until he
got fairly within the woods, where he fel,
sure of finding her, and even expected tc
sec her any moment come forth from be.
hind tree where he thought she might
have playfully hid from him. Not sue.
ceeding in finding any traces Of hel
whereabouts. Mr.. Day returned to the
house, still hoping that he might find
George had returned by some other path
aud would be awaiting him. But in thi,
hope he was disappointed, and the moth
er, who wos now somewhat alarmed, re.
turned With HIM to the woods, where she
soon found on the ground her daughter
apron This at once aroused suspicious
of foul play, and the neighbors were called
to assist in the search. One of these il
crossing brush fence about halfa mile
from the entrance, early in the afternoon
found broken comb which was at once
recognized as belonging to the missing
girl, There WA -une hair 10 the comb
and not far distant IA strong string was
found. This discovery struck the com.
pany with horror. as it confirmed the
fears that the girl had been foully dealt
with. Word was instantly sent to the
village that Georgie was missing and
there were fears that she had been mur.
dercd Over a hundred persons were
speedily engaged in the search, and soon
there were discovered near the spot where
the apron was found plain evidences of a
struggle, the earth being stirred up and
leaves misplaced Further along there
were large aud small tracks, as though
one person had dragged another along
The conviction was now general that the
girl had been murdered, but no proof OF
the fact could be found, though the
search was vigorously prosecuted during
the remainder Of Friday, as well as OF
the four following days, $50 persons be-
ing sometimes engaged
THE ARREST OF EVANS.
After Evans went into the woods, ,abou
hplf-past nine, he was not seen again un
Ill about noon, when he stopped at
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