Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-01


and bring to justice the perpetrators, the arrest Of
parties in New York on suspicion, on their be-
ing identified by one George c. Hammond, the
sudden gliding of Hammond from the train on
nearing Portland, his reported death, and the dis
charge OF the arrested persons from custody-are
m alters already familiar to our readers.
Now it seems that Hammond appears in the
flesh again. has not the remotest appearance of
having been dead, was arrested on Friday,
brought to Augusta on Saturday. and is now with
in the walls Of Kennebec jail. He was brought
is associated with Mr.. J. s. Hunt at the head of
the New England Detective Bureau. Mr.. Wort
man has the appearance of gentleman who
thoroughly understands his business, and who is not
in the habit of being "sold" in working up
job. The present case, as it has been developed, is
a strange one, and the stories told by Hammond
so nicely fitted the events transpirng at the time,
that they were calculated to deceive 1.-The very
elect"
We had protracted interview on Saturday with
Mr.. Workman, and from him gather the following
condensed facts Of this remarkable case.
The detectives had undertaken the working up
Of the Portland robbery. Hammond came to them
and told them that he could put them a train
that would undoubtedly lead to the discovery of the
robbers. He gave their names in full; had done
work with them in past years had recently talked
with them at the Washington House, on Howard
street, Boston, (the resort Of sporting men, and
their names were as follows Charles Crawford,
alias Doc Crawford; Charles Langley, alias Limp
Langley; Frank McWilliams, alias Mackie John
Thompson alias Ready Bill Crawford showed
him kit Of burglars tools, and at the same time
the gang wished him to accompany them on pro-
fessional visit to Portland, Bath Biddeford, and
directed them to one Jim Hayes, alias Mouse"
Hayes, an eminent "cross" man in Portland, who
would be likely to lend them considerable assist
ance in their noble undertaking Hammond says
"a ha 1a4tn Tra, Iroxr
ford requesting him to come to Portland, as he
had "a job all laid out, and if he didn't come he
would probably hear from him through the news
papers. Between the 26th and 18th Of December,
occurred the great jewelry robbery in Boston
Hammond identified some Of the burglars tools
found as those he saw in possession of Crawford
From these facts the detectives thought that this
must be part of the gang then in Portland, and
they proceeded on to that city accompanied by
Hammond. They went to Mouse Hayes house
but no one was at home neighbor said that
Hayes had gone to Boston. Names were found
registered at the Preble House, which Hammond
said were in the handwriting Of the four men.
His story was fully accredited and the detectives
thinking they were on the right scent, returned
Immediately to Boston, with Hammond. Next
morning, on taking up the papers, they read the
account of the robbery in Portland. These were
the villains, sure! They returned the same night
to Portland. This was the LIST of January. As,
ccrtained through Hammond that Hayes had
gone to New York, and was stopping at Harry
Hills, 26 East Houston street. Hammond said he
had also found hackman who had driven four
men out to Saccarappa, on the night of the rob
berry, receiving therefor seventy dollars. As
side note it may be stated here that at that time
Hammond met Hayes on the street in broad day
light and the entire police force Of Portland were
after him, and he had completely outwitted them
The fact OF Hammond meeting Hayes for whose
detection and arrest he ostensibly was leading on
the detectives. shows how rotten was the whole af-
fair.
They then proceeded with Hammond to New
York, and at Harry Hills, the resort Of "banco
steerers" and "cross" men, he pretended to poin,
out the very men whom he says he saw at the hotel
in Boston, as also Mouse Hayes, calling them all
by names. They swore they never saw him be
fore, and that they were not the persons he repre-
sented. But he confronted them before large
number OF people. The man whom he called
Hayes, said that bis name was Peter Lake, that
he was never In Maine; his correspondence
would show that his relations all in the
Western States; but Hammond stoutly averred
that he was HAYES, and would be easily identified
on reaching Portland. After coming to Augusta,
and procuring, through the testimony OF Ham
mond, requisiton from the Governor, the par
ties were arrested and started fer Portland, in
charge of the detectives and Hammond. The de.
tectives, however, began to mistrust Hammond
and kept watch of him the train In fact they had
received despatch from Portland that the "gen-
une and only" Mouse Hayes had been arrested in
Portland. SO of course, Hammonds story was
quite transparent, so far as HAYES was concerned.
1t is we'll known how Hammond glided out of
the train at Salmon Falls, how the prisoners were
taken to Portland, and no one appearing TO iden-
tify them, they were discharged. Hammond ap-
pears at Dover next, and causes the despatch to
be sent out to the world that he died shortly after
arriving at Salmon Falls station from bleeding al
the lungs. But instead Of becoming inhabi-
tant Of the graveyard, like any other we'll dis
posed corpse, he eats, drinks and sleeps at the
Wentworth House in Dover, under the assumed
name of l.. Leavitt. until he was forced to leave
the house because he couldn't or wouldn't pay his
bills. He left there Wednesday morning. and
said he was going to work at painting in Berwick.
But inste ad of that he went to work in BARRIERS
shop at Great Falls. And this brings us, in the
narrative, down to the occurrences OF the last
few DAYS.
Detective Workman, to whom the story of the
death seemed exceedingly gauzy, had been on
Hammond's track for several days, and tracked
him to this shop. He entered it suddenly about
half-pa one o'clock, ON Friday afternoon. and
confronted the surprised Hammond. The detec-
tive asked him what he meant by his conduct, and
he replied that he had nothing to say. Workman
told him to put on his coat aud come with him, as
Gov. Dingiey wanted to see him about that requl'
sition, and perhaps Gov. CASTOR wanted to see
him. Hammond remarked that if he had seen
the detective minute before he entered, he would
have jumped from the window and escaped. Ham
mond made no resistance but permitted himself to
be ironed and marched OIL, saying that he didn't
He was asked what possible reason he could give
for his conduct. He had nothing to say; sup
posed he was going to be Showed" now. He
still persisted that he had not misled the officers,
and that the man he had pointed out was Hayes.
lie inquired on what charge he was pulled Ear
rested). as che wanted to figure out how long the
term Of service would be-" He taken to
Portland, lodged in Jail over night, Friday, and
brought to this city by the morning train, Satur
day He was arraigned before Judge True on
charge of perjury, for making affidavit to false
statement, on which the requisiton was obtained
for the arrest of innocent men. The examination
will take place this forenoon, at o'clock Mouse
Hayes is expected to be present as witness.
Thus our readers have the outlines of this trans
action. Hammonds own story, of course, contra
diets portions. He SAYS that he left the deec-
tives because they ground him so, and went back
| on him; that he was kidnapped on Friday by four
men, and taken by main force and brought here;
that he made the affidavit, and it is true in every
respect. He says that no one of the robbers lives
in Portland, but that he knows just where they
are in New York.
Hammond is young. smart looking man, Of 81
years, and is known to some of our citizens. Was
born in Turner, in this State and says he has a
wife and childat Wiscasset. He served during part
of the war in Company L, 10th Me- Regiment. He