Case Closed 1873 Smuttynose Murders

© 2014 ISHRA
Fall 2014
Volume 23 Issue 2
Our mission is to locate, collect, organize, preserve, expand and make available information
and knowledge relating to the natural and human history of the Isles of Shoals
Case Closed
on the
1873 Smuttynose Murders
Will be the Subject of our Program
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
by J. Dennis Robinson
Born in Worcester in 1951, Dennis says that he was always a writer
– probably worked out his first essay in the womb – and has sought to
press boundaries, advancing his own unique attitude and applying it to
whatever comes across his desk.
Having written a comic play called “Mr. Cleopatra” in grammar
school he secured his first regular position as a journalist in his
freshman year in high school with a regular column in the local
community newspaper. Immediately evincing his sharp-edged attitude
and willingness to “speak truth to authority” he found himself called on
the carpet in the principal’s office for a petulant and very negative
review that he wrote of the historical novel Johnny Tremain. Those of us
familiar with this icon of adolescent American historical fiction realize
that such action was nearly as objectionable as would be doing a takedown of George Washington, and for this Dennis was threatened with
dire censorship unto death. However, quickly devising an end run
around this obstacle he went on to write whatever he pleased.
Dennis says that, “As a scrawny sickly kid in public school, any
power source would do,” and he quickly recognized the power of the
pen, buying off would-be-bullies by ghosting their overdue essay
assignments. He also wrote poems for the school literary magazine,
songs to attract difficult-to-date girls, covered basketball games for the
statewide daily and edited the school newspaper.
Nottingham Galley Wreck on Boon Island - 19th Century Lithograph
September Shipwrecks Conference - Page 6
J. Dennis Robinson, author & historian
Casual in his attitude regarding attendance he
nonetheless received straight A’s in English classes,
his frequent absences were overlooked and he was
nominated to the prestigious international high
school journalism honor society, Quill and Scroll.
Dennis says that back then everyone “knew” that
he was going to be a big shot author – fame, money,
movie contracts. “But,” he says,“ I’m not rich and
famous.” However, thanks to his inventiveness,
talent for diversification and appetite for hard
work the days of working two jobs just to make
ends meet are in the distant past. He has been a
freelance writer since 1973 with over one-thousand
articles and essays in New England publications
and Web sites and is a contributor to The
Portsmouth Herald, Early American Life, Foster’s Sunday
Citizen and the UNH Magazine In 1996 he launched
the Web site SeacoastNH.com which posts content
about local and regional history, receiving over a
thousand “hits” daily. As an author he has eleven
books about American history in print in addition
to children’s books including juvenile biographies
of Jesse James and Lord Baltimore besides an
excursion into “heavy” journalism – a book
exploring the history of child labor exploitation in
America, Striking Back: The Fight to End Child Labor
Exploitation.
Dennis currently resides in Portsmouth, NH.
Page 2
ISHRA Newsletter
Letter from the ISHRA Board
This fast-moving season has seen lots of changes in
the Isles of Shoals Historical and Research Association.
We welcomed new Board members: Sue Murphy and
Cindy Martin, and it is with heavy hearts and gratitude
that we say goodbye to Board Member and Treasurer
John Diamond who has served ISHRA in countless ways
we can only begin to thank him for. John will be stepping
down after several years of service and his presence on the
Board will be greatly missed.
In late fall Alexandra de Steiguer arrived to keep
winter watch over the buildings and grounds on Star
Island. At this past Spring Meeting she treated us to an
awe inspiring look into her winter world at the Isles of
Shoals. Alexandra shared many of her photographs from
her new book Small Island, Big Picture - Winters of Solitude
Teach an Artist to See, allowing us to glimpse a time and
place very few of us will ever have the opportunity to see.
Many non-winter visitors do continue to explore
Star Island via the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company’s
Day Visit and Walking Tour Cruises. ISHRA’s own Star
Island History Docents continue to lead the very popular
one hour walking history tours. Jim Rock took over the
Docent Program this past summer and was able to
expand it to cover every trip without fail.
Congratulations to Jim and his dedicated History
Docents.
The June Conference, “Changes in the Sea: Marine
Science Discoveries” was a great success. Conferees
enjoyed educational lectures, artistic activities, a whale
and bird watch trip, boating and island exploration, as
well as the company of cherished friends and time spent
contemplating Gosport Harbor from the comfort of a
favorite rocker on the porch of the Oceanic Hotel.
ISHRA member Jean Stefanik applied for, and was
approved for a grant to purchase four kayaks, paddles,
and life jackets. Thanks to her efforts the boats were
donated this past June to the Star Island Corporation and
were in almost constant use during the summer.
This year also saw the 400th Anniversary of the
Captain John Smith Map of New England. Historic
reenactments and educational exhibits organized on Star
Island celebrated this notable moment in time and the
Isles of Shoals place in it.
Vol. 23 Issue 2
It was a wonderfully busy summer but fall is upon us
and activity on the islands is winding down. The students
on Appledore are getting ready to return to mainland
schools, the Smuttynose Stewards are cleaning up and
winterizing, and on Star Island the PELs are preparing to
leave the island to the birds, and the wind, and the ghosts
of summers past.
As winter arrives we will all be busy with seasonal
activities, however on some cold snowy afternoon as you
thumb through a photo album or a book about the Shoals,
or perhaps your eye falls upon the pressed seaweed or
piece of sea glass or pipe stem you left on a windowsill,
you will be transported back to a golden summer day at
the Isles of Shoals and you will begin to daydream and
plan your 2015 summer visit. Share those daydreams and
make those plans with your fellow Shoalers at the
November 11th Membership Meeting or at the January 25th
Winter Social.
4th ANNUAL ISHRA WINTER SOCIAL
Sunday January 25, 2015
from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.
First Congregational Church
of Kittery Point
As summer’s golden haze fades to autumn crispness
and winter’s crystal white don’t let your Shoaler friends
and family drift too far away. Come together again at
ISHRA’s 4th Annual Winter Social. If the past three years
are any indication it will be another unique and fun filled
ISHRA event.
Mark your calendar – January 25, 2015 from 1:00 to
3:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Kittery
Point.
Bring your favorite side dish, appetizer, beverage, or
dessert for the pot luck luncheon, the seafood chowder is
on us. Most important, don’t forget your photo albums,
Shoals memorabilia, and memories to share.
This year ISHRA will also include a surprise
fundraiser to benefit ISHRA Conferences, Speakers, and
Social Events.
ISHRA Media Contacts
Cassie Stymiest
ISHRA Webmaster
cbd_232@yahoo.com
The ISHRA Newsletter is Produced
and Edited by Richard Stanley
rsg@frets.me
Vol. 23 Issue 2
ISHRA Newsletter
Page 3
2014 ISHRA June Conference
Financial Changes in the Wind
Changes in the Sea and Marine Science Discoveries
ISHRA’s mission has been and remains a
commitment to locate, collect, organize, preserve,
expand and make available information and
knowledge relating to the natural and human
history of the Isles of Shoals.
Since its inception ISHRA has been able to
serve this mandate with uncompromising pride,
and enthusiasm. However, as economic times
change we are faced with the reality that we
must keep in step with them. It has become
apparent to the members of ISHRA’s Board of
Directors that if we are to continue to provide
the same level of service and opportunities to our
members, and all students of Isles of Shoals
History, we must increase and diversify our
financial base.
We have therefore determined that this will
best be accomplished with a small increase in
membership dues as well as a more focused effort
in other forms of creative fundraising.
Beginning in 2015 ISHRA Single
Membership Dues will increase to $20 per year,
Family Memberships will increase to $50 per
year, and Lifetime Memberships may be
purchased for a onetime payment of $250.
In order to continue offering the high
quality summer conferences, membership
meetings, speakers, bi-annual newsletters, social
events, and grants that our members deserve,
ISHRA will also hold a variety of fundraisers and
look to our dedicated members for additional
donations.
This has been a difficult decision and the
Board members thank you for your
understanding and support.
The 2014 ISHRA June Conference was a resounding success as
friends old and new gathered on Star Island to explore the “Changes
in the Sea and Marine Science Discoveries” on and around the Isles
of Shoals. Speakers from the Shoals Marine Lab, the University of
Maine, and our own ISHRA President Dr. Nathan Hamilton
entertained and educated twenty-five happy conferees as we
traveled through fourteen thousand years of natural and cultural
history at the Isles of Shoals. Walking tours brought to life the
geology, marine wildlife and flora and fauna of the islands. Amy
Cook pointed out often unnoticed photo opportunities, focusing our
attention on many things which surprised even the most veteran
Shoaler.
Creativity flourished under the talented guidance of Amy Cook
and Gretchen Gudefin as we learned about, collected, and pressed
seaweed and worked polymer clay into replicas of ancient ivory and
bone, producing wonderful souvenirs of our time together on Star
Island.
Quiet time was devoted to socializing in gatherings at several
different locations across the island, and rocking on the Oceanic
porch. The highlight of the week may just have been the excitement
of the Whale and Bird Watch aboard the Granite State, or the
Captain John Smith Anniversary events enacted to celebrate the
400th Anniversary of the Creation of his 1614 Map of New England.
A delightfully touching Chapel Service and Blessing of the
Boats reminded us all just how precious these islands are to each
and every one of us and how close are the ties to the ocean that bind
us together. Many conferees took advantage of the new kayaks and
explored Smuttynose, Malaga, and Cedar Island from a watery
vantage they had never seen before.
A private concert by the Star Island Music Director Sara Lewis
put the finishing touch on our island time, and sent us off with the
sweet words whispered in our minds “you will come back, you will
come back…” See you all next June.
ISHRA June Conference Attendees
Page 4
Volume 23
ISHRA Newsletter
Case Closed on the 1873 Smuttynose Murders
The facts behind the upcoming new book
Mystery on the Isles of Shoals
By J. Dennis Robinson
Shoals historian Bob Tuttle and I could never agree about the
Wagner ax murder case. We argued about the infamous murder
trial when we were on Appledore. We argued about it on the
Oceanic Hotel on Star. We argued about it aboard the M/V Uncle
Oscar en route to shooting a sequence for the Boston version of the
TV show "Chronicle" on Smuttynose Island in the late 1990s. And
we argued about it on the way home while drinking Smuttynose
Ale with TV host Mary Richardson.
Bob and Dorothy "Dot" Tuttle did an enormous amount of
research in their effort to prove that Louis Wagner was innocent
of killing Anethe and Karen Christensen on March 6, 1873. They
gathered 200 newspaper clippings and articles on the topic. They
worked religiously for years on the draft of a book that they never
got to complete.
The Tuttles even traveled to Norway in search of the longrumored "deathbed confession" by Maren Hontvet. Maren, as we
all know, was the wife of Norwegian fisherman John Hontvet who
rented the "red house" on Smuttynose Island from the Laighton
family on Appledore. Maren survived the midnight attack and
heard her sister-in-law cry out "Louis! Louis! Louis!" as Wagner
struck her repeatedly with an ax.
Wagner had been a tenant of the Hontvets the
previous year on Smuttynose and had returned that
night to rob them of $600 he believed they kept in the
house. John Hontvet, his brother Matthew, and his
brother-in-law Ivan were stranded in Portsmouth all
that night and discovered the murdered women and
Maren the following morning. They quickly deduced
that Wagner had stolen a dory, rowed to the island,
killed the women, and returned to Portsmouth with
only $16 in blood money.
Wagner claimed he was innocent right onto the
gallows. It was Wagner, following his conviction in a
Maine courtroom, who then blamed Maren for the
murders. That's where the outrageous rumor started.
It was the last ditch effort of a cowardly killer. The
year after Wagner was executed, newspapers widely
reported that a woman from Smuttynose Island had
confessed to the murders on her deathbed.
True crime writer Edmund Pearson searched for
the source of the deathbed story while writing his
book Murder at Smutty Nose (1926). "As to Wagner’s
contention that the murders had been done
by the Hontvets," Pearson wrote, "this remained
entirely in the realm of cheap gossip." To even suggest
that poor Maren, who survived outdoors until dawn
in her nightclothes, might have been guilty of the
murders, Pearson wrote, "is only a little less
despicable than the pursuit which took place
over the rocks of the island on that winter night."
Lyman Ruttledge, author of the ever-popular
booklet "Moonlight Murder at Smuttynose" (1958),
was equally convinced that Wagner was guilty. But
he could not entirely disprove the "Maren conspiracy
theory" as it has been called. And it was that
unproven rumor that inspired Massachusetts writer
Anita Shreve to write her bestselling novel Weight of
Water (1997) that was faithfully adapted into a
Hollywood film of the same name by Academy Award
-winning director Kathryn Bigelow a few years later.
Text of this article and image this page © 2014 J. Dennis Robinson
3 Issue 2
ISHRA Newsletter
The Tuttles did not find Maren's deathbed
confession in Norway. That's because there was no
deathbed confession. It was a hoax. What all the
previous researchers lacked was the deep almostunfathomable wellspring of data now available
through the 21st century Internet. A quick Google
search today shows that the New York Times
reported the deathbed confession in a single
sentence on May 18, 1876 and retracted the story as
"without foundation" in a single sentence the
following day. That should have been the end of it
Maren Hontvet was alive and well in 1876. She
was still living on Water Street in Portsmouth
when the shocking article about her appeared in
the press. The day after reporting on Maren's
deathbed confession the Kennebec Journal quickly
published this headline: "A False Rumor
Contradicted -- Wagner Without Doubt the
Murderer!" But myth often trumps facts in
American history and the Maren hoax lives on.
Eight months after the false report Maren
Hontvet gave birth to her only daughter, Clara
Hontvet. Mother and daughter moved to Norway a
few years later and Maren died there in 1887. John
Hontvet sailed on as captain of a number of fishing
schooners. He eventually remarried and bought a
farm on the outskirts of Portsmouth. His daughter
Clara returned to the United States and was
married at St. John's chapel. Curiously, the funeral
service for the two aunts that Clara never met had
also been held at St. John's.
Page 5
The hoax has been fueled by the false belief that Maine
legislators ended the death penalty in 1876 because lawmakers
feared they had hanged an innocent man. In fact, the movement to
abolish the death penalty in Maine had been ongoing for decades.
Maine later re-instated the death penalty, executed a few more
murderers, and then abolished executions once and for all. Wagner
was not the cause.
There are real reasons why people, then and now, claim
Wagner was innocent. He was extremely charming and seduced
many reporters into trusting him, much as he seduced the Hontvets
into feeding and housing him before the murders. The evidence
against him was circumstantial, and many people mistakenly believe
that "circumstantial" proof is less valid than eyewitness testimony.
Any good detective will tell you otherwise. More than 40 witnesses
presented damning evidence that Wagner was not in Portsmouth
for 11 hours on the night of the murders as he claimed. Or they saw
him walking from New Castle the following morning where his
abandoned dory was found.
Some claim that Wagner's attorneys presented a weak defense.
I disagree. The two high quality attorneys worked tirelessly to
defend a man whom, reports imply, they knew to be guilty. They
made herculean efforts to keep him off the gallows, and they almost
succeeded. But Victorian justice, as I point out in my book, cannot
be judged by modern courtroom standards.
We all love a good conspiracy theory, and we love to defend the
underdog. But we are too often willing to rush to judgment. I have
come to know Louis Wagner all too well in the last few years.
Thanks to Bob and Dot Tuttle, I have the facts in hand. I know what
happened that night at the Isles of Shoals, and I know why. So trust
me, the jury got it right -- and the right man hanged.
Image credits:
Page 4 Murder Most Foul, J. Dennis Robinson photo (edit)
Page 5 Dark Journey, Composite image file - Richard Stanley
ISHRA Newsletter
Page 6
Vol. 23 Issue 2
Murder on Smuttynose Island
A Review by Bob Cook
When did you first learn about the Smuttynose Murders?
Was it perhaps in evening twilight while sitting on the porch of
the Oceanic Hotel that someone related the story, or was it
reading Lyman V. Rutledge’s version, Moon Light Murder at
Smuttynose? The tale lingers in our minds and conversation like the
fog of a summer morning.
Mystery on the Isles of Shoals
Closing the Case on the Smuttynose Ax Murders of 1873
By J. Dennis Robinson
Illustrated, 224pp.
Skyhorse Publishing
As told by Mr. Robinson, this is a most absorbing narrative
firmly based in the traditions of good storytelling, showing the
inseparable links between events and place. Within this format
however, it often veers toward a more editorial approach rather
than letting the facts speak for themselves. The writer of any
definitive history is presented with a difficult task, for this is a
challenging genre to work in. History remains to a certain extent
incomplete and malleable; it is what is left over after the fact and
no matter how thoroughly events are examined some details may
remain unknown while others are forgotten or distorted due to
faulty memory. History often remains undiscovered or not
available at all. The historian Daniel J Boorstin, in the
introduction to his book Hidden History writes that, “Our past is
only a little less uncertain than our future, and, like the future, it is
always changing always revealing and concealing. We might
better think of Prophecy as history in reverse.”
ISHRA September Weekend
Shipwreck Tales
It was smooth sailing from Portsmouth to Star Island for 25
conferees, including many first-timers, who attended ISHRA’s
September conference, “The Undersea History of the Isles of
Shoals.” But then, tales of harrowing shipwrecks echoed through
Elliott Hall in the Oceanic Hotel.
Conference chair Laurence Bussey got things underway
Friday night with an overview lecture and videos. The next
morning, Stephen Erickson, co-author of Boon Island: A True
Story of Mutiny, Shipwreck and Cannibalism, told of the 1710
wreck of the Nottingham Galley on Boon Island.
A violent thunderstorm struck the Shoals just after lunch,
and many rushed to the porch with their cameras to witness the
excitement. Later, all were relieved to hear that Erickson’s boat
had made it back to Rye safely, despite having been caught in the
storm.
Robinson’s book will entertain and inform
readers about the pivotal position the murders on
Smuttynose occupy in our understanding of
Shoals History. It includes a useful historical
summary of the Isles of Shoals, covering the
changes that occurred on the islands with the
arrival of hotels and tourists vis-a-vie the fishing
industry along with background information on
the Norwegian immigrants on Smuttynose, the
nineteenth century Maine court system and the
resulting cultural phenomena generated in years
after the trial’s end.
Robinson presents time frames shifting
between past and present, offering contrasting
stories of contemporary investigation and
psychological conjecture as to what the
individual characters thought. Did Louis
Wagner actually think about his plight in the
way presented here? How any of the characters
actually felt is open to discussion and the
dichotomy of Wagner the killer vs. the repentant
prisoner presents rich material for conjecture and
ever- changing public opinion. It occurs to us to
ask if this is an accurate representation, and
while sharing with each other our reading of this
book, we will interpret it as we believe. While
we all appreciate the definitive account of any
subject we also feel compelled to form and
express our own opinions.
Saturday afternoon, Professor Warren Riess
told of his suspenseful search for the Angel
Gabriel, a merchant ship that sank off Pemaquid
Point in Maine in 1635. Later, he showed
photographs of recovering nine cannons from the
Nottingham Galley wreck.
After lobster dinner, ISHRA’s group joined
the Writers in the Round conference for a
candlelit chapel service, followed by an ice cream
social at the snack bar.
On Sunday, Ray Demers and his son John
showed photographs and artifacts from their
discovery of the 1744 Royal Navy ship Asterea in
the Piscataqua River, and ISHRA President
Nathan Hamilton told of archeological
investigations at the Isles of Shoals.
A great time was had by all!
ISHRA Newsletter
Vol. 23 Issue 2
Membership
ISHRA Membership Includes:
A subscription to our newsletter, published twice a year.
Access to the Members Corner of our web site, ISHRA.org,
which features past newsletters, speaker details, and
other Shoals resources.
An opportunity to attend our meeting programs on the 2nd
Tuesday of April and November, conferences on Star Island,
and day trips.
Fellowship with people who share your interest and
enthusiasm for the history of the Isles of Shoals.
An invitation to work on Isles of Shoals historical research
projects as well as our newsletter, web site content, and list
of archived Shoals materials.
To become a member please send your contact information,
including telephone and email address, along with annual dues
(payable to ISHRA) to this address:
ISHRA, P.O. Box 705, Portsmouth, NH 03802
Yearly dues are:
$10– Individual $5– Junior (18 and younger)
$25– Family, Group, or Institution $100– Lifetime
As of January 1, 2015 dues will increase to:
Individual: $20 Family, group: $50 Lifetime: $250
The Junior category has been discontinued.
Page 7
ISHRA Launches New Website
Five years ago, ISHRA joined the digital age with a
web presence at ISHRA.org. We’ve had over 11,600 page
views over that time, but thought it was time for a little
upgrade.
The newly designed website is cleaner and easier to
use. Members of ISHRA will continue to have access to
newsletters and other content, but there is no “Members
Corner” this time. Instead, if you’re a current member,
your login information will unlock that content. Your
login information can be found on the back of this
newsletter below your address.
Stay up to date on all ISHRA activities from the
home page- updates will appear as they are posted. You
can also access grant program information and other
resources for Isles of Shoals history and research.
Check out the website and let us know what you
think!
Contact ISHRA Webmaster Cassie Stymiest:
webmaster@ishra.org
If you would like to make a gift of membership to someone, please
include contact information for the recipient and proper dues.
For more information, please contact:
Cassie Durette Stymiest, Membership Chair
membership@ishra.org 603-667-3306
September Shipwreck Conference Attendees
Isles of Shoals
Historical & Research Association
P.O. Box 705 Portsmouth NH 03802
Volume 23, Issue 2
Fall 2014
Star Island - Photograph by Richard Stanley
Officers and Directors
Nathan Hamilton, President
Maryann Stacy, Vice President
Alice Gordan, Secretary
John Diamond, Treasurer
Gary Bashline
Kate Bashline
Amy Cook
Bob Cook
Caroline French
Cindy Martin
Sue Murphy
Richard Stanley
Cassie Durette Stymiest
Joel Plagenz, ex-officio
ISHRA Membership Meeting
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Seacoast Science Center, 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, NH
Refreshments at 6:30pm, Meeting at 7:00pm
Inside this Issue:
Case Closed on the 1873
Smuttynose Murders
p. 1
Guest Speaker J. Dennis Robinson
Letter from the Board
2015 Winter Social
p. 2
p. 2
2014 June Conference
Financial Changes in the Wind
p. 3
p. 3
Maryann Stacy
Maryann Stacy
Case Closed on the 1873
Smuttynose Murders
p. 4
Murder on Smuttynose Island
p. 6
2014 September Weekend
p. 6
Membership
p. 7
ISHRA Launches New Website
p. 7
J. Dennis Robinson
Book Review by Bob Cook
Joel Plagenz
Cassie Durette Stymiest
Christensen Graves in South Street Cemetery Portsmouth NH
Photo (edit) Richard Stanley