Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1891-08-29 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

MURDERER AT BAY.  Great excitement exists in Hanover (New Hampshire), oVer the attempt to oapture the murderer of Miss Christine Walden, who was shot on the night of July 16th. Miss _Walden was a beautiful girl of 18 years, who had numerous suitors among the students of Dartmouth College and among the young men resident in Hanover. Among the latter was Frank Almy, who had been rejected several times, but continued to persist in his suit. On the night of July 16th, while Miss Walden and her mother were returning from a visit to a neighbour, Almy came up from behind and without warning fired. The ladies screamed and ran in different directions. Almy, after firing a parting shot at Mrs. Walden, ran after the daughter. Seizing Miss Walden he dragged her into the bushes and there shot her through the head. He then escaped and was not seen or heard of until Thursday, when a stableman in the employ of Mr. Walden, father of the murdered girl, reported that he had seen Almy hiding in the loft of a barn belonging to the estate. A number of men went to the barn and called upon Almy to come out. He refused, and fired a shot into the crowd, wounding one man. A large number of men now gathered, and it was determined to take the barn by storm. While they were consulting Almy again opened fire, and sent altogether 15 shots into the party. A rush was immediately made for, the barn, hut upon entering Almy was seen standing in the loft pointing two revolvers at the door, and a retreat was quickly made. The murderer shouted out that he would kill the first man who should come after him, but stated that he was willing to snake terms if only two men entered. This was agreed to, and Sheriff Bridgman and another went to the loft and talked to the murderer, who, however, kept them at a distance. Almy told the Sheriff that he would surrender if that official would promise him a fair trial. The Sheriff reported this to the crowd, who authorised him to make the promise. The Sheriff returned to fetch Almy, but the latter now refused to move, saying that he had changed :his mind. He presented two revolvers at the Sheriff, and said he would never be taken alive. This was the situation up to the middle of the afternoon. It is believed that Almy has been concealed in the barn since the murder, and there is little doubt of his having laid in a store of food and ammunition. It will therefore be difficult to secure him without further bloodihed unless the barn is set fire to.  The siege Of the barn was continued on eriday, and the man was finally captured after a desperate fight, in which Almy was wounded. The sheriff and the crowd surrounding the barn had frequent conversations with the murderer touching his crime and the terms upon which he would surrender. Almy said he did not mean to kill the girl. The first shot was an accident, and the second was only fired to put her out of pain. The mob meantime grew very impatient, and as many had brought pistols and revolvers they opened fire on the barn, directing their attention to the part of the structure where Almy was hiding. Had the man been captured by the crowd he would have been hanged or shot, but the sheriff expressed his determination to prevent the murderer being lynched. After the firing had been going on for some time the voice of Almy was faintly heard offering to yield. The sheriff's officer entered the barn and found the mani.bleeding from several wounds,one being in the head and another in the leg. The officer arrested him and conveyed him to a covered waggon waiting for him. An attempt was made to drive away with him, but the excited crowd insisted upon seeing him, and the curtains of the vehicle were raised. The prisoner was removed to a hotel preparatory to his being conveyed to the county gaol, and the crowd again insisted upon seeing hine. The sheriff finally consented, and upwards of 1,500 persons filed through the room where Almy lay having his wounds dressed. Almy had been shot four times, twice in the left leg and twiye in the head. When arraigned he pleaded not guilty.