The Republican journal., 1875-10-14
Shocking Murder in New Hampshire

ofa young girl in Pembroke, New Iiamp
shire, near Concord. The correspondent
OF the Boston journal gives the following
account of the crime
James +. l.angmad. the father of the MUIR
dered girl, lives on Buck street in Pembroke
one and one-halt miles from the academy Oil
| Pembroke street, and about eight miles from
Concord. lie formerly lived in Chichester, but
| some thirteen years ago bought and moved Oh
to the Emery place in Pembroke, where he now
| resides. Mr.. Langmaid is one OF the most sub
| Stantial men Of the town, an extensive farmer
and considerably Interested in real estate, be-
ing now engaged in the building of business
| block i'll Suncook. His home is 3; large two
| story white house, with very pleasant surround
ln@s, and commanding delightful view of the
| adjacent country. Ills family before the tragedy
| consisted OF himself and a wife, second mar
| rlage, four daughters, the oldest being the muir
| deied girl, and Il son about 10 years old. Mr..
| lAn@maid'S circumstances enabled INN to pro-
| vide Il home of comfort and refinement for his
| lamily, and to extend to his children the very
| best educational advantages.
| Josie Iangmaid was born we believe III Chi
! chester, and would have been eighteen years
| oi the 18th day of next month. She WAS girl
| nl medium height, and OF slender and graceful
| form. She had Il clear, light compile Non, and
| also light hair and eyes. She dressed with eX-
| ceIlent taste, and in personal appearance was
| very attractive. She was OF a mild and pleas
ant disposition, and wherever she moved,
whether in the family circle, or among her
| SchoonateS, or in society, she was universally
| esteemed and beloved. She was active in the
Sabbath school, and always ready to do cheer
| fully What She could to assist in every good
/ work. An excellent scholar she took great
| pride in her studies ut the Pembroke Academy,
/ and Professor Walker the nrlncpa, PAYS a
beautiful tribute TO her intellectual superiority
/ and ioNelineSS OF character.
| The public road from her home to the Acad-
| envy is but sparsely settled and Il considerable
| portion of it is bordered by thick woods, with
| h heavy underground, which gives Il gloomy
| and secluded character to the thoroughture.
| The children of the few families living on the
| -Oad have beer accustomed to attend the Aclt-
/ any at Pembroke, and usually walked in pleas
| ant weather. Ju>ie'S brother Waldo was at
rndino the school with her This term. GcsteI-
| llY morning Josie WAS by some cause delayed
| iii starting, and it being delightful morning
| Waldo started ahead and Josie said she would
follow in a short time. At about hali-past eight
O'Clock Josie took her book, and with pleas
ant adeu to the family went smillngy out Of
her pleasant home, to which in less than twelve
lour~ She WIs to be borne back Il terribly nut
tiluted corpse. 1t is said that Amos lIoyt's
Elmiiy, who live about Il quarter OF Il mile from
Mr.. langmaid'S. saw Josie pass along the road.
Further On Deacon tiilc OF Pembroke street
drove past Josie on his way TO Buck street.
lie noticed no hing at all unusual IN her appear
| alcc, and She said Good morning. pleasantly.
Deacon Gile i the last person known TO have
seen Josie alive.
Her absence from school was not particular
noticed, as her brother supposed She had for
some reason changed her mind, and had con-
cII,let not to attend that day. At night Waldo
reached home ut about halt-past four and on
entering asked, ''Where's Josie, she was not at
s.boo?" The mother answered with Il sudden
lremonition of danger, ''Josie not at school.
Oh. where can she be:'
MIR. Iangmaid on hearing of Josie's absence,
started at once for one OF his near neiShbors.
Iayid L. Merrill, and telling him Of the crcum-
stances, asked his aid in searching for the miss
Ing Girl. The two men then started along the
Academy road, and when they had Reached the
house of Moses l.. Lake it was already dusk
ald they there obtained! il lantern, Mr.. Lake
h'ing absent from home. by this time the
aarm had much increased that swift mesSen-
Gers We're sent to Pembroke street and TO sun
cook illage for assistance. In the meantime
Mr. I.angmaid and Mr. Merrill We're joined by
Young Waldo Langmaid, another boy, Johnny
Merrill, Il Mr. Cupp oi Sunco"k, and John
Heath.
They went along the road to the locality
where Josie seen by Deacon GIic- Here
there was Il small forest patch through which
they went somewhat hastily, but made no dis
coverv Of the missing girl. Next they passed
through an open field and into 4 tract of swamp
they rrnSsv Ssv esea'5n nSs 9'nS at tsFa%6f s6 3s99 3 M29a
from each other and passed along iii the en-
dcayof 70 sweep this tract Of wood for \ dust
anre .ul eight ten rods from the highway.
The underground was so dense that they pro-
cre,lcl slowly and at times with considerable
difficulty. Nearly two hours passed and no
traces of the Girl We're found. BY this time
teams could be heard approaching IN both dl-
rectionS, and through the woods shone The
lights of those arriving to assist in the search.
The response from Pembroke street and sun
cook was most gratifying; men Of all elias ecs.
without Il moments delay, starting out ON foot
or i'll teams, as best they could, to aid i'll the
mournul work.
At about eight O'Clock Mr.. Copp, looking in
tentIy ahcad. caught Il glimpse of some object
prone on the ground. At the same time Mr..
langmaid was quite near him. Copp advanc-
inc soon recognized the mlItllated corpse OF
Josie. and raising his hands, uttered only these
words There 'tis' The others no sooner
saw The body than they We're almost Stricken
dumb with horror. The headlesS remains Of
the poor Girl laid upon the back on the ground.
One arm WAS under the body and the other laid
upon The breast. One of the lower limbs was
partly drawn up and the foot rested upon the
other limb The head, which was missing.
had been severed a. closely and evenly from
the body ae if it had been done by an eNecu-
toner Thc vertebre wils skilfuliy di>l0catl d,
and il wa, evident that the ticndiSh work had
been done with sharp instrument and by a
+ cIimin@ hand. he upper part Of the body
ouiy WAS teuutled Of clothing. The skirt of her
dress was jorn and dIsarranged, and was sat
urufpd With blood. Her limbs and her breast
rs they were seen We're but little dlstigurcd.
Her boots wtre upon her feet undisurbed.
Near the body was but little evidence ON the
Ground of 4 severe struggle, ana there was
no attempt whatever TO conceal the remains,
Where the neck lay the leaves and earth We're
soaked With blood.
These circumstances would seem to indicate
that M outrage had been prrpetrated SOME
! where in the vicinity, and that the victim had
| L,n Lbr n n )larp where she tDlIuU
| pprhaJs unconscious, and there ioully and
| swiftly murdered.
| The scene when the eyes of the father fell
| anon the corpse of his daughter beggarS de
| scription. He raised his hands, gave Il shrek
| Of anguish, and eNclainng I" Oh, my God ~
| fell on his knees and @raSped the mutllated form
| in lis arms The searching party, without ut
| tering Il word formed in Il circle and knelt
around the stricken father with uncovered
| heads, and with the tears flowing down their
faces. Others arriving quietly joined. None
who witnessed this sad sight will ever forget
| it, As the father became more calm he was
| tenderlv assisted to arise, and preparations
were made for the removal of the remains
| rude litter was constructed, and strong
lacn lifted the corpse and carried it TO the
4 roadway, some eight rods distant where it was
I placed i'll an open wagon to be taken to the
| Langnaid home. BY this time IL Is probable
that the searching party numbered al least 2oo
persons and they formed i'll long procession
ana followed lnc REMAINS 10 lIlc lpust, u 'ii9-
tance of a mile and a quarter. This cortege OF
men. with their long line Of bright lanterns,
lighted up the road for :; great distance and n
Illuminated the depths of the forest on either side.
| As they reached the house, the other members
Of the family came out to meet the remains OF
| their loved one, and with almost broken hearts
gave vent to their sorrow in tears ana sobDilg.
The body was laid in one OF the lower front
rooms, and Mr.. Merrill and Warren Martin
We're selected as witnesses to remain by the
corpse until the Coroner's inquest should be
held.
Afterwards the party returned to the woods
where the body was found to continue their
search About two rods from where the re-
mains We're seen there was discovered the hat
Of the victim. 1t was uninjured with the ex-
ception of stains of blood. No trace OF her
shawl could be discovered. nor of the missing
parts Of the body. The search was continued
until late hour when by reason of fatigue and
darkness it was thought eXpedlent to postpone
it until 7 O'Clock this morning.
The physicians who, IN the presence of the
authorities, made u hasty examination of the