Dover historian Anthony McManus brings you “Infamous Dover: Crimes Along the Cochecho,” a compelling exploration of the Garrison City’s darker past. While Dover is celebrated as New Hampshire’s oldest settlement, known for its vibrant downtown, historic mill buildings, and its picturesque location along the Cochecho River, McManus delves into the shadowy chapters rarely explored in conventional histories: murders, robberies, scandals, and mysteries that once shocked the community and made headlines across New England.

June 4, 2025

The Burglar Who Wouldn't Quit: The William Hanna Saga (Part 6)

When one hung jury isn’t enough, Dover’s justice system tries again. In this sixth installment, Anthony McManus reveals the dramatic second trial of William Hanna, complete with an extraordinary jury selection that required Sheriff Parker to go outside the courthouse and summon people off the street to serve. As Attorney Pierce challenges the state’s evidence more aggressively, questioning Thomas Hughes’ memory of the exact bills stolen and whether a steak knife, not Hanna’s screwdriver, caused the cash register damage, new doubts emerge about the case. Sheriff Parker’s surprising testimony about the jailbreak adds an unexpected twist, while Dennis Demers, a young shoe shop worker, provides crucial expert testimony about why workers carry their own tools. But even with a more focused defense strategy and witnesses supporting Hanna’s claim of legitimate earnings, the jury deliberates all night without reaching a verdict. As the second hung jury is dismissed and heads to the local bank to collect their payment, Solicitor Hall faces a difficult decision: pursue a third trial or find another solution? Don’t miss this chapter, which explores the challenges of achieving justice when evidence and testimony remain frustratingly inconclusive.

Previous "Crimes Along The Cochecho" columns:

The Burglar Who Wouldn't Quit: The William Hanna Saga (Part 5)

The moment of truth arrives as William Hanna finally faces trial for the November burglaries that started this saga. In this fifth installment, Anthony McManus takes us inside Dover’s Superior Court where a jury must decide Hanna’s fate based on the $26 found in his sock, the tools that allegedly matched the damage at Hughes’ store, and his suspicious behavior on the night of the crimes. With Solicitor Dwight Hall presenting the state’s case and Attorney William Pierce defending the accused burglar, the courtroom drama unfolds with conflicting testimony about searches, permissions, and evidence. Did Hanna give consent for officers to search his room, or did they force their way in? Was the money really from the Hughes break-in, or legitimate earnings from his various jobs? As Hanna takes the stand in his own defense, claiming the jailbreak was an impulsive decision when he “saw the others leave,” the jury faces a challenging decision. But when the verdict finally comes after hours of deliberation, the result surprises everyone—including the attorneys. Don’t miss this crucial chapter that proves justice in early 20th-century Dover was far from predictable.

The Burglar Who Wouldn't Quit: The William Hanna Saga (Part 4)

Justice moves swiftly as the Grenier conspirators face the music for their role in the great jailbreak. In this fourth installment, Anthony McManus takes us inside Dover’s packed courtroom as Rosie and Elmo Grenier appear before the judge, their carefully orchestrated escape plan now fully exposed. With testimony revealing how Rosie smuggled the saw from Neal’s Hardware Store and made her strategic visits to the jail, the community finally understands the full scope of the conspiracy that freed three dangerous criminals. Meanwhile, John Rogers faces additional charges, not just for his Christmas Day hen theft (committed, his attorney claims, to feed “a hard-working woman who had nothing to eat”), but for his role in the escape itself. As sentences are handed down and Rogers heads to state prison “at hard labor,” attention turns to William Hanna’s upcoming trial. But will the evidence that seemed so compelling before the jailbreak still hold up in court? Don’t miss this pivotal chapter as McManus explores how criminal justice operated in early 20th-century Dover, where even acts of apparent charity could land you behind bars.

The Burglar Who Wouldn't Quit: The William Hanna Saga (Part 3)

In Part 3, the dramatic manhunt reaches its climax as Dover authorities systematically track down the escaped inmates. McManus vividly recreates the recapture of the injured fugitives—John Rogers seeking refuge at a Payne Street boarding house, William Hanna hiding under assumed identity at a lodging house, and the arrest of Rosie and Elmo Grenier for their role in orchestrating the jailbreak. The investigation reveals the full scope of the conspiracy, from the smuggled saw purchased at Neal’s Hardware to the network of local accomplices who aided the escape. As three members of the Grenier family find themselves behind bars, Dover’s community witnesses firsthand the long reach of justice.
This is the third part of our seven-part series. If you haven’t read Parts 1 and 2, we encourage you to start from the beginning to fully experience this remarkable criminal saga that has captivated Dover’s citizens

The Burglar Who Wouldn't Quit: The William Hanna Saga (Part 2)

The case against William Hanna seemed airtight: $26 hidden in a sock, tools matching the damage at Hughes’ store, and a mysterious accomplice still on the run. But on Jan. 21, 1906, the “escape-proof” Strafford County jail proved anything but secure. In this second installment, Anthony McManus reveals how Hanna and two fellow inmates pulled off a daring breakout from Dover’s revolutionary rotary jail, using a smuggled saw and makeshift ladder to scale an 18-foot wall in their summer prison garb, in the dead of winter. With law enforcement launching a massive manhunt across New England and injured escapees hobbling through Dover’s neighborhoods seeking warm clothes, the community found itself gripped by both fear and fascination. How did a woman named Rosie Grenier outwit the jail’s security? Which escapee sought refuge at a Washington Street boarding house? And what role did a broken window and a cellar play in the dramatic recapture? Don’t miss this thrilling chapter that transforms a simple burglary case into an epic tale of criminal ingenuity and relentless pursuit.

The Burglar Who Wouldn't Quit: The William Hanna Saga (Part 1)

November 1905: Dover awakens to “the boldest burglaries committed in this section for a long time.” Three businesses targeted in a single night: Dover Bottling Company, Fred Foss’s store, and Thomas Hughes’ meat market, where $26 disappeared from a desk drawer. The only clue? A bloody handkerchief left behind. When police appear at the rented room of William Hanna, a mysterious drifter who’s been “stopping in Dover for the past few weeks,” they find him still in bed. In this first installment of an extraordinary seven-part series, Anthony McManus unravels the complex web of criminal activity that points to Hanna and his companion, the elusive “young man” seen with him the previous evening. With suspicious silver coins already traced to a local pool hall and authorities connecting Hanna to the “bold highway robbery” of Miss Annie Arno on Littleworth Road, the stage is set for one of Dover’s most persistent criminal cases—one that will involve shocking jailbreaks, clever detective work, and unexpected twists of justice.

Death at the Doctor's House: The Stackpole Affair (Part 1)

August 1907: A young woman’s body is discovered in the home of Dover physician Harry Stackpole, launching a sensational investigation that would captivate the entire community. “Hundreds of people” visited the local funeral parlor in hopes of identifying the mysterious deceased. When she was finally identified, authorities quickly charged Dr. Stackpole with causing her death, a grave accusation against a doctor from one of Dover’s most prominent families. In this first installment of a riveting five-part series, Anthony McManus traces the early days of the investigation, the involvement of County Solicitor Dwight Hall, and the surprising emergence of a second suspect, Elmer Ryan. Don’t miss this meticulously researched account of a case that dominated Dover’s headlines and exposed the shadowy underworld of illicit medical services in the early 20th century.

Death at the Doctor's House: The Stackpole Affair (Part 2)

As Dover grappled with the mysterious death of Katherine Ryan at Dr. Harry Stackpole’s residence, attention turned to the doctor’s distinguished family legacy. In this second of five parts, Anthony McManus reveals the stark contrast between Harry Stackpole and his father, the renowned P.A. Stackpole, a Harvard-educated physician, community leader, and beloved Dover figure who once served as President of the New Hampshire Medical Society. Meanwhile, the investigation takes a dramatic turn with the appearance of Elmer Ryan at a Fitchburg, Mass., police station, claiming ignorance about Katherine’s death even as authorities work to establish his connection to the deceased. With the town buzzing over the scandal, crowds gather to witness Ryan’s transfer to jail, leading to an unexpected altercation involving a Rochester woman who “sailed into” some young onlookers. As the Stackpole case unfolds, don’t miss this fascinating chapter that explores both the respectable facade and shadowy underbelly of turn-of-the-century Dover.

Death at the Doctor's House: The Stackpole Affair (Part 3)

The drama intensifies as Dr. Harry Stackpole and Elmer Ryan face preliminary hearings in Dover’s packed courtroom. In the third installment, Anthony McManus details the dramatic courtroom scenes where medical evidence is presented, witnesses are cross-examined, and housekeeper Emily Heyer collapses in a moment of high theater and must be escorted from the proceedings. Following the shocking revelations about Katherine Ryan’s death and the contrast between Harry Stackpole and his esteemed father, P.A. Stackpole, the legal machinery now moves forward with detailed testimony from medical experts, family members, and friends of the deceased. Handwriting experts analyze mysterious letters, Sheriff Smith defends his controversial interception of jail mail, and both defendants’ attorneys fight vigorously to dismiss the charges. Don’t miss this crucial chapter that brings us deeper into the web of evidence surrounding one of Dover’s most sensational cases, with the community watching every development and the final verdict still hanging in the balance.

Death at the Doctor's House: The Stackpole Affair (Part 4)

The courthouse doors open for Elmer Ryan’s dramatic trial in this riveting fourth installment of the Stackpole case. After months of preliminary hearings, collapsed witnesses, and mysterious letters, the full trial begins in December 1907 under the watchful eye of Chief Justice Robert Wallace. Anthony McManus captures the intensity of the packed courtroom as elite Dover citizens are selected for jury duty—including Washington Anderton, superintendent of Cocheco Mill #5, and the Honorable Joseph D. Roberts, a prominent Rollinsford farmer with impressive political connections. With Dr. Stackpole’s case severed from Ryan’s, the prosecution lays out its argument connecting Ryan to Katherine Ryan’s tragic death at the Stackpole residence. As medical testimony from Doctors Tolman and Sullivan unfolds, and the damning contents of intercepted letters are finally revealed to the jury, the trial builds to its conclusion. Don’t miss this penultimate chapter that brings us to the brink of a verdict in one of Dover’s most sensational and controversial cases, with one final twist awaiting in the series conclusion.

Death at the Doctor's House: The Stackpole Affair (Part 5)

The stunning conclusion to Dover’s most sensational medical scandal arrives as Elmer Ryan’s fate is decided. In this final installment of Anthony McManus’ meticulously researched series, the jury returns after deliberating the evidence against Ryan—the mysterious letters connecting him to Katherine Ryan, the medical testimony about the cause of her death at Dr. Stackpole’s residence, and the complex web of relationships that brought her to Dover in August 1907. After following the investigation from its beginnings with an unidentified body, through the arrest of both Ryan and the respected physician from one of Dover’s prominent families, through dramatic courtroom collapses and revealing testimony, we now witness the ultimate resolution of this extraordinary case. But what of Dr. Stackpole himself? And what became of Emily Heyer, the housekeeper who discovered Katherine’s body? McManus ties up loose ends and reveals a surprising postscript about the courthouse records that adds one final layer of mystery to this remarkable story from Dover’s criminal past.

Officer Down on Portland Avenue: Walter Sterling's Final Call (Part 1)

Remember Officer Walter Sterling from our first column? The friendly policeman who handled the bearskin theft has a much darker chapter in his story. In August 1908, this respected Dover officer met a violent end after being shot to death in his own home by his son-in-law, John Edward Dame. What led to this shocking domestic tragedy? In this first installment, Anthony McManus traces Sterling’s career from his gold badge presentation in 1891 to his final confrontation on Portland Avenue. Dame claimed self-defense against a threatening Sterling, but neighbors heard breaking glass and gunshots at 4:15 a.m. When the first officer arrived, Dame calmly handed over his revolver with the chilling statement: “Walter tried to do me up and I got the best of him.” Don’t miss this tale of family tension turned deadly, with part two revealing the sensational trial and its unexpected outcome later this week.

Officer Down on Portland Avenue: Walter Sterling's Final Call (Part 2)

After Officer Walter Sterling’s shocking death at the hands of his son-in-law, the community awaited justice. In this riveting conclusion, the courtroom drama unfolds as John Edward Dame stands trial for murder in January 1909. With the defendant freely admitting he fired the fatal shot, what possible defense could save him from conviction? Attorney John Kivel introduces a shocking theory about Sterling’s mental state and alleged threats, while witness testimony reveals mysterious family tensions, including opposition to Sterling’s plans to remarry. But the most startling moment comes when Sterling’s own physician takes the stand with testimony “unfit for publication” in the newspapers of 1909. Anthony McManus reveals the surprising verdict and the unexpected medical evidence that may have swayed the jury in one of Dover’s most sensational trials of the early 20th century.

Murder on Kirkland Street: The Glass Family Tragedy (Part 1)

In June 1902, Albert “Martin” Glass made a bizarre visit to the Dover police station, asking if he was wanted for any crime. Days later, his mother staggered, bleeding, into a neighbor’s apartment while Martin announced, “I have fixed them both this time.” What followed was a citywide manhunt using horse-drawn carriages and a grim discovery in the Glass family apartment. In this first installment of a two-part story, Anthony McManus recounts the shocking murder of Harvard Medical School student George Glass by his troubled brother, and offers a fascinating glimpse into turn-of-the-century Dover, when emergency transport meant rushing to nearby livery stables and doctors doubled as church tenors. Don’t miss the conclusion in Saturday’s edition, when the legal system confronts the complex questions of Martin’s sanity and culpability.

Murder on Kirkland Street: The Glass Family Tragedy (Part 2)

What becomes of a man who kills his brother and brutally attacks his mother? In this concluding installment of the shocking Glass family tragedy, Anthony McManus reveals the legal and medical aftermath of Martin Glass’s violent outburst. Follow the case as medical experts examine Glass’s mental state, uncovering a history of “organic brain degeneration” dating back to a childhood head injury. Witness the fascinating intersection of early 20th-century criminal justice and mental health treatment as authorities grapple with questions of sanity and culpability. McManus ties up the loose ends of this Dover tragedy with poignant details about the final resting places of the Glass family members—and one telling absence. Don’t miss this conclusion to one of Dover’s most disturbing family tragedies from 1902.

Six Years on the Run: Dover's Notorious Horse Thief

Not all criminals in Dover’s past were murderers or violent outlaws. Meet Thomas Coleman, a man with a peculiar specialty: stealing horses. When Coleman snatched a mare from James Frank Seavey in 1901, he had no idea he’d targeted one of Dover’s most prominent businessmen. Follow the trail of this hapless thief as he flees to Maine, serves time there, then faces another horse theft charge in Rockingham County before finally answering for his Dover crime — nearly six years later. Anthony McManus reveals the fascinating journey of this persistent equine bandit and offers a glimpse into early 20th-century justice and the long arm of the law that would patiently wait years to bring a criminal to justice.

The Curious Case of the Stolen Bear Skin

Step into Dover’s criminal past as historian Anthony McManus kicks off his new series “Crimes Along the Cochecho” with a peculiar theft from 1905. When Peter Gurgeon (or was it Turgeon?) snatched a bear skin from the American Fur Company, he thought pawning it nearby was a brilliant plan.

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