The New York herald., 1873-05-05
LYNCH LAW In MAINE.
Desperate Murderer Hung to the
Limb OF q Tree by . Disguise Mob.
OF the Portland Advertiser.1
PRESQuE Isle. Anril 30. 1873.

Correspondence Of the Portland Advertiserl
PREsQUE ISLE, April 80, 1873.
This morning news reached this town Of hOrri-
BILE murder which took place last night at camp
about thirteen miles from here. The particulars,
as near as can learn at the present writing, are
as foows:-
Last Saturday night the store of David Dudley,
at Balls Mills, Mapleton was broken into and o
small quantity OF goods stolen. Suspicion rested
upon one James Cullen, who, as lar as we can
learn, is a desperate fellsw who moved to this
New Brunswick. warrant n was Issued sue and S Gran. n
vile A. Hayden, OF this village, who was Deputy
Sheriff OF the county, went IN pursuit OF him.
day night, went to Balls Mills, and the next day
took two men with him, and started on snow shoes
for camp In the woods, some six or seven miles
from the Mills. The camp was the home OF q man
by the name OF Swanbeck, and situated in Chap
man Plantation. Mr.. Hayden arrived at the camp
some time after dark, and found James Cullen
stopping with Swanbeck. They retired TO rest, In
tending to come back to the Mills in the morning.
During the night Cullen TOOK an axe and killed
Hayden and Thomas Hubbard. There were two
other persons in the camp-Mr. Swanbeck and q
young man by the name OF Bird. Swanbeck says
Ing Hayden and then Hubbard. Ip lie jumped from
the camp and made his escape to the woods.
Alter killing his victims Cullen tried 10 strike
young Bird. coming within an inch Of his
head with the axe. Bird said, "For Gods
sake don't kill me-" Cullen told him II
he would swear that he would never tell he would
spare his life. The boy promised, and Cullen COM
mcnced to take the provisions out of the camp and
then set the camp on fire. Swanbeck and Bird
tHcI uldut LHcT way CO bdlS Mills, WHtTt tUey
arrived at about eight O'Clock this morning.
Parties were Immediately sent TO scour the
county in search OF Cullen. Parties from Presque
Isle, Mapleton and all the surrounding towns
turned ont armed and joined In the search.
About four O'Clock this afternoon messenger
arrived from Ball's Mills with the news that CulIen
was captured. Cullen confessed the crime
and said he was glad he had done It,
He csa;,. was fognq @ ln the cellar Of the house
they had let him alsne he was going to kill his
wife and child tonight When asked II he did the
deed he said he did, and he intended to have killed
the whole party and was damned glad he murdered
them. 1t ls reported that he said he struck them
with the axe and then cut their heads of.
Mr Granville A. Hayden was young man much
beloved by this community, where he has lived ter
many years. He leaves wife and one child. He
has been Deputy Sherir OF this county Tor number
lar men In this section OF the State, where he is
extensively known and much respected. The
community will feel his loss very mucn and deeply
sympathiZe with his widow ana child, who by this
villanous deed have been deprived OF an excellent
husband and father.
Mr.. Thomas Hubbard was also young man, who
Adams, In this State. He lived at Chapman, and
was unmarried He was one OF the best young
men OF that town, and he will be missed by the
community. The people are very excited at this
unprovoked murder. Cullen had not the slightest
hard words but everything was pleasant, and
they went to sleep In perfect security This fend
in human shape, without giving them moments
notice. killed them and then burned their bodies.
Persons have just arrived here from the camp
where this awful tragedy was enacted, and state
that they found the camp still on fire. The remains
OF poor Hayden and Hubbard were almost entirely
consumed, there being about q handful Of bones
left OF both the bodies The murderer stated that
he dragged the victims after he had killed them
and threw them into the 1re and piled logs upon
them.
On Wednesday night, about half-past nine
O'Clock, Onicer Hughes, accompanied with guard
OF four or five men, started from Mapieton to bring
cullen to Presque Isle When the company were
about one mile this side OF Balls Mills crowd OF
some hundred or more OF masked men sprung
up rom out OF the woods, and, attacking
the wagon In which Cullen was, they took
him from the officers OF the law, led him TO tree
few rods from she road. gave him a few minutes
for prayer, put q moose over his neck with rope
they had brought with them, threw the other end
OF the rope over limb, and oil taking hold strung
hin up and LEFT him hanLi1g until he was dead.
In moment there was cry, "fhe fellow has hung
himseltn The party kept guard around the tree
and allowed no one 90 enter the circle. O1icer
Hughes then demanded the body, and they told
him when the right time came he might have It,
The place where this occurred was about five miles
from Presque Isle village. On Thursday morning
the body was brought to this village In q wooden
box, In which 1t had been intended to bring the
mains Of his victims.
Thus within less than twenty-four hours one OF
the most horrid crimes on record was committed
and tes @2zQeEex stEppg PP 70 treA