The Republican journal., 1872-11-14
The Northwood, N. H., Tragedy.
reported tor the Boston Journal

Reported tor the Boston Journal
NORTHwooD, n. H.. Nov . The usually
quiet town Of Northwood has, 1t is now proved,
been recently the scene of one of the most
shocking and tiendISh murders ever recorded in
the criminal annals of the country. The victim
was Miss Georganna Lowering, and her mur-
derer was Franklin B. Evans. In order that
the reader may better comprehend the details
to be related we will give first their personal
history.
was about two miles from Northwood Centre
village, and but short distance from the Straf-
ford town line. The family consisted of herself
and mother, widow, Mr.. Sylvester Day and
wife, her grandparents, and Adeline Witham
her cousin, aged about eighteen wears. The
connection of the murderer with the family
will be stated further along. The house is a
small Northumberland cottage. 4 few rods
in the rear is Bow Pond, and across the road in
front is rough pasture land. In the immediate
nelghborhood there are but few settlements. the
nearest being Mr. Samuel Hams, some forty
rods distant. Beyond the pasture commences
the extensive forest, where the murder was
committed and which sweeps away distance
of more than two miles. The place might possi-
bly, look cheerful in summers sunshine but it
appeared bleak enough we visited it this chilly
afternoon, under the dreary clouds of Novem-
Der day.
TIE VICTIM
was born in Northwood. and was in the four
teenth year of her age. Her father was a soldier
III the Eighth New Hampshire Regiment in the
rebellion war, returning home from service
sick, and dying soon atterward. The family
hat been located at their present place two
years. Their means are quite limited, consist
ing mainly of Il Government pension and The
income from the mothers labor GeOrgianna
was an only child, and was the idol of her
mother, the pride of her grandparents and the
beloved companion Of her cousin. She was h
bright, pretty and atfectionate girl Her form
was well developed her hair and eyes dark, and
her eountcnance heamed with youthful life and
huoyancy. She was in truth the sunlight of the
household. Notwithstanding the slender income
of the family. the mother took pride in dressing
George tastily and in sending her to school
Her teachers bear ample testimony to her eX-
ceilent scholarship. Outside Of her home the
girl was favorite with the neighbors, and
when she went into the village on domestic
commissions. no young miss had more kind and
pleasant sautations than George Lowering:
and when she WAS taken away by a terrible
DEATH ii was rot strange that the mother wa,
family bowed down with gret such as they
had never before experienced.
EVANS,
the murderer, is "a native Of Stratiord sixty
tour year. old and has from youth led Il rowing
and miserable life He is of medium stature.
rather slim Of body and is a little STOPPING. He
has long gray beard, and hair of the same
shade His features are sharp, his tare thin and
his forehead Of medium hight. A stranger
would instantly notice his eyes, which are dark
pirrcingly sharp, and have IN unmistrkabe
sinister expression. In his dress and personal
appearance he is tolerably neal. He has a
sanrtimonIou- took, j. an easy talker. and
keen observer would recognize him as L cum
ming, shreWl and unprincipIed man He ha,
Travelled much AMI lived in many places includ
ing Manche Ster, Connecticut, Allenstown, Derry
and Canada. He pretended to read medicine
with pr. Hanson Of Manchester, and calling
himself Il botanic physician he pretended a,
such more o" less among ignorant people
Many who read this will remember him as
travelling with m electrical battery. which he
pretended to use professionally, and again as
hauling small vehicle containing d magic
lantern, with which he used to give picture eX-
hbtions. Again he drops all these occupations
and goes about doing odd Jobs of work, thus
gaining prerarious living. Next we hear Of
him rs a whining bPggar and Il self STYLED
Second Advent preacher Once he attended an
adventist meeting in Boston. where in the garh
of a hvpocrtc. he appealed successfully TO the
sympathleS "f the audience, who raised him Il
good contribution. The next day h., spent most
OF II for meprSchaum pipe, and hi, religious
friends hearing OF 1t would never have ANYTHING
more to do with him. He often extended his
travels into Canada. but wherever he went he
was sure to get bad maine. The sudden and
mysterious dsappeat tlnce of 4 y0ung twin chlId
IN Derry many years ago was also supposed To
have been his work, hut no positive proof of ii
was ever obtained. He has been married three
', hi 49, INK ~ ~, n',n III % spi,if t"chly
IN tbis ,,,ii,,1 ,n+ ~ , Wv ,.i 49, ~ y, ""i M
Hl,il' =, }Ia.rio l,hto, H. i,' -, ,.gli
Mass. His second wife separated herself from
HIM. He was married again but his last wife
IL, T,n III I ~ ,''", KY :" i-moi,I'' ',nre
n.v, h.in,r tI,a n,,i,, trntI, ~. ~, ~ ".
winch OF course made him a grand-uncle Of the
murdered girl. li- relations with the different
,iaonnlo VI l'Gu SratlN opeh .,
81 ~ ] tt ~ !" ~ 10 "' seem
Si,' l i, h - ; 'o"? u'i m ~
the day for various farmers III the yirinity
now HE LAID HIS PLANS.
Ev,na b.,} ol,,a,,u nratanlo4 ,o th;,,l. . .
dn,l of Genrsi, In rotnrn .bo ,anifatfJ ~ ,,''
tou,inasa for nm, althonnb sho ,Is,,nii,, I,J ,'
his nrdinorv ro5n,oSts I'M ,,at,,rI, i,!>,l W. w
tn nm snma,yht o ,rnnt ~ NJ NH ~ ui'
l.ti,nshIn If ;s stataJ th,t ba r,,'7n,t, ~ ~
nrnnnr III iI,.,n.a. 10 ,ha yn,,n III, W. L; H.; H.
na,ti,, .,,oiin, tho ~ ,'r" III
viii, thn Ircn'n.tannn, that t;n, no ne,
,..anti1 ,,r,l ,,. " ~ VIZ ''' ~ ~ II!
ninca ,ith NIX n;It; ,'a, 'T io"'eu ils
,,ro,,oa thnt hn thn, ',,rar,i a. % 'e,lue'
f,r M r,;n ~ u hi ui 49,. ~ ,"s ~, p''n9
snt s',sra. f h;r,- il, th ,,nn1, =" as ~ ~
tioneJ IIr ntferv.r,l tall,ad ,onsiiaraIIv .Ina,
i'll tra,, MI ,,l;,,I ~ ;, I'''' , '',',,i,
thc hn.n,, '' h,r. Thi n"m ',ntII, m ,u uauSil'
thc I, rit a,,5 lo ,Sia ,I,. 'n
90 with him ana zee Them. Ar tirst he ref,,sea
to take her with hlm, but after having greatly
wrought up her eagerneSS to see them. he finally
TOOK hef with nm one day TO the woods. She
enjoyed the trip. ahd went Il number of times
atterWard. AT length she commenced to tire of
going there, and Evans then matured the plan
for his tiendlsh work. One week ago last
Thursday evening. the night before the day Of
the murder, Evans told George that he was 60
ing away TO work the next morning, and that
she must look after the snares She hesitated
about complying with his request, but upon his
urging she consented to it, but said that she was
tired OF gong to them.
THE DAY OF THE MuRpER.
The next day, Friday, was one of the lowell.
est of the fall Evans appeared as usual when
be took his breakfast and then mmediately
went out saving that he was going to his DAYS
work Georyie was un bright an early. After
her meal she assisted i'm domestic duties If was
then nine o'clock and she mt on her hat onl
shawl to 90 and look after the snares Her
grandmother had noticed that she looked nm
usually sober that morning, and made a remark
to that effect AS she was leaving the room The
girl then observed that she had nromisea her
uncle to look After the snares hnt thot sha
should not do if again, for the woods were rounh
and lonely to her. Georgie then kissed Mrs
Nav .,ta,tio,otaly ana -rn,;,,, ,.,o., ~, ,,a.l \