The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-10
THE ISLES OF SHOALS BUTCHERY.
Trial Of the Alleged Murderer. Wagner,
at Alfred, Ne.
Intense Excitement and Great Crush to Witness
the Trial-Resume Of the Awful
Tragedy and the Evidence
Against the Accused.

ALFRED, Me-, June 9, 1873
There Ia great excitement here to-day over the
trial Of Louis II. F. Wagner, the alleged murderer
OF Mrs. Anethe Methia Chris tenson and Miss Karen
Christensen, at Smutty Nose Island one OF the
Isles OF Shoals, on bitter cold night in March last.
The tragedy, 1t will be remembered was one most
revolving In every particular, and the accused,
after he was arrested, barely escaped lynch
ing by an Infatuated mob, in Portsmouth
N. II. The victims, who were half sis
tiers; two men named Christensen, one the
husband OF Anethe Methia, the other the brother
OF Karen, and John G. Houtvet and his wife, lived
together on Smutty Nose Island, the men following
the vocation OF fishermen. Wagner had previous
TO the time OF the murder lived with them for
about five months and very naturally had become
familiar with the affairs Of the family. The fact
that sum OF money, about five hundred dollars,
was In the house, 1t is alleged, became known to
him. On the evening OF March Houtvet ana the
two ChristensOns repaired to Portsmouth and met
Wagner there, who at that time was boarding in
Portsmouth with one Mrs. Johnson and her daugh-
ter They communicated to him the fact that they
intended to bait trolls that night, which necessi.
tatcd their absence from home all night Houtvet
took supper with Wagner that evening" and asked
MIN to assist him In batting trolls, which Wagner
promised to do, when they separated. Houtvet went
W hiS uhop huu, preparing LOT tHe IibHLS WORK,
waited for Wagner's arrival until it was too late
To walt longer, and set out without Wagner.
About eleven O'Clock that night, after the three
women had retired footsteps were heard in the
house treadng softly around the bedroom. Mrs.
Houtvet, supposng 1t was her husband, said In a
joking manner .John you need not walk SO soft
nobody Is afraid OF you" Failing to find as much
money as he anticipated, scufe ensued, re-
suitipg IN
ms KILLING THE CHRISTENSEN WOMEN
with an axe. which he had procured on the prem
Uses, belonging TO Houtvet. Mrs. Houtvet was
struck by Wagner with chair, but succeeded in
making her escape from the house by jumping
through q window. She fed for her life, followed
by a little dog. She hid in the snow, being
clad in nothing except her night apparel.
she held her dog all night, fearing that he
might give the alarm. She did not dare to stir
untll about eight O'Clock in the morning. when,
almost frozen TO death, she cautiously lifted her
head above the surface OF the snow; and, when
she became satisfied of Wagner's departure, she
succeeded IN giving an alarm to the nelgnoorng
island STARS islandl, and was rescued by man
from that island, who came to her assistance. she
told him that Wagner had killed the women, mar
rating 10 nm the circumstances He conveyed
her 20 his house, telling his family 20 do all they
could for her. II was Al FIRST feared that both her
legs would have 70 be amputated, but she is now
aDie 10 wax, and viii be at the trial 10 testify TO
these facts The man. after leaving her in the care
~,
bors, ana all repaired 70
rms scExR on THE MURDER,
finding the bodies OF the women horribly mutt
lated and the doors and walls OF the house covered
anu spattered with hood. showing that terrible
struggle for life must have been made on the part
After having seen that the report was true and
not touching the bodies the party at once started
20 Portsmouth. meeting the Christensons and
Houtvet about halfway between Portsmouth and
star Island Returning home they informed the
men Of the horrible events OF the night, turned
back ami accompanied them to their home, now
rendered suddeniy and tragicaliy desolate. AS
on the former Inspection. SO as at this one the
Soysyea The whole naytu ihep nr"cSeds s oi ~
Portsmouth and Informed the authorities OF the
murder. The city Marshal at once went to Boston.
and In a few hours wagner was arrested. having
In the meantime shaved his whiskers. 4 woman
named Mrs Campbell, hearing the report, Informed
the authorltes that she saw man land ut New
castle IN derry, push IL on 20 sea and fiee to the
woods near by which added proof 20 the already
marked evidence against Wagner. II was stated
that the derry was stolen the night OF March 8. ON
the following sunday an officer and Mrs. Johnson,
the woman with whom he was boarding on
March D. found q shirt IN vault covered with
blood aud torn into three pieces. Mrs. Johnson
will testify that she had washed the same shirt.
H. aud also thai she took IL from a bureau drawer
and gave u 20 Wagner the sunday previous to the
murder. She sewed up buttonhoie IN the shirt
az his request on the day OF the murder and Knows
N 90 bc Identical with the found IN the vault.
Wagner on being arrested NJ Boston, was brought
20 Portsmouth ana incarcerated there until the
question OF Jurisdiction could be settled. on March
N he was conveyed 10 Sac6, the sheriff and Mar
shat with the utmost difficulty restraining the mob
from killing him while on the way rom the Jail TO
the depot. ON March rs he WAS examined
before Justice Alexander Dennettat south Berwick,
ana Immediately conveyed 10 Jail IN Portland.
where he was confined until April 70, az the new
ia al Alfred was then IN "a state OF non-completion.
II was competed on April 70, aud Wagner that day
was conveyed nom Portland 10 Alfred, where he
has been and ~ now confined.
TgK TRIAL
~ the theme OF conversation IN neighhoring towns.
and creates general interest. The hotels are
nllea 10 overnowinR, The Jurors being boarded at
the Jail and many 81 the private residences IN
Alfred being called into reaulsiflon 10 gccommo-
nve jurors drawn rom whom "a chose Twelve
who are unyrtludiced ana have not formed an
opinion. The trial Will be presided over BY Judge
W. q. harr0wk. Attorney General Pliarsted aud
County Attorney q. 4. featon appear IN behalf or
the state. Mcssrs. X. y. Iapley, ~ saco, and Max
FsChacheo, Of Boston, appear TOT the defence. The
number OF witnesses iot the prosecution y very
large, prominent among whom are Mrs. HOGtvct
and the man who rescued her, tue two Chrgs.en.
sons. Mr.. uoufvelt. hrs. johnson am her daughter
anu Mrs Campbell The length oiihe iriai u, OF
dc clded whether wagner Elmsclf VIII be put on the
stand % tettly IN has own bthslL The laws
OF the state authorize and permit such ies
timcny 90 to gwen, vita the rather cxoep.
gwen ny the person charged with crime
that a failure 20 avail himself ~ the privilege 20
TESTIFY tn his own behalf shall BE- argued and con
strged against ham. u VAL he rtciabsred that al
dia TESTIFY. hut nothing when woula have weight
against him was elected. II Val require evidence
81 the most infispaiste character - override that
probably hc no DELAY arising from thc question o.
Jurisdiction. wagner, ssnce ~ confinement. has
been Ia good spirits. W. - ~ rather fne appear
s sas are a To- ssr IA. ssei, S orb sS =
ANY one 10 converse with BIN, and thus Tar liza