Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-22

joseph Paget, alias LaPage, was born In
Canada, about so miles northwest OF Mon
treal. He was about 40 years old. His
father. who is living, is q respectable farm-
er. lie married woman three years older
than himself when he was 20 years OF age,
by whom he had FIVE children. Five years
after his marriage he removed to Saint Bea-
trice, Canada. By this time he had gained
a very bad reputation. lie abused his wife
shamefu,ly. and associated with the vilest
company. While living in Saint Beatrice
he outraged and nearly killed his sister
in-law. who testified at his trial. III was ar
rested for this, but knocked the officer down
and escaped into the United States. He re-
moved his family to st. Adams, Vt, in Sep
TENDER, 1871. The next year he returned to
his former residence for short time, during
which he was suspected of setting some
buildings on fire belonging to a man who
was active in causing his arrest the year
before. On this visit he was seen to make
an assault on young unmarried woman.
He struck her with a club, causing injuries,
from which she did not recover for a month.
He also attempted to entiee a little girl, IA
years cid, away with him into the woods.
After this be returned to St. Adams. where
he lived isreputable life, working &C.
casioually at farming and chopping for
livelihood. His subsequen. history is now
well-known.
HIS sTOLIDITT IN PRISON
Two months ago, Mr.. PillsbuIy, the war
den Of the New Hampshire State prison, en-
tered La Pages cell and endeavored to i'm
press the prisoner with the fac. that the
day for his execution was near at hand. The
warden told him there was no hope for him,
that he must certainly be hung. The words
were Intellectual, and the prisoner said he
could not understand Mr.. Pilsbury then
proceeded to go through the different move
ments of hanging, as dramatically as pessi-
BILE. He commenced by grssping both arms
OF the prisoner, and placed them in juxta-
position as if boand. Not a move in the
whole body, not even wink Of the prison
er's eye. The arms voluntarily kept the po-
sition given by the warden, and the work
of binding the feet was begun. The warden
watched for any expression of comprehen-
sion or emotion, but nothing in that res
pect ma infested itself. La Page stood like
statue. Mr.. Pillsbury again reminded
him that in two months he would be
hung, but be persisted in saying that
he did not understand. The black cap was
then imsginstively drawn over the prison
er's hoad, the warden pulling the cap worn
by LsPage over his eyes. In doing this
the wsrden's hand touched the prisoner
arm, and he felt slight quivering of the
muscle, the only perceptable change noticed
during the whole ceremony. There he
stood as silent, as movable, as a statue.
There was not vestige of single thought
of his mind evInced through his counte-
nance, no apparent conception Of anything
going on, his only words being, 81 no under
stand !" The same stOicism of manner
was exhibited when LaPage was dressed
for removal from his cell. The monotory of
his features was undisturbed and ironical.
lie was shown a mirror, and ne looked
into it without the fsintest emotion. He
looked grave in the black suit, its dark
color rendering his cheeks pal)r. The
warden told him it was his last day in that
cell, but be uttered not a word; and when
walking out not even take last look.
He did not know where he was going, but
walked firmly and steadily alter the war
den.