The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-14
THE SCHOOL GIRL MURDER.
LAPAGE FOUND GUILTY AND SEN
TENCED TO NE H1NGED.
Tho Residents Ready to Lynch Him Had
the Result Been Dinerent-The judges
CharRe and the Jury'a QnIck Decision.


CoNcoRD, N. H., Jan. 13.-Thc Lapage
trial was concluded to-day. and the end was
marked with oven moro interest in the trial and
desire to have tho prisoner hanged. A repre-
sentative resident OF Mcrrimack county said 81
don't know what the jury will do, but that man
won't get a mile from the court house door"
The opening OF tho court room was marked by
the same scramble for places for the desire TO
hear Judge Fosters charge was intense.
Nearly half the audience was composed Of
women. Lapaee was brought In by bis jailers
as the court house bell rang. He seemed
to have properly Interpreted the menacine
glances with which he has been greeted on all
sides. and he moved along between his jailers
with the air OF a man who understood that the
least swerving might be the signal for speedier
termination Of his trial. once seated, however.
his face resumed the stereOtyped expression OF
Indifference that had marked his demeanor
Judge Fosters charge was a moro ma,terly
marshaling Of the proofs against tho prisoner
than even the plea Of the Attorney q Generhl. The
testimony In alihi was hist advctted tn, and
those tcstf,ing to II were gwen the full weight
that conhdonco IN their yeracity might cnttle
them to. Still the fact that they contradictcd
the story OF the prisoner himself and he eye-
witness Of at least as many welt disposed per
sons a. had testified to It. he thought left door
| open for the belief that Joo pairnaglt and hts
| men ght have erred to the daY when they
saw the prisoner. Ine Identification Of Lapage
! 10y Miss Gault and yOuua cate as the man whom
! they saw near and approaching the scene ~ the
murder, the Judge thought was entitled to
Etth NtlEuNs VI TIE At~Allitlll Nl Tue tAltiN- =
| rrc44ive. ne said. and men who spend their lives
IN Investigations Of the forces Of nature are en-
! titled to earnest consideration Wheu tncN de-
clare that tlnir researchos have enabled them TO
| discriminate between the blood of men and OIL
inferior auinfls. At al events. they established
| that there WAS blood Of some SOFT upon the
CLOTHES of the lr. onrr, and the fact that ne had
not seen t To- account for its presence there lett
! q damaging inference To hc drawn The tts.i-
muuy uf Julicnnc Nuussc " e commented utUu
nj length. The admission of IL a. evidence at all
ltl II
theory of the prosecution tnat rave was tht
| PRIMARY crime that lea up TO the murder, ana III
that view ONly IL Ou.h to be considered hN tht
jury. The charge lasted ga hour aud "a hali, and
at its conclusion the jury retired, the counse
not asking any special charging.
The tnrong in the court room increased rather
than diminished N thc recess that was tiket
pending the verdict. lhe prisoner AZ tne Gen
ire u many hostile fluncss, but he SIN oX.iu
ed his accustomed Indifference. llia unorcia
wat hers said freely that be had earned han :
inEand hey proposed TO- serve out Justice TO hln
! WHITTIER the jury convicted him or NOT.
At l2l5 tho court house bell told the people
that the jufy had agreed. In the half houf tina
tntoryeued before the court was reuyened th'
| ruinor was confirmed that the verdict was II
accordance with their wishes, and the thron'
became quiet.
James lansmald, the father Of the cirl, anC
his wife, seemed toe most ttted persons u
the assembly lie especially was deeply moved
He held handkerchief to hts eyes and convul
sively shuddercd, lie sat near tue prisoner, an'
that Langmaid has twice declircd to him tina
h, would kill Lap. ge Il the jury should ecqut
/ 4
marked to the Attorney General. You have
son aud daughter now. IL yours died as II in
did. would sou let their murderer live2 VIVA
would lifo be worth to your
Az the jury came IN, Lapsge lost his imper
turbaDlitv. lie eyed with keenest anxiety eacl
Juror. That done. he relspsod into nis accus
toned expression. He stood as the names o
tine Jurors were called. The usual formula o
questions was Dut, aud the foreman announce,
the verdict, Guilty OF murder In the first de
gree
The verdict was rendeted amid accessories 81
affecting tnat many women wept. hut Lapag
looked US unconcerncd as ever. lhe thrOng az
, pnudec. despite the sheriff RAYS for order.
Quiet restored, Az 0rncy- General clark rose
ana with voice eyincing great emotion move
for sentence.
The prisoner was nsked why sentence Of deaf
/ | ahouli not be pronounced upon him. Ih
question lad to he inter reted TO him. He r.
Ilied. " have only TO cay IL !. false, that Is al
. Judge II nj then lrouuun'cd the sentence
which Is tnat the PRISONER be hanged ON IA
ltth 90 January, lSt,.
lhe New Hampshire law gives all capital cor
5 Nlc's a year % winch 10 settle appeals and pre-
10 pare for death.
r After sentence the doors were closed and IN
7 PRISONER Wa, given ample time TO ne far ON h
4 way u tneJ % before 'he thr0ug was permitte
Y t. follow. The jury toOh one ballot only. Aftt
r rrtlrt ment tney reviewed the evidence Tor on
hour, then took "a vote, which was uuautmou
for couY tiHn Their verdi Is heartily al
proved by their fellow citiz,us.