Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-03
James N. Lows Confession.

| Saturday morning Marshal Bridges went
| into Lows cell and said "James, | heard
every word that passed between your wife
and yourself last night. 1t is better for you
to tell the whole truth now. Mr.. Wormell
was with me at the time and knows all as
do. l cannot save you but you may save
your wife, if you tell the truth" James hes
itated and seemed confused. Mr.. Bridges
| called in Mr.. Wormell and some of the Off
GERS and said "Well James, do you wish to
say anything?' 1t is for you to do as you
choose" James hestated as if he did not
know how to approach the matter and then
said, II done it, but my wife knew nsthing
about it and had no hand in it." County
Attorney Haskell having learned of the con-
fession then had the man arraigned at once,
Low made the following written confession to
Sheriff Dresser:
FULL CONFESSION OF JAMES n. Low.
have had trouble with my brother Joseph
and other members of my family for some
time past. They and particularly my brother
Joseph, has talked to me about my wife in
an aggravating manner. / found | had 10
money and no friends, and that my wife and
| must separate to get living or go to the
Aims House together, and my relatives
seemed anxious to get us there. | had made
up my mind to go to State Prison instead of
the Aims House, and to commit some offence
that would take me there. | had not de-
termined upon killing my brother till the
Thursday preceding the murder, when |
spoke to my wife about going out for the even
ing without making mr. design known to her,
and she prevailed on me not to go out on Thurs
day evening / waited at my boarding house
until Friday evening, Sept 26th when, at
about o'clock in the evening started on
foot and alone for my brothers house in
Cumberland. l went by way of behring's
Bridge to Woodford's Corner, there took
Maine Central R.R. track to Presumpscot
river bridge, near West Falmouth, thence by
the old Gray road to my brothers house. /
saw only one person on the road out. He
was near the foot of the large hill going
through Hurricane on the Gray road and that
party could not have seen me to recognize
me. ! reached my brothers's about eleven
o'clock, should think. | went to the back
door of the house, found the latch string out
and concluded that my brother was away at
the dance hall near the fair ground; ] did not
at this time, but went to the wood-shed
and took therefrom the sharpest
axe, and secreted myself in the weeds of
shrubbery near the back door, and awaited
my brothers arrival. While in that position
| saw Mr.. Names lead his horse through the
yard and put him up in the barn. | could
see Names quite distinctly, and knew it was
not Joseph. was expecting Joseph might
come home on foot and alone. J was CON
cealed in the weeds or shrubbery, above
named, when my brother. sister and Mr..
Morrill, arrived and | saw Mr.. Merrill get out
of the wagon at the foot of the hill and saw
my brother go into the house with his lantern
which he had in the wagon with him. and
came out before my sister went into the house
When Joseph passed into the barn pas $ ed
from the back of the house to the westerly
side of the barn and from thence stepped
quickly on to the barn floor with the axe in
my hand, while Joseph was fastening his
horse in the stall. When my brother came
from tho horse stall on to the barn floor
struck him with the axe. | do not know how
the lamp was broken, neither do know any
thing about how my brothers wallet came to
be on the barn floor | did not see or touch
his wallet. do not think Joseph saw me
until l struck him with the axe. / do not
think he recognized me at all. He never
spoke nor made any sign of recognition what
ever. After committing the murder imme-
diately fed from the premises. l think no
one saw me about the premises that night
/ returned to Portland on foot and alone over
the same route that went over in my passage
out except that passed from the Gray road,
near Hurricane so-called, into an old road
now unoccupied and leading out into the road
| from West Falmouth TO Cumberland Centre,