Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-19
the bath nURDEprR
Brought to Augusta and Incarcer.tei
In Jail.
A"o"t His CaPture.-what . R.,h o~...
Says.

/ yesterday forenoon Daniel Wilker.on VII,
murdered William Lawrence, the B.,b No
'ce"an' Two weeks ago Monday night. va,
brought to this city on Jeve,,,
'rain. de was in the CUSTODY n
omcers kittredge and Tibbetts of Bath. A,
associated Press despatch said that he h.f
oeen brought here Monday night bu, i
was incorrect crowd, inspired BY curio.
n.y. gathered at the station on the arrival Of
the murderer and gazed at him with omen
eyed wonder a. he alighted from the cars He
was Immediately taken to Jail by the officer.
In the forenoon reporter of the Journal
V"ited the murderer at the Jail. The
prisoner was found seated in his csu
tie occupied a chair by the side of hi,
oed, his head reclining on his Left arm
which was resting on the bod II. 90,
back to the cell door, and vas attentiv.lv
reading story paper. He did not look nm
until spoken to. Many visitors were admitted
out were not ALLOW ed to converse with him
tie was not inclined to talk. As he sat there
1t was difficult to believe that this apparently
inofiensive man was guilty. of the heinous
crime OF murder. The murderer is a man 81
years of age but looks to be A.; height :
feet inches; weight I55 pounds. Hi,
beard IL full and black and about
inches in length. He is nearly
bald on the top of the head, but has a good
growth of hair on the back and sides rather
small and not striking face with a retreat.
ing forehead. His complexion is of peculiar
reddish hue. He was attired in shirt and
cream colored trousers with small stripes and
canvas shoes. He will be kept locked in his
cell and will not be allowed the freedom of
the guard room at any time.
The Prisoner is 4 notorious criminal. He
owes the Maine State Prison either two
or three years for burglary committed at
WOolwich Ferry at Thwing's store; effected
an entrance in much the same way as he tried
to do at Gould's. May 81 ,lSsO,he plead guilty
before Judge Tallman of Bath, and was COM
mitted to Wiscasset Jail. He was sentenced
at the August term of the Supreme Court,
and escaped from the Bath Court House.
The story of Wilkerson's arrest i. a
long one, and reflects great credit on all the
officers concerned. After days of hard and
continuous work. after following up every
clue that could be obtained, the officers
finally came to the conclusion that Daniel
Wilkerson was the man wanted, and nforma-
ton in their possession led them to believe
that he was in Bangor The moment detec-
tive Wood found his man was in Bangor he
got there as quickly as the first train could
carry him. arriving Saturday morning.
Upon his arriv al he told Marshal Reed there
was reason for believing that the murderer of
Lawrence was Daniel Wilkerson and that he
was thought TO be in Bangor. The Marshal
at once took the matter in charge and began
an investigation. Thinking that the man
might be at work among the vessels in tie
harbor and knowing that the presence of an
officer would naturally excite alarm he
secured the services Of Dennis Tracey, who
at once visited the docks. Late in the after
noon Tracey discovered among the stevedores
at the Maine Central dock one who answered
quite well to the description given by Wood.
Officers were sent for and the man vas ar.
rested as he was leaving his work about seven
o'clock on the evening of Saturday.
Wilkerson was removed to the station
house and he then began to show considera-
BILE agitation. Word was sent to Detective
Wood that the man had been discovered and
was in custody. Wood arrived in few
minutes at the station and arranged for the
immediate removal of the prisoner to Bath.
Previous to departure on the Pullman, the
prisoner virtually acknowledged his gait and
on the train he made full confession sub
stantially as has been published He was
taken to Bath, arriving there about 1890
Sunday morning. Monday the prisoner was
arraigned before Judge Tallmsn, in the Bath
Municipal Court, on the charge of murder
ing Policeman William Lawrence. The re-
spoudent plead guilty.
Yesterday forenoon, the train being late, the
officers who brought Wilkerson to this city,
remained around the station while
waiting for the cars to arrive. They
were loquacious, talked freely about the
murder and were surrounded by listeners
Said one of them;
We intended to have brought the
prisoner to Augusta last night, but
for some reasons did not, and so came up on
.Jewett's train this morning. He talked
freely to me about the murder, on the train
At times he would apparently fall in medi-
| tative mood remaining so ten or fifteen min
utes. Then he would rouse up and become
talkative again. We (The Bath police and
detectives) worked unremittingly for the
arrest of the murderer. We arrested and
tracked every person who could possibly have
| committed the crime until it could be fixed
| on no one Else but Wilkerson. At one time
Bath citizens were almost afraid to go out of
doors night. for fear that they would be
followed We knew the prisoner
we'll. lie has escaped from prison
and the custody of the officers FIVE times.
| There is cave about two miles north of Bath,
where Wilkerson was in the habit If secreting
| himself when at Bath. He is deep dyed vii
lain. There is something unfathonable about
him. When in crowd he laughs and talks
and is at ease, but when alone in cell or
elsewh here, his countenance assumes malig
nant look which is repulsive. He is an Eng
lishman and was born in London. where he