Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-11
MAINE DISPATCHES.
THE ASSASSINS, A
"o,e oout the Terrible Deaths of the
"ihe Tame "ardens-Offcers on the
Track Of Perpetrators of the Crime.
MACHIAs, Nov. 10

MAcHIAs, Nov 10.
ne excitement over the pursuit of the
murderers of Game Wardens Hill and Niles
is great,and at Ellsworth and throughout this
entire section the entire population are vel.
unteer detectives to see that the assas.ins
are taken. Officers are securing the entire
region tor The suspected men whose names
are now called Calvin Graves and James
Mcfarland.
The effort of the game wardens to prevent
the Illegal slaughter of deer (deer can now
De killed but not with dogs) are not likely to
De less urgent on account of this double
martyrdom. Public opinion against the
poachers is more intense than ever before
Hill and Niles went up to Hemmenway town
ship, few days ago, hearing that the poacb-
ers were at work there. The known desper-
ate character of the poachers led Hills friends
to warn him against going, but Hill said that
extent.
Many fear that the murderers may escape
to the backwoods and be harbored by SYM
pathizers; for there is no Disgusting the fact
pathizers among the rough element.
The murdered Warden Hill is an East Ma
chias farmer, one armed veteran of the OH
Maine. He has done good service as game
warden for several years. Niles was about
% years old. Hill, it seems, discovered the
poachers with an express wagon and equip
age. This was Monday noon. Hill warned
them that they were violating the law in
hunting with dogs and that they must give up
their dog. They at once fred up and de-
clared they would die first. Niles disregard
ed their threats and throwing off his coat,
made for the dog The smaller of the two
poachers at once with deliberate and accurate
aim, at close range, empted the contents of
his double barreled rifle into the unwarry
wardens. Niles fell dead Instantly, shot
through the head. Hill lived but few mo-
ments.
Bys remarkable good fortune Thomas
McRavey of Whitneyville and his son, a
youngster of seventeen, had been spending
the day in The woods hunting. They had
presrranged to meet near the camp in the af-
ternoon. Just as the young man neared the
camp he heard an angry alteration. He con-
cealed himself and was paralyzed with fear
as he saw the terrible deed, the work of but
moment. The young man being discover
ed by the assassins, was wholly unnerved.
b,t hot ha wonlI fal
next.
81 had to do it," said the murderer, turn
ing to the youngster.
"Served .'em right" stammered out the
young man as he fed, horrfed, from the
scene, leaving that remark to mislead the
murderers as to his real feelings.
Soon the father of the young man came
into the camp. He had heard the crack of
the rifle. and fancied possibly his son might
have shot some game. As he came to the
scene McRavey turned back in horror. The
lifeless bodies of the two game wardens lay
there among the dead leaves, the blood yet
oozing from their wounds.
The murderer and his poaching companion
were YET fastened 10 tHe spDt, tuuuRH solht
minutes had elapsed since the shots.
McRavey's first thought was for his son
but seeing that the dead men were strangers,
he turned on his heel to find his boy.
'You better get out of this vicinity as soon
as ever you car" said McRavey as he flew
away.
The murderers evidently thought so too,
for in few minutes they made off toward
Beddington. 1t is believed that they drove
through Beddington and thence directly tow
ard Ellsworth with as much dispatch Nc they
could 1t was about IA hours after the mur
der when the team was left at Fletcher's in
Hancock, drive OF about 45 miles.
In an interview this morning with young
McReavey, the sole witness of the terrible
double murder in the Machias Deer Park, he
saws: 81 am hardly yet able to collect my
self .noush to give an account of the awful
scene. 1t seems to me like dream, and
cannot now hardly realize what l have gone
through l suppose the man that they call
Graves is the man who did the shooting.
can identity uim IL "a" N'"P "
him again"
No doubt is felt here that Graves and Nc
Farland are the men. The circumstances
that connect them with the crime form an un-
broken network of circumstances when II Is
believed young McReavey will complete by
identification. The description gwen oy
Young McReavey tally precisely with the des-
cr;ntion of Graves and Mcfarland. Nc
Reavey's recollection of the men Is wonaer-
fully clear, considering the circumstances
7. i now a.ceftsined that Graves on TUESDAY
h;,ad man in the town of Waltham to take
his team to Hancock. This man says 'na'
Graves disclosed to him nothing OF the trag-
edy, but on leaving his team TOOK 10 'he
~ood. onn in hand. He seemed to be worn