Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-25
SHARP DETECTIVE WORK.
Detectives True and Simpson
Ferret 9ut the Parties Con.
cerned in the MOnSOn
Explosion.
Full Confession of the Guilty
Parties Made Before De-
tective True.
Simpson Proves Himself to be an
Expert Well Digger as Well
as Detective.
The Prisoners Confined in the Ban
gor Jail to Await the Action
Of the Supreme Court.
Special to the Kennebec Journal. I


MoNsoN, Oct 23.
One of the craftiest jobs of detective work
accomplished in this State for some time was
brought to light in this town Saturday. Fol-
lowing are Substantially the facts of the case
1t seems that for some time past, a
man has been running at large who is
dangerous to the welfare of the place. and
who, by reason of his fendish nature. seems
to have frightened others to become, like
himself, terror to any community.
While Detective Ira NJ. True was working
up the Harmony fire-bugs, he was called
upon by DR.. Hall and Mr.. Jackson, of their
town, who stated that there lives, as well as
property. were greatly endangered by party
who resided here and who has acquired con-
siderable wealth. Accordingly, Detective
True proce eeded here and obtained what facts
and kinformation he could regarding the
following:
i On Friday morning, Aug. 9th, about
o'clock, there loud explosion in DR.. c.
c. Halls office, which resulted in the COM
plete destruction of the building and all its
contents, it being quite a heavy loss, as it
was finely fitted out.
Having obtained satisfactory clue to the
parties, Detective True communicated the
same to Detective Simpson of Portland,
(employed by the former the year round) and
sent him here to look them up, and gain
confession. The following plot was arranged
and successfully carried out:
A minister who resides here wished to have
a well Ding Accordingly Albert F. Sears,
(the suspected party) was employed to sup
erintend the digging and Detective Simpson
as day laborer The detective donned lab
orer's costume, consisting of frocx, over
alls and other clothes to match. Both COM
menced work on the well and good progress
was made, the detective being compelled to
do the heavy work, such as lifting large
stones, when found etc. All the while, De-
tective Simpson was cleaning information
from the "bvss" concerning the explosion
and after two days of hard labor sufficient was
gained to have him arrested. On being arrest
ed he made full confession, stating it was
through fear of one, Colby Moore, who re-
sides here. Moore was at once arrested and
taken before Detective True. 1t seems that
a threatening letter had been sent to the
deputy sheriff, and Moore was suspected of
being the party who sent it. Accordingly
the hand-w ritng of Moore was obtained and
the letter compared with it. There was
noticeable sameness between the two, and
yet Moore would not concede Finally the
confession of Sears was laid before him and
he gave in, stating that it was all true. The
following is Sears confession:
NV name is Albert +. Sears am a resi-
dent of Monson; aged 80 years. On Monday,
Aug. 23rd, Colby Moore of that town,
liquor dealer, sent for me to come up to his
house that night. | went up and Moore
asked me to stop to supper. After supper he
took me into back room and told me he
had job he wanted me to do. | asked him
what il was and he said he would give So and
if it was worth S25 he would give it to blow
up the office of DR.. c. c. Hall, and that he
had got the explosives all ready. | asked
him whist he wanted to do that for and what
he had against DR.. Hall. He said that dur
ing the summer he had a son sick. DR..
Hall being his family physician he was at
tending his son and the doctor called
awav to Boston during bis sickness and he
got another physician to look after his pa
tients during his absence. The son died and
Moore said if the doctor had stayed at home
he would have saved him. He wanted to
have revenge on him and G. d-n it he
was going to and no one would no it but you
and L. | went home but agreed to be at
1 ho,,s tba p,v sdoy
Complete arrangements were made. |
went up according to agreement and found
the Moore's had company in the house, and
did not make my presence known, but went
home without seeing any of them. | live %
miles from Moore's place. On Wednesday
evening Moore came down and met me be-
tween the house and the barn. He said why
were you not up last night or are you getting
wesk-kneed. / told him | was up the night
before and the reason did not go in. | told
him that met two or three persons that
knew me when l was coming home aad |
was afraid it being so late at night, they
would give me away or remark that they had
seen me. Moore said the doctor is in Boston
and | want you to do this job tomorrow
night l asked him how l could get into the
office without being discovered. He re-
marked that he was in the doctors office one
day and took the key from the door and
looked at it. At the first sight of the key,
lie said, l was well satisfied | had one at
home about the same shape and size. filed
it in one or two places and went down to his
office in the night and tried it in the door. /
fonnd that it would unlock it but would not
lock it. He took it home and filed it some
more and on the second time found it to be
la good ft I promised to be at Moors's
house again Thursday evening. went up