Year: 1876

SOLEMN ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEATH SEN


TENcE-THE PRISONER CLAIMS INNOCENCE


THE DAY OF HANGING FIXED YEAR AHEAD
CONCORD n. H., Jan. l3 1876
Joseph La Page, the Frenchman charged with the
brutal murder OF Miss Josie Langmaid at PEMBROKE in
October last has to-day been fully convicted OF the
crime and sentenced TO be hung the 10Th Of January
1877.


The story OF the dabocal murder is yet fresh in the
public mind. Suspicion early zen this Frenchman
La Page, the murderer and his arrest trial conyic'
ton and sentence have speedily followed.


VERDICT


The case was given to the jury early this forenoon
and shortly after twelve O'Clock tnev in with the
verdict A large crowd meantime lingering in ard
around the Court House. An oppressive silence fell
upon It, few moments after the jurors had taken
their seats the Clerk and addressed them the
usual questions The Foreman announced the verdict
follows "Guilty Of murder In the first degree and
so say we all of u.s..


Attorney General Clark moved, in a voice broken
with emotion, that the Court proceed to pass the
tence Of the law upon the condemned man. When the
Attorney General finished his motion he sank into a
chair and, buryng his face his hands, gave way to
strong feelings


ACCUSED SPEAKS


The clerk then said:-'Joseph La Page have you
anything to say why sentence should not be passed
upon your"


The prisoner with the same quick nervous man
which has characterized all his motions during the
trial. For moment there was a painful waiting AT
the direction OF the Court interpreter conveyed to
La Page the import OF the Clerks question AS the
knowledge Of the situation flashed fully upon him for
the first time his eyes liz up with strange
wild glare but he maintained his wonderful selfpos
session and instantly replied TO the interpreter
French The interpreter conveyed his answer to the
waiting Court and audience in the following words -
81 have to say that 1t is false and nothing ese and that
is ALL"


FATAL SENTENCE


At this announcement curious thrill ran through the
audience but before II could break forth la any de.
monstration Judge Rand rose, and in an impressive
manner delivered the death sentence as follows:


CATER impartial trial you have been found guilty
of the greatest OF crimes, of crime horrible in
details that the bare mention Of IL strs up thought
vengeance in the hearts OF all men but the law knows
nothing of vengeance On the contrary the hour of
your extreme need will shelter you from the fury OF
passion and from all injustice. II has helped you
procure witnesses, learned experts and able counsel
1t has permitted you TO participate in the selection Of
jurors, who have listened 70 your cause IL has been
liberal tolerant long suffering yet vglant II has not
permitted you TO escape out OF its hands Indeed,
man escape from it. Though he may for
awhile to escape from mere human law yet there is
law behind that Calmly, patiently and perseverngly,
without haste and WITHOUT rest IL has followed you
until IL confronts you at last with the fearful conse-
quences of your crimes. among which these may
be the most terrible which IL is our duty to declare
TO you AS the servant OF the law, the Court
decides that you be imprisoned in the State
Prison Concord until 10th day Of
January in the year of Lord 1871 and that on
that day between the OF In the forenoon and
two in the afternoon you be hanged by the neck until
you dead; and pardon II say that all the days
that TO you this life full of sor-
row. Let the be sofened by penitence so that
The other life that opens out OF the dark valley
full Of shadows, may not be without the light Of
hope"


CLOSING sCBSR


During the passing Of the sentence silence of death
was upon the assembled throng After the verdict the
crowd had given vent 10 their satisfaction in pro-
longed applause and then awaited in silence the closing
OF the drama Judge Foster returned thanks the
Jurors for their patient attention to the case and then
discharged them.


Joseph La Page, the man OF all most interested
In the result sat in the prisoners dock bearing the
stolid demeanor as during the whole trial. Per
haps hc a trihe paer aud his eye might have kin
died with unusual light of fear. II he felt the
enormity of his guilt the solemn situation in which
the law bad placed hum he did not show it,