The 1879 Murder Of A Cumberland Farmer

Sibling animosity led to his death

by Brian Swartz

Shocked by the murder that claimed a pleasant young farmer, his neighbors in Cumberland steered the law toward a particular suspect.

On Friday, September 27, 1879, people flocked to closing night at the West Cumberland and a dance scheduled to run into Saturday’s wee hours. Cumberland farmer Joseph A. Lowe, an eligible bachelor, escorted his sister Hannah to the dance.

As promised, it wound up around 2:30 a.m., Saturday, and the Lowes headed home in a wagon, Joseph driving and neighbor George W. Morrill along for the ride. The Lowes arrived at their farm, Morrill quietly said, “good night,” and Joseph walked around the house to open its back door for Hannah. Discovering the door already open, which it should not have been, he searched the house from bottom to top. The only occupants Joseph found were his mother, Abigail, and his sister and brother-in-law (Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey, their first names unknown) and their children.

Satisfied the coast was clear, Joseph let Hannah inside before driving the wagon to the barn to unhitch the horse and put it in its stall.

Apparently awakened by the wagon rumbling into the yard or by Joseph’s room-by-room search, Abigail Lowe went to her bedroom window and looked toward the barn. She saw Joseph opening the barn door. He had a lamp.

Hannah also called to him from a window.

Hannah rousted her brother-in-law, Ramsey. Walking to the barn, he discovered a blood-covered body. Afraid, he got a lamp and awoke neighbor Cyrus Shaw. They went to the stable and found Joseph lying dead, the horse’s harness and his busted lamp nearby, as well as the blood-covered ax