Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-03-20
LaPage.

course.
LaPage had been confined in what is |
known as the condemned cell which Is
about seven feet square and little over
six feet high. His confinement had lett
its mark on him, and the peculiar sallow-
ness which comes to men inside the walls
became terribly apparent in his face. Be- |
sides, he had been closely shaver. and the
features once hidden by full whiskers have
stood out gaunt and grim. His looks were
those of cunning and brutality, almost
in themselves the feeling oil
repulsion which the citizens of that vleln-
ity have felt.
As LaPage could not read either French
or English, during the last few days he
had a calendar with a mark across the
date, March 10. As each day came he
crossed out figure, so that he might know
how many more days he had to live. The
scenes of that fatal day are thus described
Not until the very last moment was he
waited upon by Sheriff Dodge and the de-
pu,ies whom he had selected to assist him
in the final scene. When informed that he
must prepare for the dreadful ordeal, La
page answered sulkily: - Yes, sir, am
ready" and then surrendered himself to
the executioner. Upon arriving Mt the
narrow door which opened directly on to
the scaffold, the sheriff paused for few
moments while the priests administered
the final consultations, ending with the
Lords Prayer, which LaPa2e slowly re-
peated in French. During these trying
moments the condemned man looked
through one of the prison windows, and
l. Of tho hnpntIFul
sunlight which for the time shown directly
down upon his british features. The
spectators of the solemn scene seemed to
be more visibly affected at the surround
ings and the occasion than the condemned,
for ut no time from the moment he was
led forth till the cap was drawn over his
eyes did he manifest the feeblest emotion.
When he was brought on to the scatfold,
almost the first face he recognized was
that of Mr. Langmaid, the father of the
poor girl whom he had outraged and MUIR
iered. He looked ut him steadily for
few seconds. When the condemned was
brought forward to the scaffold the assem-
bled witnesses were hushed to death-like
stiffness. Fathers Barry and Millett stood
upon the rear of the gallows during the
whole scene, and both seemed choked with
emotion AS the officers proceeded in their
painful duties Sheriff Dodge was very
nervous in reading the warrant for the
execution. The deputies, too, where some
what overcome, and indeed the embarrass-
ment of all was in conspicuous contrast
with the peaceful, matter-of-fact demeanor
of the condemned man. The hands and
feet were bound by the deputies, Sheriff
Dodge, in the meantime. adjusting the
rope and drawing down the black cap to
exclude the features from the gaze OF the
multitude. During all these proceedings
LaPage was as calm and serene rs the
beautiful spring morning which he was SO
soon to leave behind. The reading of the
warrant having been concluded, the Sheriff
remarked, in Il husky tone: " And now,
Joseph LaPage, in accordance with the
command, l proceed to execute the SEN
tence of death, by hanging you by the neck
until you are dead, and may God have
mercy on your soul" lie then pressed
his foot upon the spring. the trap-door
gave way, and the murderer of Josie
Langlnaid and Marietta Ball was removed
from the community which he had so out
ragged and aroused. He dropped about six
feet and died without kick or convul-
sion of any description. Although death
was not instantaneous, it was declared
that the wretch passed away without suf-
fering any pain. At the end of nineteen
minutes Drs. Crosby, Barney and Gage
pronounced life extinct, but Sheriff Dodge
observed that they had better let him hang
u few minutes longer, and in accordance
with this suggestion the body was not cut
down for half an hour afterwards. The
people who gathered to see him hanged
we're reluctant to leave the spot, and SEEM
ed disappointed that the law could do no
more to the fiend than take his life only.
About half of the attendants at the eXecu-
ton uncovered their heads, and the gen.
eral aspect of the lookers-on was vastly
different from the pale, sober faces that
are generally seen on such occasions. All
crowded for the best places to observe the
tragic scene, and no ne seemed to have
the slightest feeling Of pity or regret. The
presence of the father of Josie Langmaid
created sensation, and softened the tone
of those about him, who treated him with
the utmost respect. He watched the pro-
ceeding with steady eye and firm lip,
and doubtless his heart went back to poor
Josie, whose marred and mutilated body,
once so beautiful. now lies under the sod.
| LaPage made confession to Warden
Pillsbury, who, with his son, sat up with
the murderer during his last night. They
were all seated when he suddenly dropped
upon his kness and said: 81 kill gal
Yes, l kill two gal. Too bad, too bad;'
and he sobbed and cried most bitterly anc
after getting composed he made the fol-
lowing statement:
He left Suncock about O'Clock, A. NJ.
went to the bakers about 4 then wen
across the bridge 10 the corner made by
the highways and the railroad; left the AK
and coat there, and went across the lots
across the bridge, taking his stick from ;
woodple; then across the road and me
Josie I.angmaid. He struck her with thu
stick and when he struck she threw up he
hand and the cut upon it was caused b,
the blow. lie then took her into the wood
and cut off her head with his knife, carrie,
, the head to where it was found, and thel
went to the brook and washed his hands
knife, and coat. lie then went back TO tn
place where he left the axe, and then wen
up the road TO the place indicated wher
he hid the wallet, ring, etc, and littl
further on. left his coat and axe. He thel
went across lots, and took the highwa
back to Suncock, arriving at P. NJ. Hi
., wife burned two coats and two caps, fou
:, or five days after, and told him he wa
l bad man. She did not want him an
more His wife burned the clothes becaus
they got in to quarrel. The girl had bee
u dead twelve to fifteen minutes before h
+ cut off her head. He did not stamp on he
o head or face; but simply turned her hea
q with his foot when cutting off the heac
He indicated on the diagram where M
" I.angmaid could find the wallet, ring, etc
and said that the testimony of the doctor
from Boston about the blood was all tru'
LaPage drew diagrams of the scenes {
J. both murders, representing the route
If over which he went and returned, and II
q the principal points. In reference TO Il
: Ball murder, lie says he left the hay fie
u where he was at work about quarter pa
three in the afternoon, went over throug
the woods to the place where the murd
II was committed, concealed himself by Il
ct roadside and awaited her appearance. /
is sprang out and threw himself upon he
o. struck her until she was unconscious, al
o after he had placed her body where it WI
II found, returned around on the east si