The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-01
THE JOSIE LANaMA1D HORROR,
Her Murderer Caught and Indicted.

From the Montpelier w., Argus and Patriot.
Murder will out" and at last it would
seem to be certain thing that Joseph La
Paize, the man now held in custody at the
Merrimack county Jail, in Concord, N. H.,
is the murderer not only of Josie Lang
maid but also Of Marietta n. Ball, as well
as guilty OF numerous other outrages. The
developments of the past week are of the
most important character, and the weight
of evidence against La Paize overwhelm-
ing. On the day he was arrested at Sun
cook, his house was searched, and two
razors found, with a long knife with a
blade 81 inches long and sharp enough to
cut hair; also a piece of cloth, bloody
and apparently used to wipe hands when
very bloody. Next it was learned from
the story of young girl that she had been
chased by La Paize, in the woods and
fields; and this clue was followed till three
young girls, all of good character, were
found, who told she same story of his pur-
suing them some weeks before the Lang
maid girl was murdered. These develop
ments were elected by officers Dearborn
and Hildreth, at Suncook. Last Friday
morning they arrested La Paize' wife, who
was taken to the room Of the detectives,
and, after some hesitation, made start
ling revelation Of his past life, telling a
fearful story of the crimes he had COM
mitted. She said that before they moved
to St. Adams they had lived at place
forty miles below Montreal, in Canada.
Her sister, young lady % years old, re-
sided with them. They owned some stock,
including cows, and her sister went to the
pasture after them sometimes, at night.
ga l.. e. Eol
Paize was not at the house, and about 5
O'Clock her sister started for the pasture.
She did not return Until dark, and when
she did come was in very terrible condi-
ton. Her clothes were torn nearly off,
and her hands and face scratched and
bleeding. When she could speak, she told
Mrs. La Paize that she went to the pas
ture as usual, took down the bars and went
in to drive out the cattle, when she saw a
man crouching in the bushes. who sudden
ly sprang upon and seized her by the
throat. He wore black Grape mask,
with eye-holcs cut in it. She struggled
and fought with the monster as best she
could, and succeeded in tearing the mask
from his face, when she saw it was Joseph
La Paize, her brother in law. She scratch
ed his face, but finally sank unconscious
TO the earth. When she came to herself,
il was dark. Her clothes were torn and
thrown over her head, her person had been
rayished, and she left for dead, as she be-
lieved La Paize, finding that she still
lived, fled from the country, and came to
st. Adams. This outrage was perpetrated
at Chester, Canada. 1t is further stated
that after it occurred La Paize was ar
rested, by desperate fighting, and escaped
while the officers were tying his legs. For
some time he roamed through the woods
in the daytime, going home to sleep in the
barn at night. 1t is also stated that he
had been known to chase girls at St.
Adams, and that he left there to go to
Suncook without any osteusible business;
that, about two years ago, he went away
fifty miles from st. Adams to the house OF
female cousin, and that he outraged her
and fled with horse, 1t is known that
the murderer of Miss Ball wore moccasins
at the time, and also that La Paize wore
them that day. A short time previous,
he inquired of girl what load Miss Ball
took in returning from school on Friday
nights. The day after the murder he
could not be found; when subsequently
arrested, as he was trying to run away
his face was badly scratched, which he ex
planned by saying he had been poisoned by
ivy. Justice H. III. Farnsworth and G. b
Swift, of ST. Adams, arrived at Concord
last Friday evening, and had consulta
ton with the detectives They carried
mask, which was found near the body o
Miss Ball, at the time of her murder, II
July, 1874. 1t was fastened together will
birch withes, in such way as to fit tn
head of the wearer Birch withes wer
found in the path leading to the spot wher
the body of Miss Ball was found. Tn
day after Josie Langmaid was murdere
at Pembroke, birch withe was found tie
around pine tree, close to where her bod
lay. La Paize is said to be en- expert i
making withes.
La Paizs's wife, in her confession, ais
told the officers that he had made a
tempts to ravish his own daughter, l
years old, since they came to Suncook, bu
was prevented by her interference, an
that they have all been afraid of the
lives. She professed to know nothing th;
implicated him in the ST. Adams and Pen
broke crimes, although after what hi
happened she considers that he was cap
BILE of committing both, She says IL
shirt which he wore on the day of tn
Pembroke murder was missing; that 81
washed it, but noticed nothing about
except that one sleeve was torn. 1t Wi
taken from the line, she says. The
tectlves describe Mrs. La Paize as hear
broken woman, worn out by grief an
abuse
Last Thursday afternoon La Paize mac
desperate attempt to escape from til
Concord Jail, Wrenchlng an iron brac
- inches long, from his bedstead, he dU
from the back part of the cell sixteen brio
and had punched one through into ii
next cell before he was discovered by a
inmate of the Jail, who informed Mr.
Davis, wife of the jailor, that everythiu
was not right. She sent for her HUSBAND
who was at the street on business a mil
distant. He came home made an invest
CATION, and finally found the brace covere
with lime. Fortunately, had La Paii
succeeded in getting out of his cell, b
would have only got into another, whic
was securely locked At first he denie
stoutly to Detective Sargent that he du
out the bricks even after the brace wa
found. Afterwards, however, he owne
to Jailor Davis that he did it, and said
was sorry, as it made against his case.
Soon after noon on Saturday last, he mad
another desperate attempt to escape. Tea
ing his bedstead to pieces, he wrenche
of another iron brace and secreted it b,
tween his two shirts on his left side, und
his arm, where it was found by Jail
Davis. who entered his cell, ironed ar
searched him between and 2 o'cloc
He undoubtedly intended to use this ire
to attempt an escape by striking dow
some Of the officials when they entered b