The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-16

looked through OF tho prison windows
ana caught glimpse OF the beautiful
sunlight. which Tor tho time shone directly
down upon his british features. rhe spectators
OF the solemn scene seemed 10 be more visibly al.
fected at the surroundings the occasion than the
condemned. for at no time from the momont he was
lea forth Till the cap was drawn his eyes did no
manifest the feeblest emotion. When no was
brought on to tho scaiold almost tho FIRST
face ne recognized was that OF Mr. Langmaio, the
father OF the poor girl whom he had outraged and
murdered He looked at him steadily for a few Sec
onds bis eye beaming with vengeance rather than
contrion Then he looked further down the corridor.
only to recognize Detectives Dearborn. Sargent and
Hidreih. who had come to witness the righteous pun.
ishment OF the nend whom they had detected
victed.
When tho condemned was brought forward to the
scaaold tho assembled witnesses were hushod TO q
dcathlikc stiffness. Warden j. Z. Pllsb ury had pre-
vousy asked that strict silence DO observed, and
that In case of accident by tho breaking OF the
rope or otherwise should undertake to inter-
iere assist Tho officers. Fathers Barry and Mllctt
stood upon the rear OF tho galows during the whole
scene aud both seemed choked with emotion as the
officers proceeded In their painful duties.
Sherin Dodge was very nervous IN reading the war;
rant for tho execution. The deputies too,
what overcome, and indeed the embarrassment OF all
was In conspicuous contrast with the peaceful, mat.
ter-oi-iact deneanor oil the condemned man. lhe
uupuS uHu iect were UOunu Oy TIC TWO deputies,
Sheriff Dodge, In The meantime. adjusting tue
rope aui drawing down tho black cap TO
cludo the features from tho gaze OF the null
titude. During all these Proceedings Lapaee
calm ard serene. The reading OF the warrant having
been concluded, tho sheriff remarked III u husky
tome
''And now, Joseph Lapago, in accordance with
the command, | proceed TO execute the sentence
dean Oy ay oa ~ tho aesx an you
SOUL" He then pressed his foot upon the spring, the
trapdoor gave way anu tho murderer Of JOSIE Lang
Rail
tho community which he had 80 outraged and
aroused He dropped about SIX Feet and ciei
scription. Although death was no. ,nstan
tane0us II declared that the wretch passed away
without suffering any pain AT .he end OF nineteen
minutes Drs. Crosby, Barney and Gage pronounced
life extinct, but Sheriff Dodge observed that they had
better let hun hang few minutes longer, and IN
cordancc with this suggestion tho body not cut
down for halt an nour afterward
cOSfESSEs HIS CRIMES rD
Lapagc passed the night quietly, and after conc:s-
ing his double murder seemed greatly relieved HIS
confession OF the murder of Miss Ball was quite
minute and he indicated on tho map where he mad
hidden some OF the property taken from Miss Lang.
maid.
HISTORY THE CRIME
OF tho many hcnous crimes winch have blackened
the record Of Now Hampshire within the past 1.-Two
years tue one for which Joseph LlIago executed
Is tho foulest No one can roady It's history study
details without SD udder 1t Will DO remembered
that Lapagc was Canadian Frcnchman who was
twice arragned and twice convicted OF murder
in tho first degree Tor the knng OF josie
from Concord on October l. 1876 JOSIE beautiful
young lady, nearly eighteen years Of age, ana
beloved by all who knew her. Sho tho
only daughter OF James +. LangmaId, OF that
town. one OF the present Commissioners for
iather and mothor ut their home on Buck stroot so
called, about mile and half distant from the
Pembroke Academy, which stands near the junction
OF Buck street with Pembroke street, tho prin-
! opal thoroughiare OF The town On that fatal Mon
day morning Miss Josie started from her homo TO
walk TO tho academy. where sho attended school.
she was Two tlreO houses Tho
way, and that was the last time her ironds
ever saw her alive Hor brother Waldo,
Ing Tor tho school about half an hour
ahead Of her. and. when she failed to appear there
c,ded Tor some reason not to go to school
that day, and he thought no more about
H. It was not TIL he returned 'S hons , aDoS.
became aware for tho hrst tmo that josie
had not bccp al school, and Waldo learned that she
was at home. Some Of tho neighOors pot-
fed at once OF her absence, and rallied to Join tho
search Tor her. Mr. Langmaid his son and Deighbors
traced the girl up the road where sne passed tho
last house and then they struck into a niece
OF woods, keeping near enough to one another
to mako thorough examination OF all the
ground which they passed. over. The wood WAS q
thick onc With great deal OF underbrush, and slow
progress made. About ten rods from tho high
way tho caught sight Of tho body Of hts
dered daughter. An examination showed that she
had been horribly mutilated, that her mead had been
cut entirely from her body aud carried away and that
other parts had been removed Her hut was fou nd
about feet from her body, toward the road, anu
Indicated that she mad received blows on the head
Her clothing saturated with blood anu badly torn,
and ali show that she bad been dragged
aiivo and her head discovered ut tnat spot II was
plain tha, she had been waylsd ravish cd murdered
beheadod and secretcd in broad daylight and near
public road.
A corouor's inquest was organized and the search
continued till nearly eleven O'clock that night when
II was abandoned, and again renewed early IN the
morning About eight A. NJ. the next day the miss
ing head found under some small trees about sew
enty rods from whore the body was observed. Alter
ward more traces were found The CLUB with which
she was struck and her school books picked up
by the side oil the road, only few feet from where
she was dragged tho bushes and the spot whore
sho was struck down found III the highway. The
stick was a weather stained red oak, aud quar-
ter inches square aud three feet eight inches in
length. II was broken into three pieces and
had been freshly cut on at one end, as II
IRON larger picco designed for n hay.rick,
aud tho other end had tho corners newly
whitfield, enable tho Unknown assassin TO hold
the murder, "Bili" Drew, a low, worthless fellow,
who then lived near the scene Of the crime was
arrested under tho Suspicion OF beng the
guilty party, and II was only with tho ut
most exertions the part OF tho officers that was
kept III their custody ana from tho eager, excited
people who would have torn him limb from limb in a
moment. Tho evidence against HIM proved scanty
but as matter oil precaution and safety TO bmseI
he kept securely connned and closely guarded for
several days, during which time other persons were
arrested, and among them was Joseph Lapage. tho
middle aged French woodchoppcr, VINO was subse-
qucntiy convicted oil tho murder.
LAPAGE ARRESTED.
With tho exception OF very quick, sly sharp eye,
there was nothing especially remarkable In his APP
pearance, although he was u rough bad looking man.
lie about forty years OF agc, excessively bony
and lean, with coarse, straight halr, and looked
generally US though hc may have had Indian blood
In him. His hands wero large, wrists ditto. and was
u very powerful man, IN whose grasp, intensified by
passion, young giri would he as much OF a play
tnug mouse under u cats paw. Ho known
under tho several names Of Joseph Ia Pagette
Joseph lie Pare and the name he bore at Suncook,
Joseph Lspage. He was n native OF Beatrice, small
settlement IN the Township OF Chetscy. Toilette
county, Province Of Quebec, about iorty miles
north OF Montreal. Tho reason why Lapage
was suspected was as follows-Shorly before tho
murder, Mr. Truoworthy l.. Fowler, Chairman OF tho
Board o SclectmcD, OF Pembroke had some at
work for HIM with thrcshing machine. Another,
whom hc had engaged as tender, had to disappoint
HIM, ana suggested The employ ment In his stead, OF u
Frcnchman who was along with him. Dir. Fowler
accepted tho substitute; did not inquire his name
and Kept him through the day. Wnen they were
all IN ut tca Mr. Fowler's daughter, u school
mate OF josie Langmaid, came In and OBJ
served by the Frenchman Attor tea, when hitch
Ing up horse to go to tho Village, Sir.
Fowlcr's was asked by the French
who tho girl was. aud being answered