The Portland daily press., 1874-02-18
Confession of the Murderer Evans.
HE ADMITS OF TWO MURDERS AND OTHER
CRIMES.

Franklin B. Evans, the murderer, who was
hung at Concord yesterday, has made soon
fession, which, discloses a very bad life. The
confession is full of expressions of piety
AS to the family to which Georgiana 1the
murdered grill belonged, it consisted OF MI.
Sylvester Day and wife, Deborah, their daugh-
ter Susan, who had been married to q Mr. Low
ering who had died, and their daughter Geor-
giana am a brother of Mrs, Day, and was
occasionally with the family, working for diff
ferent persons in the neighborhood for some
time. The family was much given to intern
perance, especially Mr. Day, who was often
drunk and abusive. His wife (my sister, is a
good woman. Mrs. Lowering was very loose in
her morals. Georgana sometimes drank and
wos ewd in her conversation. had for many
years practiced as a doctor. Wishing to qualify
myself for further practice bought, at a cost
of So 80, treatise on female diseases, and
largely treating ON collaborating and midwife
ry, illustrated with drawings describing the or
gans of the female system.
Unfortunately, GeOrgiana and her mother
got possession of the book, but soon recover
ed it. Georgiana insisted on having and furth-
er perusing it. L declined and she threatened
to have me arrested and sent to the State Prs
on for an alleged rape. She had often done
this before and now she renewed the threats in
much anger. My fears were much increased
by an event which occurred some six weeks be-
fore this. l altered one-dollar bill to ten dol
lars and succeeded in passing it without detec-
ton. While l. was at work on this Georglana
came su 1denly into the room and detected me.
She then threatened to expose me. Thus |
found myself completely in her power. Believ
ing she would make good her threatening, my
mind was much agitated and tormented.
In this state of mind, about one month be-
fore her death, first thought of putting her
out of the way. often rejected the thought
but some renewal of her threats would bring it
back For some days before the murder l Scent
ed to be attended continually by one who SEEM
ed to bear human form, urging me on to the
deed. At length became fixed in my purpose
of compelling her to exonerate me or to take
her life. In order to bring this about told her
would give her the book if she would meet
me in the woods at certain place named, at
some distance from the house.
She assented; and on the morning of the IA
tai day left Mr.. Days, t ling the family L
was going to Mr.. Hills or perhaps to Mr.
Roberts. some few miles off. | arrived at the
place, near some large rocks, some time before
she did. When she came L talked with her
some time, reminding her of several valuable
presents had given her, ana trying t, persuade
her to do something to make me secure. 1t
was of no avail; she persistently refused.
Knowing that was completely in her power,
and that would most likely be sent to the
State Prison on one or both of her complaints,
siezed her by the throat. She struggled but
for short time, and was dead. / carried her
body for long distance toward the swamp,
and when within few rods of the place where
buried her, l separated the parts found after
wards.
did this to gain some knowledge of the hui
man system that might be of use to me - a
doctor My fears of her putting her threats
INTO execution w.re, however, the sole reason
had. should have left the place but for the
reason that could not then collect some money
which was due me. My feelings after the deed
was done were dreadful beyond description.
OTHER CRIMES.
Evans also confesses to the murder of a Mills
went to the house of MIR. Mills in the night.
found the door fastened, heard the moaning of
child inside. He continues:
found several children lying on the floor,
and one girl sitting on the floor, who seemed
ed she could not live till morning. Wishing to
procure body to examine for surgical purposes
resolved to kill her, and took her to the woods
at some distance, and there strangled her
On examining the body found one hip and
part of the spine deformed, and partly on this
account, but more because of feeling of re-
morse and terror that seized me, desisted from
my purpose OF examining the body. found a
chestnut stump partly rotten, and turning it
up placed the body under it and replaced the
morning. The place where l buried her was
near the junction o. two brooks. l searched
for it a year afterwards but could not find it.
He also confesses to stealing gold watch Of
a girl IN his house in 1843, which was laid to
another; also to taking out policy in the TRAY
eller's Insurance Company and going to Hamp-
ton Beach and there leaving suit of clothes
to give the impression that he was drowned,
while another party was to get the money.
There are confessions of other smaller crimes.
THE OTHER MURDERS.
The murder of the Libby child in Strong, in
this State, September, 1852. and that of the
Joyce children in West Roxbury, in 1865, which
he at one time partially confessed to have COM
upiffad he now doniac