Eliphas Dow

Homicide

1known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, USA
Date of birth: 1705
Age at first offence: 49
Characteristics: argument
Victim profile: Peter Clough
Method of murder: Beating with a hoe
Date(s) of murder: December 12, 1754
Years active: 1754
Date of arrest: Same day
Status: Executed
Executed by hanging on May 8, 1755

Case Summary

Background

Eliphas Dow (b.1705 – d. May 8, 1755) was from Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. He was the first male executed in New Hampshire.

Dow was convicted of the murder of Peter Clough, also from Hampton Falls. Evidence indicated that a feud had subsisted between them for quite some time.

The offence

On 12 December 1754, Dow and Clough accidentally met at the house of Dow’s brother, Noah Dow. They began to threaten each other. Peter Clough challenged Dow to go out of the house to fight. Clough went outside and Dow followed.

Dow picked up his brother’s hoe and struck Clough with a massive blow on the side of the head, which instantly killed him.

Trial

Dow was arrested and went before the Honorable Judge Meshech Weare. He was committed to the prison in Portsmouth.

“At the February term of Superior Court, he was indicted, tried & convicted: and sentence was pronounced upon him that he should be hanged by the neck until he should be dead.”

Dow pleaded “strictly self defense” at his trial.

Sentencing

Dow’s sentence was ordered to be executed on March 20, 1755. He had two reprieves that were allowed until May 8, 1755.

Outcome

On May 8, 1755, Dow was executed by hanging. Many people came out to see the public execution.

Dow was hung for about three hours, between the time of twelve noon until three in the afternoon. His body was buried in the road a few rods from the gallows, just at the declivity of the hill.

The exact location of the gallows has been debated. Some accounts described the corner of South and Sagamore Streets, while some historic accounts have the location as Ward’s Corner.

Other details

Some written accounts have his name as Eliphaz Dow.

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