The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-30
From the Bennington News.
MATERIAL FOR A STORY.

The First Pembroke Murder-A Relic of the
Affair-How Death Followed Family-A
Reminisconce Of New Hampshire Forty
Years Ago. A'I
Our reporter, while convcrsing with
Mrs. ii. s. Armstrong of this village,
former resident of the vicinity of Penn
broke, N. H., regarding the late horrible
murder there, she related "a very interesting
"reminiscences of her earlier days, which we
think will prove interesting at this time to
to our many readers.
THE FIRST PEMBROKE MURDER.
The recent horrible murder of the girl
Josie Langmaid, at Pembroke, is known to
our readers in all Its sickcning details, yet
it is but a repetition Of one quite as horri
BILE, which was perpetrated on almost the
same spot about forty-thrce years ago, the
victim then being young married lady by
the name OF Cochrane, and the perpetrator
of the crime young man who was EN-
ployed in Cochranes family. by the name
of Prescott. The affair ut the time created
it anything, more excitement than the
Langmaid horror The parties lived IN
IhIUl uDust eOiDt way lTtlIn l1le Nlllhpc Oh
Suncook. 1t was in the summer of the year.
and the young man Prescott (about 10
years of age) who was out in the
field moving, came back to the house
the husband being away in town-and told
/ the woman, blooming young female of
about twenty five, that he had come across
some very fine berries, and if she would
| bring out pail they could "pick a mess. "
| She went out with him, and while engaged
in picking the berries a tiendish desire
seized him, and he approached her with
improper proposals. She struck at him
| with her pail, and told him that she should
tell her husband of his designs on his re-
turn, JRnei,hs would have him arrested.
| The young man, not over bright, sat down
upon stone and, as he afterwards CON
fessed, cried, saying, "Welh suppose !
| will be put in Jail for it, aud don't know
but what Id assoon be hung rs go to jail!'
He then got up and Selling a huge club, he
beat the woman upon the head I'LL she was
dead, and then, after ravIshing her person,
he dragged her lifeless, form into the bushes
and fled. The corpse of the woman was
found after "a long search, and in due
course of dine the young man was arrested
and confessed the crime. Mr.. Armstrong;
uncle was then the Sheriff of Hop.
kinton, and kept the Hopkinton
Jail, residing in part of the building
with his wife and only daughter, young
woman, the wife of a sea captain by the
name of Robert Chase, the young wife be.
ing the mother of two children, one a girl
about a year and half old. and a little sor
OF only Two days. The populace was SC
excitedlOver tue murder, it was resolved tC
lynch young Prescott, there being no Longer
| u SOLD - l, NJ -. H. ,l -.
fessed the crime. On the night that the
lynching was to be carried out, the sheriff
and his wife were away out of town, an(
the Young mother was left alone with the
keys, in that large Jail. The attack wal
made by the Infatuated populace, but the
frail jaior had everything barricaded, anC
they could not gain their object. But il
consequence of the fright and excitemen
at lynching, the young mother was thrown
into COMMISSIONS and died that night in the
most intense agony. The baby lived ant
grew up to be a man. The little girl dice
in about six weeks after her mother, ant
the grave was then opened and the chil(
laid by its mothers side.
-ll : "A STRANGE FATALITY. t..1
In course of time the law took its course
and young Prescott was executed by tn
| ShCllll, anu tHC CttIDIOhC DhTI VI tuC ITuS
edy was terminated. The husband of tn
sheriff's daughter, who was away at SCI
during the tIial and imprisonment of tn
cuiprit, and it's attending fatalities, la,
now landed, and hurried home to meet hi
wife and expected children. He stoppe,
on the way, and in looking over ID paper il
hotel, saw for the first time an accoun
of the Pembroke murder, the attempt a
lynching, the, birth of his child, and tn
sad death of his wife and young daughter
He remained a widower for four or fiv
years and then married again, resolvin
that his second wife should not be left alon
while he was away SO much. SO O.
his next voyage he took her with hir
in his ship, and the ship was ru
down by larger vessel and all on boar
were drowned. The boy that was born i
the jail was named Robert Green Chase
and grew up. being educated for the Epis
copal clergy, and settled in Philadelphis
He married and has one daughter. Abou
ten years ago Mr.. Chase and his wife, at
companied by their little daughter, Will
at watering place, went out for day
boating, against the wishes of the littl
, girl, who begged of them not to go,
storm arose. the boat capsized and til
little girl alone was rescued. She is no.
living in Philadelphia. Here is materii
for story, and an illustration of the adae
that "trutb is stranger than fiction"