The Portland daily press., 1883-09-05
MURDER IN BATH.
a Policeman Shot Dead by a Fleeing
Burglar,

VIM. Lawrence, a Bath policeman, was shot
dead by burglar in that city, at 30 Tues-
day morning. The facts of the case are as
follows: At midnight Monday night Officers
Kittredge and Hartman Of the night watch
retired from duty and were replaced BY Officers
Lawrence and Kingsley. The latter left the
station on the corner OF Centre and Water
streets at about 1905, and walked up Centre
street, down Front, and separated at the corner
of Front and Broad streets. Officer Lawrence
remained at the corner of Front and Broad
streets, near the hardware store Of Swanton,
Jameson & Co., and Officer Kingsley passed
down Front street, turning in upon Arch
street towards Commercial street.
Officer Kingsley had stopped on the foot Of
Arch and Commercial streets for few mo.
ments when he heard the sound Of some one
at work on the store door of d. @. Gould's
wholesale and retail provision store on the
east side Of Commercial street. The officer
sounded his alarm whistle three times and ran
toward the store. The moment he blew his
whistle he saw two men start from in front OF
the store and run down Commercial street
The officer blew the alarm known to the police
as the "stop alarm" and ran up Arch street
with the design Of heading them off at the
foot OF Front street near the Maine Central
depot. He said both men passed Broad whicl.
is only few steps below Arch street. He ran
MP Arch street, and before he had reached
Front street he heard the sound Of pistol
shot, and at the corner of Broad and Front
streets he stumbled over the dead body Of OFF,
Ger Lawrence lying prone upon the walk.
1t is supposed that the third of the party
was standing at watch upon the corner Of
Broad and Commercial streets, at the foot Of
the street upon which Officer Lawrence was
stationed, and that when the alarm was
sounded and the store breakers fed, that he
ran up Broad street and fairly into the arms Of
Officer Lawrence. He must have had his
pistol drawn and have shot him with his pistol
fairly in the officers face. The bullet passed
in at the angle of the cheek bone on the left
side of the nose, passed completely through
the head, emerging at the base of the brain.
Death was evidently instantaneous. The Off
GERS face is blackened and burnt with powder.
The body of the officer was Immediately
cared for. Officer Kingsley blew for help from
the station and officers Kittridee and Harr-
hau Ioplicu W buo call 1uo DOOy was tdkeu
at once to the police station. City Marshal
james Bailey and Capt. Hugh Tibbets of the
night watch, had Just gone off duty. Both
were summoned at once. Officer Tibbets went
directly to Brunswick to intercept the fugitives
if possible 1t is said that the three men were
seen driving up Front street short time after
and that they had team waiting The city is
is greatly excited.
Officer Lawrence is one Of the Oldest MEN,
bers of the force and valuable officer. He
had followed the sea for years previous as first
officeFof ship. He was about sixty years OF
age, and had been held in high esteem. He
leaves wife and three daughters.
Sheriff Ballou of Bath, considers the clue
good ene and the 'lchance of catching the muir
derer equally good. Three suspicious charac-
ters were seen Monday in Bath. A Bath man
says he would know the three anywhere.
Two men have been arrested in Brunswick
on suspicion. They are named Dennison and
Griffin. They are stated to be Brunswick men,
A large number of people saw the dead po-
liceman in the station, Tuesday morning. He
was dressed in overcoat and mittens, and his
face was torn and charged with powder. He
was found only a few yards from Front street
in the road. An immense pool of blood marks
the spot where he fell. He was on the south
corner of Broad street near the shoe store OF
i z. Weleh- and . skort distance from the
side walk.