The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-01

On Saturday morning the Press announced
the arrest of James n Lowe, charged with the
murder of his brother, Joseph A. Lowe, on the
9th of September last, at Cumberland and
also the arrest of Mrs. James Lowe as access
Dry TO the crime. Since the arrest Of the wife
the tactics of the officers have been slightly
changed, and Mrs. Lowe is now held simply as
witness, as, by recent act of the Legislature
a wife can testify in criminal cases either for
or against her husband.
In our Saturdays issue we reviewed, in
brief, the story of the crime, and gave the
principal points which indicated the murder
must have been committed by some person
very familiar with the Lowe farm in Cumber-
land, and the habits of its inmates. We did
not tell the story by which the web had been
woven about the cool-blooded villain who had
committed the fearful crime, at the urgent re-
quest of the officers, who did not intend ar
raigning their man before Tuesday next. but,
on Saturday, County Attorney Haskell insist
ed that Mr.. Lowe should be arragned in the
Municipal Court, and, despite all that the Off
GERS could urge. he was so arraigned, and not
withstanding they stated their promises to the
morning papers and also that they were not
quite ready for trial. He pleaded guilty, and,
tftertliat, was removed to the jail where he
vas at the disposition of anyof the reporters who
chose to interview him. 1t was very fortunate
for the County Attorney that Lowe did plead
guilty, for the officers were really not quite
ready, although they would have been on
Tuesday morning. After his removal to the
jail the prisoner was placed in cell on the
lower tier, and reporter from the PRESS in
5erviewed him. Lowe, however, said that he
should have nothing to say to any of the 1e-
,orters. The Marshal had his story and if he
chose to tell it he was welcome As for him
self he didn't think it would pay. AS he had
already told his story to the Marshal and, as
he reporter already had all its points, he babe
Mr.. Lowe good evening and left him to his SOL
itude. The wife of Iowa had already been
placed in comfortable quarters in the same
building.
TWO POINTS.
1t will be remembered that the chief points
to ascertain in the evidence were these: first,
vas James N. Lowe out of the New England
louise, Portland during the night of the 1921
prints which led from the barn at Cumberland,
where the murder was committed, to the
brook, hard by, the footprints of James n.
Lowe. II it should happen that Lowe was not
out of the hotel that night, and that those
we're not his footprints. then the murderer
must be looked for in some other person.
Why THE NEIGHBoRs SUSPECTED JAMES LOWE.
The question may be asked why the citizens
If Cumberland felt 50 sure James Lowe muir
Tered his brother, and the reasons were point
ed out in the Press at the time. James had
always, from youth, shown himself disinclined
= work, and possessed of a devilish temper.
At one time he had charge of the property and
showed himself incompetent, so much SO that
Joseph was sent for to run the farm. This
caused a great deal Of feeling on James part
against Joseph. and they had many squabbles.
After the written contract was made by Squire
clark by which Joseph was to control the
arm, and have it, after the old peoples death,
James went off. He married his present wife
ind they went down to Nova Scotia. When
hey returned James went out to Cumberland
md hung arouud the homestead for several
weeks, and food was missed from the house,
Which he took. AT last he went out with his
wife and stayed at the farm for some time, but
he had a quarrel with Joseph and Joseph gave
him thrashing, and told him to clear out.
When he went away with his wife his mother
told him that at any time he chose to come
here and stop he could but he could not bring
his wife. as there were enough Of them at the
farm without her.
It is also q fact that James had been in
-roube on an accusation of an outrageous
rhine. 1t is reported the facts could all be
proved, but James lawyer got him out of the
icrape. Add to these facts his quarrelsome
disposition, and Joseph's peaceable character,
ind popularity, and the evident familiarity of
he murderer with the premises where the
Iced was performed.
A HORSE AND WAGON.
The one great feature that puzzled detectives
Ind reporters in the first of the case was the
inability to discover where team had been
procured by the murderer, for it was at once
supposed he must have had q horse and wagon.
Following up clue the reporters of the PRESS
ind Argus went on to Scarboro to see Mr.,
shaw, where James Low and his wife were
employed just before the murder. . From Mr..
Shaw they learned that the couple had great
deal of mysterious conversation together, that
an old man was employed on the farm and
tlat one day he and James were gathering the
corn when the old man dropped an ear. AT
hat James flew into terrible passion and,
selling stick, threatened to break the mans
skull. A plate was broken one day and Mr..
Shaw spoke to Mrs. Lowe about it. Mrs. Lowe
denied breaking it. "Then," said Mrs. Shaw,
"who could have done it." unon which James
came up in most threatening way and said
do you mean to tell my wife she lies?" act
companying the remark with such look aud
gesture that Mrs Shaw determined to pay the
the couple off at once and get rid of them.
She did so on the Wednesday before the muir
der. James then put his wife's and his own
trunk into the wagon, helped in Mrs. Shaw
and his wife, and, while they rode to Portland,
he walked: Notwithstanding it was a wet
day, and the walking heavy. he walked SO fast
that he reached Casco street. Portland, time
enough, before they arrived, to seat himself
before the fire and get his clothes thoroughly
dried. and yet they did not stop on the way.
This elected the fact THAT James, notwith-
standing slight lamene IS, was noted as an
extraordinary pedestrian all through Cumber-
land, and at once proved that it would have
been no great eXertion for a man like him to
walk out to Cumberland after eight o'clock in
the evening, a distance OF twelve miles, do the
deed and get back to the city before daylight.
The officers then became convinced no car
riage was employed.
THE OFFICERS FIRST SUSPICION.
1t will be remembered the morning after the
murder, or rather the morning of the murder,
Mr.. Schwartz, who keeps shop on Market
street, was the first man who saw James. He
looked haggard and worn, as if he had
not slept for several nights. When Schwartz
told him of the murder he showed no more
feeling, or interest. than if the most simple
thing was told him. This aroused Schwartz's
suspicious, taking into consideration the fact
that the afternoon previous he had intended
riding out to Cumberland and invited Lowe to
go, when Lowe paused moment as if reflect
ing and then said, no, he did not care to. Soon
after Josiah Morrill, was notifying the coroner
of the affair, when James came along and
said, "What kind of scrape have you been
III 1ra1