The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-10-23
NEW HAMPSHI RE.
THE LANGMAID MURDER.

Evidence Against La Pnse Accommodating
CONCORD, Oct. 22.-Detective Dearborn and
officer Hildreth are in town on business con-
nected with the Pembroke murder case. This
party in Suncook duplicating La Page, the
Frenchman now 10 custody on suspicion of be-
ing connected with the Pembroke murder case,
of an alleged murder in Canada before he went
to st. Adams
They have also evidence tending to implicate
BIN in the Pembroke murder, but no particu-
lars have yet been made pubic.
La Page denies all knowledge of the murders
and claims that he made no attempt to escape
from Jail in this city. He says that the bricks
had been taken from his cell wall before he
was placed in it, He was heard digging the
bricks out, however, by some persons connected
with the Jail.
Detective Sargent, Dearborn, Hildreth and
City Marshal Council ara actively engaged in
working up the case They express confidence
and belief chat La Page is the murderer of Jo-
sic Langmaid
La Pages Wife Charges Him with At
tempting to Outrage Her Sister.
On the day La Page was arrested at Suncook
Detective Dearborn and officer Hildreth search
ed his house and found two razors and a kuife,
all very sharp. The latter had blade 81 in
F.. ches long, They also found piece of cloth
covered with blood, as if bloody hands had
been wiped upon it, Three young girls have
stated to them they were chased in the woods
by La Page previous to the Pembroke murder.
This morning the officers named arrested La
Pages wife, who confessed to them that she
formerly lived with La Page about forty miles
below Montreal, and that about five years ago
her sister, % years old, went out one afternoon
about o'clock to get theicows. As she was
putting up the bars to the pasture she was seiz-
ed by man who wore black mask with eye.
holes 10 it. During the struggle that ensued
she pulled the mask off and discovered that it
was james La Page She was knocked down,
severely beaten, ravshed and lett for dead.
After committing the outrages upon his wife's
sister in Chester, Canada, La Page was arrested
by desperate fighting and escaped while the
officers were tying his legs: For some time he
lived in the woods in the day time, going home
to sleep in the barn at night.
His Connection with the Ball Murder
Coroner H. 81. Farnsworth and c. B. Swift
of St. Adams, VT, have been to-day in consult
alton with the detective. 1t is said that about
two years ago. while living in st. Adams, La
Page went 30 miles away TO the house of q fe-
male cousin, and that he outraged her and fed
with horse. 1t is known that the murderer
OF the Ball girl wore moccasins at the time of
the crime, and it is also known that La Page
wore them that day. A short time previous to
the murder he enquired of girl what road
Miss Ball took in returning from school Friday
nights. On the day following the murder he
could not be found, but when subsequently ar
rested as he was trying 10 run away his face
was badly scratched, which he explained by
saying he had been poisoned by ivy. Tho mask
found near the body of Miss Ball was brought
here to-day. 1t was fastened together with
birch withes in such way as to fit the head of
the wearer, making complete mask for the
head and front of the wearer Birch withes
were found 10 the path lie aiding to the spot
where the body of the Ball girl was found On
the day following the discovery of the body of
the LaDgmaid girl at Pembroke, birch withe
was found tied around pine tree close 10 where
the body lay. La Page is said to be an expert
in making withes. He had been known to
chase girls at st. Adams 1t is said he left
there to 60 to SuDcook without any ostensible
business.
Furiher Statements by his Wife.
In her story, told to the officers to-day, his
wife stated chat he had made attempts to raw
ish his daughter, Is years old. since living in
Suncook, but was prevented by her interference.
She states that they have all been afraid of
their lives. She processes to know nothing
that duplicates him in the crimes at st. Adams
and Pembroke, though after what has hap
pened she considers that he was capable of
committing BOTH She says that the shirt be
wore on the day of the Pembroke murder is
missing; that she washed it but noticed moth
ing ABOUT 1t except that one sleeve was torn. 1t
was taken from the line she says.
Inc detectives describe Mrs La Page as
woman neart broken and worn out by grief