Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-31
FOUND DEAD.
A Drunken Tramp Meets His End al
Gardiner.

''Deash from Exposure to Cold. aud E1
cessive Drtnk-"
At $40 O'Clock Saturday morning man
was found stone dead in Gardiner on the ice
in the river, close to the bank at about halt
way between the town landing and Kimball's
wharf.
At this point, half way up the river bank
and . short distance from the railroad track,
stands q small shanty built by boys for a
playhouse. At the hour above named as
a section hand named Donovan was walk
ing along the railroad track near the shanty
he discovered = man lying on the ice about
four rods from the shanty. He Immediately
gave the alarm, and large crowd gathered,
a. it was believed to be case of murder.
The authorities arriving, Coroner Libbey of
this city, was Immediately sent for. The
man when found WAS lying on
the ice face downwards. his hands
folded beneath his chest and with limbs ex-
tended. He was evidently tramp and wore
suit Of green colored wooden pants which
came from the Augusta Jail, q greyish check
ed coat. three shirts and pair of what was
once white mittens patched with leather.
His cap was found short distance from the
body. Between the shanty and the spot
where the body was. drops of blood were
found on the snow. Several clubs were also
found in the vicinity. 1t did not take Ion
for the news to
REACH AUGUSTA,
and Marshal White accompanied by several
newspaper men started for the scene of the
gusta police after hard tussle, arrested two
drunken tramps on Water street and incar-
eerated them in the lookup. Friday night
the fellows escaped, some one entering
the lookup and liberating them while the
officers were absent. Mr.. White on arriving
at the scene of the alleged murder examined
the BODY of the dead man and identified it
as that as one of the tramps who had ss-
capped from the Augusta lookup. Thursday
night two Migrants driven by the cold ap-
piled for and were given lodgings in the Gar
diner police station. One of these Mr.. White
identified as the second tramp who had es-
capped from the Augusta lookup the evening
previous. On being questioned this tramp
told the following story which is but another
black chapter of runs doings and tramps
life
NV name is Timothy Sullivan, and my
home is in Manchester, N. II. Am "a year, of
age Have been in the New Hampshire Re-
form School. went to Boston about three
months ago where | met my chum John
Sheahan, whom you say was found dead on
the ice. He and I, in company with fellow
named John Cronen, left Boston for Maine
the last week in November. We came east
by rail on a freight train, arriving in Augusta
the night before Thanksgiving. Cronen
parted from us at Cumberland Junction.
The night Sheahan and got here, we applied
at the Augusta police station for a nights
lodging We were told that we had better go
to jail for 80 days, until we could get work
on the ice. We went to Jail. Friday morn
ing our 80 DAYS expired and we were liberated
Shehan had so cents We went down street
and my chum took the money, went to a sa-
loon south of Granite block and purchased
half pint of rum. We drank that, after
which Shehan sold new pair of boots which
he had received at the Jail on departing,
more rum during the day, at saloons
near the bake house at the foot of Jail Hill.
In the afternoon got pretty drunk and we
were arrested and taken to the station.
Between FIVE aud six o'clock p. NJ. some
one Sullivan did not remember whe
although he probably knew unfastened
the door to the lookup and liberated us. We
started off down the railroad track. was
about sobered OIL while Sheahan just began to
=. - r ,y,dn
resting at intervals until we arrived at the
shanty on the river bank at Gardiner, which
we entered Here we found Cronen whom we
left at Cumberland junction over month
ago We built up fire in the cabin, but it
smoked so that we were driven out. Upon this
we resolved to go to the station house
for lodging. We started but Sheahau was
SO drunk that he could not walk We at
tempted to carry him up the bank but were
unsuccessful. and finally left him in the camp
which was the last we saw of him. Cronen
and then went to the station house and were
given a lodging for the night. l did not
know my chum was dead until told OF 1t TINS
morning. We had no rev or trouble at the
shanty. Sheahan 10 about % years of age /;
belongs in Manchester, N. II. 10 not married
but has sisters. He was in the Reform
School with US.
Sullivan appeared to tell straight story
with the exception of that portion in relation
to who liberated him from the Augusta lock-
up. Sullivan 10 a thick set fellow with hard
looking couutenance, and looks as though he
might be hard customer in fight. At TO- 10
o'clock
SHERIFF LIBBEY ARRIVED,
and empanelled the following jury, viz.
f. w. Morrell, Ami Davenport. William
Perkins, Alton Sawyer, NJ. D., Celon L. B.
Gooden, Benjamin b. Clay. The coro-
ner and jury then proceeded to
the scene of the possible murder. big
crowd was in attendance and much excite
ment was manifest. On turning the body
over the face and nose were found to be fiat
tened by contact with the ice. and wa
smeared with blood. which evidently came
from the mans nose. The left side of the
head. in the region of the ear, bore evidence
of having receiving heavy blow. There
was a confusion on the right temple. There
were marks on the wrists where the twist