Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-08
CONFESSION OF EVANS.
& CKlNG BRUTALITY!
OF THE JOYC
CHILDREN.
Boston, Feb. 7,

Boston, Feb. Z.
According to the confession of Evans, in
1853 he stole away and killed little niece in
Derry, N. H., aged 5years.
In 1861 he assaulted and cut the throat Of u
girl of fourteen years in Augusta, Me-, for
which, by the way, another man died in pris-
sony.
In 1865, he-outraged the person of Isabella
Joice, fourteen years old, and then killed her
and her brother John, a boy of IL years in
Busseys Woods near Boston.
In 1872, June 10th, he is charged with q
similar crime upon the person of a woman
found dead in the woods near Fitchburg,
Mass, and during the same year he outraged
and mutlated the person of and murdered
Georgiana Lowering, girl of twelve years,
in Northwood, N. II.
His confession in regard to all the above
crimes, are brief and indefinite, except as to
Joyce children, which was made to Deputy
Sheriff Henry A. Drew, who arrested him,
and had him in charge ten days before he
committed him to Exeter Jail, and days be-
fore he revealed to him the secret of the MUIR
der of Georgiana Lowering. Mr.. Drew said
that after Evans had confessed the murder,
he questioned him as to his whereabouts for
the last fifteen years. "Finally," said Mr..
Drew, II traced him to Rhode Island and
then back to Roxbury, Mass. His mention
OF Roxbury and the similarity OF the two
muir ders suggested to me, for the first time,
that he might have perpetfated the murder of
the Joyce children, of which had then but
dim recollection, and of the circumstances
OF which have now but little knowledge. /
then Intercepted him on the subject, and the
questions on my part and the replies on his,
were deemed by me of so much importance
that Immediately reduced the substance of
the conversation to writing
The following covers the main points of the
confession elected in regard to the Joyce
children:
Question by Sheriff Drew
"Well, Frank, what you tell me, you must
tell me now; tell me all about it. Were you
in Roxbury, or were you in Manchester?
Tell me just as it is.
Evans. Mr.. Drew. was right there whon
the boy and girl were killed.
Drew. Was he stabbed or not?
E. Yes-He was several times.
| ID. Did the girl make much ado:
I f. Yes.
ID. More than tie 10y?
| +. Yes.
| d. Why did she?
| Z. She was raped. Don't ask ne any
more. have now told you.
| d. Was the act committed before she was
killed
| +. Yes-Mr. Drew, l won't say any more
l have told all about it now.
d. Well, Frank, guess you have; but
one thing more. Was the girl bruised very
much?
| E. 1es-1 won't answer another question.
d. Well, | won't ask you any more.
| Mr.. Drew states that Evans further said
that the house where the children came from,
was on the left hand side, as you went into
Boston from Roxbury, and was a two story
| house.
| Drew said to him, mo Frank, it WAS lit
tie cottage house on the right hand side, as
you go into Boston"
Evans replied, at was two story house
on the left hand side as you go into Boston,
from Roxbury."
The following affidavit is corroborative of
Mr. Drew's statement:
81, Azariah Waldron, OF Stafford, State
of New Hampshire, depose and say, that l
was keeper over Frank B. Evans, at Henry
A. Drew's house that l had conversation
with Evans in regard to the Joyce children
Evans said to me that he hoped they would
not bring that up if get through with this !;
if they do, what will they do to me? l an
swered, they will hang you twice. Evans
said ''they can't kill me but once
AzARIAH WALDRoS.
STAFFORD, ss.-Sworn and subscribed to be.
| fore me.
HENRY A. DREW, Justice Peace.