The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-07
Two Lone Women Murdered on
Smutty Nose Island.
THE AssAssIN's CUNNING.
He Visits the House at Midnight and Com.
af plstes His Terrible Work.
A THIRD INTENDED VICTIM ESCAPES.

Our citizens were horror-strcken soon after noon
to-day, when fisherman named Huntress, whose
home Is at the Isle OF Shoals, by landing from his
boat at Newcastle and taking team thence to this
city, hastened to inform our police that MUIR
der most foul had been committed at the
Shoals. Several years ago there came to
this city Norwegian named Christien
Johnson, who engaged in the fisheries at the
Shoals, bought property there, and after q while
opened the Norwegian House here. He was
drowned year or two since, while disposing of a
cargo OF dried flsh at the West Indies, branch Of
trade he was Just beginning. From his operations
there has come to be fg4 .E
QUITE A SETTLEMENT OF FOREIGNERS
at the Shoals, Prussians and Swedes and
with these Mr.. Huntress lived ON one Of the
seven isles OF shoals, called Smutty Nose with
his wife and two younger women, named An
META Lawson and COrnela Christensen. rough
young fellow, Lewis Wagner. so called, had for q
long time made his home with Mr.. Huntress. He
was one OF the crew OF the fishing schooner
Addison Gilbert recently sunk in this harbor by q
Portland sO0p, by which mshap Wagner was left
destitute. Wednesday evening Mr.: Huntress and
Wagner came to this city TO spend the night, leav
ing the three women at home In the lonely house
on that island, which lies and eastery to the
well known Appledore Isle and Is often called
Haley's Island.
WAGNER WAS SEEN TO GO DOWN
on the wharf here after supper, with an axe in his
hand and did not return till this morning, when,
at seven O'Clock, he took breakfast with Huntress.
He was much agitated, and his hands trembled
violently, and he remarked to Huntress that he
knew something was going to happen to him. After
breakfast hewent to a barber and had his whiskers
taken or, and there seems to be no doubt that he
left this city per Eastern Railroad towards Boston
on the noon train. Early in the day Mr.. Huntress
went to the Shoals and there learned that at about
midnight Wagner had been on the island and muir
dered two women out Of three who lived there, Mrs.
U.s. SHE ns' vA1 sn1f lMFIoREp FOR MERCY
for her companions, and narrowly escaped with
her own life, being twice struck on the head with
q chair, and escaping out OF DOORS She remained
there until about eight O'Clock IN the morning,
when she crossed the sea wall to Malaga Island,
gerbredsan, man living on Appledore Island:
He Immediately went to her assistance, and
upon hearing the story went to the Appledore
House and informed the Messrs. Laight0n who &C
companied him to the scene Of the tragedy. The
bodies OF the two young women were found lying
on the floor Of their own house, and the spectacle
was frightful. Miss Christensen was killed in tie
building by blows with a chair and afterwards with
an axe, but Miss Lawson succeeded In getting out
OF a window and as far as the end OF the house,
when the murderer struck her on the head with
the axe and felled her to the earth.
AFTER KILLING HER
he dragged her body into the house and laid 1t
beside that OF his other victim, and then, lighting
Huntress, fortunately without finding her The
woman was accompanied by a little dog belonging
to the family and retained sufficient presence OF
mind to keep the little creature hidden beneath
her clothing all the time the murderer was search
ing for her, that she might not be betrayed
by his barking at the light. Her feet
OF the night had distracted her before her position
was discovered. There were between three and
four hundred dollars In the house, but the assassin
failed to find It. His object appears to have been
booty, but 1t is not known that he obtained more
fhQ N n hQ i'm ha
watches, hanging in the room, were also left I'M
touched.
sMUrTY NOSE ISLAND
Is partly or wholly within the limits Of Maine, as
is also Appedare, the rest OF this famous group
being allotted TO New Hampshire. Smutty Nose
year or two ago, when the police were not certain
OF their jurisdiction. The Shoals are ten miles from
the wharves OF Portsmouth, and Wagner is supposed
to have made his voyage OF score Of miles on that
beautiful starlight night in small boat, with oars
and SAIL cherishing his foul purpose all the WHILE
and putting 1t into terrible execution. When he
supposed 1t was the returning husband, and
so accosted him, when he smashed Q
the poor helpless creatures as stated Mr. Huntress
stopped at the Shoals only long enough to learn
the facts, and then came back to this city. The
police OF Boston and other cities were notified, and
City Marshal Johnson left for Boston on the train
following that on which Wagner went.
THE MURDERER
ia a six-footer and powerfully built, Of light COM
plexiOn. The fishermen at the Shoals are terribly
excited. ShOuld Wagner fall into their hands
nardv escane being torn into neces ro v iou to
the number Of hundreds, have been roaming our
streets all the afternoon and visiting every incoming
train until midnight hoping the reports OF his ar.
States steamer Maynower, with Coroner JunkiDs,
OF New York county, Maine; representatives OF the
Shoals Thursday afternoon, from the Navy Yard,
and had not returned up to midnight.