The Portland daily press., 1873-02-08
MASSACHUSETTS,,
THE MURDERER EVANS.
Startling, But improbable
Confession.
He C0nfesSes Being the Murderer Of Five
Girls.

BOSTON, Feb. 7.-According to the confession
OF Evans, in 1858 he stole away and killed a
little neice in Derry, N. H., aged five years. In
1861 he assaulted and cut the throat of girl
IA years of aye in Augusta, Me. (for which, by
the way, another died in prison.) In 1865 he
outraged the person of Isabella Joyce IA years
old) and then killed her and her brother John,
boy of II, in Bussy's woods, near Boston. In
1862, June 10th, he is charged with a similar
crime upon the person of a woman found dead
in the woods near Fitchburg, Mass, and dur
ing the same year he outraged and mutilated
the person of, and murdered Georgiana Lover
ing, a girl of IL years, in Northwood, N. H +.
His confession in regard to all the above crimes
chiliren, 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 seven days before he revealed
to him the secret Of the murder of Georgiana
lowering
Mr.. Drew said that after Evans had confess
ed to the murder, he questioned him as to his
whereabouts for the last fifteen years. ssFinal-
ly," said Mr.. Drew, 81 traced him to Rhode
Island, and then back to Roxbury, Mass. His
mention of Roxbury and the similarity of the
two murders suggested to me for the first time
that he might have perpetrated the murder of
the Joyce children, of which had them but a
dim recollection, and of the circumstances of
which have now but little knowledge. 1
then interrogated him on the subject aud the
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 chill
dren:
Question, by Sheriff Drew-Tell me all about
it, were you in Roxbury or were you in Nam
chester? Tell me just as it is.
Evans-Mr. Drew, was right there when
that boy and girl were killed.
Drew-Was he stabbed or not?
Evans-Yes, he was several times.
Drew-Did the girl make much ado?
Evans Yes.
Drew-More than the boy did?
Evans-Yes
Drew-Why did she?
EvanS-She was raped. Don't ask ME any
more. have now told you.
Drew-Was the act committed before she was
killed?
Evans-Yes Mr. Drew,I won't say any moro.
/ have told all about it now.
Drew-Well, Frank, guess you have but
but one thing more; was the girl bruised much?
EvanS-Yes. 1 won't answer another ques-
tioR.
Mr. Drew states that Evans further said that
the house where the children came from, was
on left hand side as you went into Boston from
Roxbury and was u two-story house. Drew
said to him ''No, Frank, it was little cottage
house on the right side as you go into Boston"
Evans replied: it was two-story house on the
left-hand side as you 60 into Boston from Rox-
bury" The following affidavit is corroborative
of Sheriff Drews statement.
/, Azariah Waldron of Strafford in the coun-
ty of Strafford State of N. H., depose and say
that was keeper over Franklin B. Evans at
Henry A. Drew's house; that had conversa-
tion with Evans in regard to the Joyce children.
Evans said to me, hope they won't bring that
up till l get through with this. If they do
what will they do to me? Ianswered, they will
hang you twice, and Evans said they cannot
kill me but once.
AZARIAH WALDRoN.
Strafford, IS.
Sworn and subscribed to before me, Henry
A. Drew, Justice of the Peace.