The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-08-09
The vinalhaven Murder.

y
A tragedy was perpetrated at EVinalhaven at
about O'Clock Saturday afternoon, Eresulting
in the death Of one man and the injuring of
another. The story of the affair is as follows:
A man named Patrick Cain, 55 years of age,
employed at the harbor quarry, left the quarry
for the purpose OF going to the blacksmith
shop, distance of $50 yards, with a steel drill
three feet four inches long, and an inch and
quarter thick, to get it sharpened. He had not
proceeded more than half the distance, when
he was seen TO overtake Murdoch Campbell,
the foreman OF The quarry, who was walking
in the same direction. Both men had not pro-
ceeded far together when Mr.. Campbell was
observed to walk a little ahead of Cain, as If
leaving him, whereupon Cain lifted the drill
and struck Campbell blow across the right
side of the head, telling him to the ground,
and, as is supposed, struck him again near the
first wound when on the ground. The occur
renee was seen by workman named Thadde-
us Creed, who was in the quarry, and who
leaDed from the rock on which he was stand
ing calling the attention of the other work
men, and ran towards the men. On Cain see'
ing the workmen running for him, he started
for the steamboat wharf, a distance of $50
wards On his way thither he picked up
piece of stone in each hand, and threw them
at John Bowen, inficting cut over an inch
long on the back of his head. On arriving at
the wharf he told the crowd, who had collected
at short distance, not to approach him, for ii
they did he would jump into the water. Mean
whie Deputy Sheriff Porter arrived on the
scene, and was proceeding to approach Cain,
when he jumped from the wharf into the wa
ter Porter Immediately threw rope to him,
which ne grasped. When he saw the boat
nearing him he let 90 the rope as If determined
to drown himself, but he was pulled into the
boat and taken into custody.
Drs Conroy and Smith were Immediately in
attendance on Campbell whom they found to
have received deadly wound across the right
temple to the base of the skull behind the
right ear. The right ear was cut in two, the
skull shattered, while second wound had
been inflicted down the cheek across the first
wound. He remained insensibe for some
time and was taken to his home in a team,
where he regained his senses once or twice.
On his wounds being examined, it was seen
that he could not recover. All was done that
could be to alleviate his sufferings, and he
died about z o'clock in the evening
The man, Cain, has been considered in
weak state of mind for some time, but was not
thought to be dangerous. AT times he imag-
ined himself to be hunted by men who wished
to hang him, and would wander for hours
during the night watching for them to come.
At other times he would say that men were to
nth him and had grave dug in which to bury
him, and would go TO his friends and request
them to protect him. HIS mind has been ex-
cited with such foolish notions for some time,
aud it is said that he thought that Campbell had
conspired with some others to hang him, which
may have melted him to commit the crime.
Coroner Otis and County Attorney Robin
son, were notified, and proceeded to the island
Sunday.
The coroner summoned the following jury:
John q. Frohobk, Alfred p Green, Thomas
j. Lyons, Edward II. Graffam and o. z. Lyons
James Tuffnell as foreman and John Robinson
of Thomaston, clerk. After hearing of the
witnesses the following verdict was rendered:
That Murdoch Campbell came 10 his death by
blows on the right side of the head, causing
conclusion OF the brain and that said blows
were inflicted with q steel blast drill in the
hands OF Patrick Cain, on the 4th day of Aug
ust in the year 1885,
Cain was brought off tho island in boat
Sunday afternoon and lodged in the station
house. Yesterday forenoon he was brought
before Judge Hicks and after brief examin-
alton was committed to await the action Of the
grand jury IN September. Heswas sent 10 Wis
casset yesterday afternoon where he is now
confined.
After his arrest on the island Cain was in
constant fear that he would be lynehed and
after being brought here he besought the off,
GERS not to carry him back to the island saying
that he had rather they would hang him in
Rockland Monday morning when TIE station
house door was opened he made an attempt to
escape but was easily overpowered When
prousub Oeioro Judge HICKS anu toiu tnat ne
would have his trial in September he was
greatly excited and begged them to try
| him then and let him know il he was to be
| tarred and feathered and hung. While in
| carcerated in the station house he has repeat
| edly said that he would take his own life and
| yesterday morning the officers found in his
cell pieces OF blanket twisted into rope, but it
| Is not thought that he would ever attempt TO
KIN himself. Cain formerly worked in this
| city and was never regarded as very bright
and was always haunted by the fear that some
| one was seeking his life. He is undoubtedly
insane on that subject. He had only been on
| the island six months having formerly worked
| at Clark's Island. His family, wife ana
| four children reside there. -
| The murdered man who was little over So
| years of age, was native OF Cape Breton n.
| s., and has been in the employment Oh tne
| BodweU Granite Company for upwards of 20
| years. He leaves widow, three children and
1 many Ersa,,Ha 90 ,,.nnrn his aAd end,