Connecticut western news., 1873-02-21
rhs Murderer of the Joyce Children,
BOSTON. Feb. '. l87:

BOSTON, Feb. z, 1873. According to the confession of Evans in 1858 he stole away and killed little niece in Derry, N. H., aged five years. In 1861 he assaulted and cut the throat of a girl of fourteen years in Augusta. Me-. for which, by the way, another man died in prison. In 1863 he outraged the person of Issabella Joyce, fourteen years old, and killed her and her brother John, boy of twelve, in Bussy's woods, near Boston. In 1872, June 10, he is charged with similar crime upon the person of woman found dead in the woods near Fitchburg, Mass, and during the year he outraged and mutilated the person of and murdered Georgiana Lover ing, girl of twelve years, in Northwood. N. H. His confession in regard to the above crimes is brief and indefinite except as to the Joyce children, which was made to Deputy Sheriff Henry H. Drew, who ar rested him and had him in charge ten days before he revealed to him the secret of the murder of Georgiana Lowering. Mir. Drew said that after Evans had confessed the murder he questioned him as to his where abouts for the last fifteen years. Finally, said Mr. Drew, I traced him to Rhode Island, and then back to Roxbury, Mass. His mention of Roxbury, and the similarity of the murders, suggested to me for the first time that he might have perpetrated the murder of the Joyce children, of which had then but dim recollection, and of the circumstances of which I have now but little knowledge. l then interrogated him on the subject, and the questions on my part and the replies on his were deemed by me of so much importance that immedi- ately reduced the substance of the conver- sation to writing. The following covers the main points of the confession elicited in regard to the Joyce children:
 Questioned by Sheriff Drew - We'll, Frank, what you tell me you must tell me now. Tell ne all about it. Were you in Roxbury or were you in Manchester Tell me just as iii '-
 Evans-Mr. Drew, I was right there when that boy and girl were killed.
 Grew-Was he stabbed or not2
 Evans-Yes, he was, several times. Drew-Did the girl make much ado?
 Evans-Yes. a-5. -
 Drew-More than the boy?
 Evans-Yes.
 Drew-Why did she9
 Evans-She was raped. Don't ask me any more. have told you now.
 Drew-Was the act committed before she was killed2
 Evans-Yes. Mir. Drew, 1 won't Say any more. l have told all about it now.
 Drew-Well, Frank, guess you have. But one thing more: was the girl bruised mnch2
 Evans-Yes. 1 won't answer another question.
 Drew-Well, won't ask you any more. Mir. Drew states that Evans further said the house where the children came from was on the left hand side as you go into Boston from Roxbury, and that it was a two-story house.
 Drew said to him: "No, Frank, it was 8 little cottage house on the right hand side as you go to Boston from Roxbury."
 Evans replied. ''It was two-story house on the left hand side as you go into Boston from Roxbury."
 The following affidavit IS corroborative of Sheriff Drew's statement:
 1, Azariah Waldron, of Strafford, in the county of Srafford, state of New Hamp- shire, depose and say that was keeper over Franklin B. Evans at Henry A Drew's house, that 1 had conversation with Evans in regard to the Joyce children, Evans said to me, T hope they won't bring that up till get through with this. If they do what will they do with me?" I answered, ''They will hang you twice" ," Evans said, ''They cannot kill me but once." AzARlAH WILLIAMS,
 Strafford, (S. S.) Sworn and subscribed to before me.
 HENRY A. DREW.