The Portland daily press., 1886-11-16
THE FLEroHeR BROOK MURDER.
What the Game Commissioners Saw
Regarding 1t.
A Portland officers Knowledge of
Graves and Mcfarland.

Fish and Game Commissioners r. NJ
ounweli OF Bangor and III. o. Stanley of
D&neld were in the city yesterday and
stated last evening, In regard to the
murder OF the two game wardens. that
they In common with all other citizens
looked upon the matter as an outraga
upon the people of the State. but re-
gard the detection and punishment Of the
guilty parties as resting with the State au-
thorlties, the duties of the commissioners
Deing confined to seeing that the wardens
properly perform their duties. Both Mr.,
otiiiwen and Mr. Stanley spoke of the high
character of the murdered wardens, refer
ring to Mr.. Hill as one armed soldier, who
mad 1t not been for the injuries received by
MIN during the war would not have been
occupying the humble position which he has
filled so we'll
Ihe Commissioners have been engaged in
duties pertertalning to their work. for some
time past, in other parts of the State and so
nave no knowledge of the murder other
than that gained from the papers and letters
from residents of the vicinity They spoke
OF the Shackers as body of men who infest
the game regions and destroy game in viola
tlon OF the law in order to procure rum and
tobacco. OF course the Shackers are only
one class existing in region inhabited by
many reputable citizens. The Shackers
commenced their criminal career by resist
Ing the draft during the war and numbering
Provost Marshal Edwards After this they
fled across the border into Canada and were
not source of trouble for some time on this
side OF the line. To properly enforce the
game laws, Mr.. Stillwell says that in place
OF the local game wardens, wardens should
De appointed and paid yearly salary to 20
through the State and into districts where
they are not personally known. If man is
known to be warden it is easy enough for
anyone to hire boy to watch him and re-
port MS movements SO that poachers can
Keep themselves informed as to the move
ments of the wardens and by this means
often evade detection. Twelve or more men
employed at q sufficient salary to support
themselves and their families, If a sufficient
sum In addition was appropriated to enable
the commission to carry on the work, could
enforce the law with much more thorough
ness than 1t is enforced under the present
system.
Mr. Stillwell said that the deer are in
creasing more rapidly than any other game
In the State and that the increase in the
moose during the last five years had been
surprise to the Commissioners
Speaking of the murderers, Mr. Stillweu
said that Graves and Mcfarland were per
sonally unknown to him but that Judging
from what had been said, he should consider
them as being engaged in shooting for the
market. Small coasters take off from the
Maine shore game shot in violation of the
law and carry it to the Boston market. Some
times the meat is sent by steamer, but the
coasters are not so liable to be searched as
the larger vessels. 1t is among the class of
men who range through the WOODS shooting
game to be carried thus to market, that Mr..
Stillwell places Graves and Mcfarland.
.3lice Officer Heath of this city knows
D ',,.,' raves and Mcfarland having lived
H.. mn in the town of Hancock. Mr..
csa.' "os to school with Graves. Both
uaa,S % As Farland were known by Mr..
he doas ~. 80 ., plated the game laws but
meditated the muhsr of tbe wardens
The parents of the , s
respectable positions in .ha - 0sap'es
their farms and were coISeetad win uh tba
logging business. Graves bessos a,.s WI .no
on his farm and logging and ennina s has
worked as cook on vessel e' w