The Portland daily press., 1883-09-17
The Mystery of the Bath Murder
Unraveled.
Boston Detectives Trace the Mu rderer
to Bangor
Where He is Arrested, and Makes
d Full Confession.

BOSTON, Sept. 16.-It will be remembered
that on the morning Of September 4th, as
night watchman Kittredge of Bath Me-, was
patroling his route he heard a noise
in the vicinity of d. G. Gould's
grocery store on Commercial street,
and upon investigation found that two bur-
glars were endeavoring to force an entrance
with small jimmy. The officer Immediately
opened fire upon them with his revolver and
the burglars Immediately took to their heels.
Kittredge then turned and started for the sta
tion house for help. Officer William Law
renee was near by and hearing the firing ran
to the spot. In coming down side street he
ran into the arms Of one Of the thieves. The
man leveled a revolver which he was carrying
in his hand and fred at officer Lawrence. The
brain and expired Immediately. The case was
finally placed in the hands of detectives Wig
gin and Wood of Boston, who on Saturday ar
rested Daniel Wilkerson in Bangor. The first
clew to the murder was obtained in Bruins
wick, Me. The week before the murder a
store was burglarizsd in that town, the door or
window being forced with peculiar chissl.
At the door of Gould's store in Bath was
found chisel which, when placed against the
marks made on the Brunswick store fitted to
hair. man was finally traced to Portland
in boarding house where he gave his name
as John Elliot. Ii was found that a few days
previous he had stopped at the same house
with a companion. The latter called himself
Danl. Wilkerson and he went away with Elliot
The latter returned alone. Elliot left Sept
9th. without paying his board bill, but he left
his satchel behind him, and in this were letters
showing his identity beyond a doubt. He was
an Englishman, evidently of good family, and
from certain sentences contained therein it
appears that he had been leading bad life.
Wilkerson was soon traced to Bangor by
means of his baggage, and Friday Detective
Wood reached that city. With the assistance
of the city marshal, Wilkerson was found in
the employ Of a logging firm on the river. He
was terribly excited when arrested. The man
was searched and 32-calibre, long (cartridge)
revolver was found upon him. His baggage
consisted of canvas valise, and this was ex-
amined and box of cartridges found, also q
can of powder and lot of fuse. The powder
and fuse are such as are used by ordinary
store breakers for blowing open safes.
Wilkerson was taken up on the early morn
ing train east. On the journey from Bangor
to Bath he madea full confession to the Off
GERS. He said in company with John Elliot he
was attempting to force the store door when an
officer discovered them. AS they ran up street
at right angles with the one on which the store
was situated. He (Wilkerson) found himself
cafx xnI Ao&k H..
He had drawn his revolver when first starting
to run, and pointing it at the man ia front of
him pulled the trigger, the man dropped and
he rushed away and escaped He ran up
High street to "the head" stole boat and
sculled across the river. He struck the Knox
& Lincoln Railroad and walked to the first
station where he took the first morning train
to Rockland. He remained there until Tues
day, when he went on board the steamer and
proceeded to Bangor where he was arrested.
The revolver and cartridges and powder and
fuse he purchased in Portland. Elliot bought
the chisel in the same place. He did not
know where Elliot had gone. He further
said that he got acquainted with Elliott in
Philadelphia only a few weeks before, and
that they had struck up partnership and had
come from Philadelphia to Portland by boat.
Three years ago he was arrested for burglary at
Woolwich and sentenced to three years in the
Maine State Prison. He managed to escape
from the lookup at Bath and nothing was
known of him till his arrest on the present
charge, He is sailor by profession.
Elliot is thought to be in Boston, but he
may have gone to New York. What is more
likely, however, being also sailor, he may
have shipped upon some vessel for foreign
country. The whole police force, headed by
Detectives Wiggin and Wood, were securing
Boston yesterday in search of Elliott. Elliott
is % years old, face covered with quite
growth of fine hair, particularly his upper lip,
(probably has never shaved,) light complexion,
brown hair, blue or gray eyes; FIVE feet five or
six inches in height, weighs 100 pounds, walks
with his head down and rolls in his gait like a
sailor q