Last year, John Perreault performed “The Ballad of Louis Wagner,” in a musical presentation sponsored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council. I enjoyed his original song very much, and only wished that it were a recording one could purchase. That wish has come true. The song now appears on a CD disc that is for sale; and the lyrics are listed on the following website:
http://seacoastnh.com/smuttynose/ballad.html#lyrics
Yesterday I learned of an article by the famous poet and Isle of Shoals dweller, Celia Thaxter. The article was published in the Atlantic Monthly in May 1875, two years after the murders it describes, in Volume 35, pps. 602-615.
Celia Thaxter has captured the details of the crime: the murder of two peace-loving, happy, Norwegian women by their “friend” Louis Wagner on the night of March 5, 1873. Anethe and Karen Christensen were killed, one with an axe; one strangled, in a premeditated action, while yet another woman, Maren, escaped Louis’ notice where she hid outdoors in the freezing winter weather, and lived to name the killer. Louis was the last man ever to have received capital punishment in the state of Maine. At least one of Louis’ intentions was to steal money.
Thaxter’s article, “A Memorable Murder,” is 23 pages long, printed out, and can be accessed at: http://seacoastnh.com/smuttynose/memo.html I hope that you enjoy Celia Thaxter’s account as much as I do.
An abbreviated version of Celia’s article, “A Memorable Murder,” is published in this volume.
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
