New book, 1873 Isles of Shoals murders

Manchester (AP) - A Manchester man writes a new book about the 1873 ax slayings of two women on Smuttynose Island, New Hampshire.

The killings of the Norwegian immigrants led to the hanging of Louis Wagner, a fisherman, three years later.

In " Cold Water Crossing ," David Faxon of Manchester, describes the killings during a robbery attempt and what he calls the subsequent revenge of a third woman who escaped to testify against him, Foster's Daily Democrat reported.

The women were left alone when their companions were forced to stay overnight on the mainland. Wagner was accused of stealing a boat and rowing 10 miles to commit the crimes.

Wagner denied the killings and some theories have emerged suggesting it was the survivor, Karen Hontvet, or the women's husbands, who committed them.