Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-07-22
The Shaoker Band.
LAwLEssNEss IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
tDr. 5. b. Hunter in Forest and Stream.

DR.. 5. b. Hunter in Forest and Straam.1
Wesley is situated twenty miles northeast
from Machlas, on the border of the great
MachlAs woods the best deer park in
N,ine. Tradition tells Us that turbulent
spirit was early developed in one portion of
Wesley. and this spirit has steadily increased
wnh the growth and decay Of the town until
TIE present time. One of the first acts of
lawitssness was the attack on Sheriff Hap
good BY several men dressed as Indians who
fired several shots at him, one bullet passing
through his hat. and clipped his horses
name and tail. and then burned property in
his custody which had been taken for debt.
Years rolled on, and the better portion of
the community formed a church and had
good schools, and the town prospered.
Smart men and women were reared in this
town, an honor TO county and State but
many Of these sought their fortunes in other
lands never 10 return. while on the other
hand. those of the lawless party were sure TO
return, and in some cases had 10 be helped
TO return by the town. The population in
1850 was 's2 now il is about $50 This
emigration has changed the character of the
town, throwing the balance Of power. BY a
small majority, into the hands Of the awess.
Of as they say, 1.-THE Shacker's rule" Better
families canno; be found in Maine than some
Of those living in Wesley. but at this time
they are at the mercy of their fraternal
enemies. Il IS hoped that brighter day is
beginning 10 dawn in Wesley now that the
heel OF the law is upon the neeKs Of its wick
ed citizens.
10 return 10 my suhject-,his turbulent
spirit which was continually warring with the
better element Of society, came prominently
to the surface at the break ing out Of our civil
war. They formed company. drilled and
prepared TO resist recruiting and the draft. TO
use force Il necessary The draft came. and
they resisted, killing Lieu'enan, Edwards,
deputy provost marshal while in the Dis
charge Of his duty. and then they fled into
New Brunswick. This was the most cruel
murder in Maine during the war and show
Ell depraylty Of heart not equalled IN the
tnted States. Time passed and no effort
was made to hunt olt and punish these crim.-
na.s; officers died or moved out of the State,
witnesses were scattered, and finally one bv
one the outlaws returned bat they were not
good citizens, for the, werc ever ready IL
engage IN any pursuit. ,awlcss or otherwise.
that would rive promise ut remuneration.
They made most adro, sn,usg,ers and gave
much trouble to officers of the government.
They p.undercd the land owners. taking
'es*el knees an! shIng.c rjtl whenever th~y
could find H. They .el dye 10 timber land
through malice plan!rycd .agEins camps.
and Whenever offended set 'irc mui- barns.
houses and Such other property a. the torch
would destroy. Ihi, /, the history of tb,t
lAw.e's spirit as i comr, doan through ,hr
different generations 70 ihc present time.
and nov for the iir,, tame hls the .aw step
ped IN 20 restrain or quc!l Il, Formerly.
"aene'er the !aw was invoked, PERJURY
would clear the criminals for ,hat reason
huae>i men shurnrG The lAn. aul
matters we're allowed % .rn ou IN Gc-
>irac,lon,a' Tie rapid 4epopuAron tasn.y
demonstrates.
In the summer of 1854 complain, na,
made that Wesley partte, were k..liu. deer
for the market. Wimoi Thompson caught
" lber Day and Younger brother o the act
and made complaint. Day WI. indicted. t.,
escaped arrest an,il March, IN>i. when ,wo
"ardsrs, PrttnEall and Mun,Jr. .,gcct,,.ra
n arre''!ns and patlIns 10 Jail TITS most a1-
conp.lstgI puachrr. tie was tiled AZ Calajs.
convicted and hned, and gave bonds for Hg-
appearance al the superior court 10 be hold
en- at Machias the following October. IAi,
made the Stacker hand furious and 'het de-
termined, 10 Use tteir own language, a.
'clran u4t the whole thing at any cost
The two active leaders, N.bel nay ana
Dy'.reauN Fenia.pn, raycd about Ike mad
inen, armed w.ih r.t!e', pistols end knives,
bunting TOR the "ardens. OtheE' met them
Al night and made plans for mischief
Complaint wa' made IN Ma! that parties
we're hunting an! killing deer on the race
grounds. Warden> Thompson au! M4n-
sen "err sent p catch the Villains. and we're
attacked n The woods By lenlason aad an
other Shackrr. The "ardrn., being we.,
armed, escaped un.nJurcd. These two fell
lows we're arrested. tried before Justice
W i.dcr Of Nachias, and pat unIer bonds 10
Keep the peace Tor siA months. lhss made
feH'ason more furious, 5u, h!s friend left
the ShAcker..
Soon after this demonstration VAS made
on Mlnson's house, next III, garden va. de-
,,royed IN the night AMI iii, gpp.e trees s.f-
G1ed. hen more threat, were made ~
July II, Munson had business a; MaChia,,
which would TAX. him from hom. over
pi,b, Mr. Nu,.o, asus,,ai uha- t.r
husband was absent. wa. .xyccted to >too At
her fathers. MIR. John II. GRAY. about one
half mile from her owo house After milk
in., tile COW f.fdIn, IN. III, on1 Iork,n,, n,
thr barn apd In boo,e Nr. Manson Wert
10 meeting and from there ID bef father.
house. TINS vas the opporluriry fortbe
Shaker. They mn, oni tbeir guards an1
after ,brv we're sure all va. on,e, Dav anJ
Y auce broke omen the harm. drove out The
COW and fed her with PAR, green and meal
hen left for home. about ,6re.. fourth, Of a
mile from Nup,on'. Then Fenla>on left
hi, beat and touched n match Ia hay in the
harm others had Dreyiou.ly kero,ened ,he
house ana She'd /, vas nroyed 4, NE tri,l
II bo,b Day ma FenIasop tb,t Anon,
one hou- elan.qd After tbe fire. was
discovered bv the Two neares, reirhbors he.
tore the aIarm wa. yiyan II naedle.> fo
cav ,hese neiphbors we're Shakers of hofb +
,eyes and mos, accumulated liors While (
no building. wern hurning WiIher Ia, a,
David Vance. bonsa ass's,sd H. vanca \
xro,e hi. le,,er
rr;on1 z;n. H. oin,,,,n III, H.,
,a'n,n he nm and .h,li fniinw u arr hanI on F
NJ smith 4 Son and Hunter the davail and
", ! and ilill.-From Frtehd. F
TaIs note was found the next morning on .
he doorstep of Warden Pennell. at Whit /
neville, sixteen miles from Nance's house
Il was proved that Wilber Day wrote this .
note, and it is known David Vance assisted .
- w H., ,,I,o,J :, a., Dan,oit,s loor