Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-11-23
UNFORTUNATE RESEMBLANCE.
1 Tramp CObbler Causes a Sensation, all
on Account



who is nov declared to be the murderer of
Miss MehitAbIe White Of Braintree, Mass
had gone 10 Maine, has set people on tbs
watch all over the Pine Tree State. 1t vii
be remembered tina, Thompson was in the
employ of Miss White. and that he is known
to have taken his zine trunk 10 the depot in
Aer team and checked il to Portland. Me
This has given the officers clue that has
been carefully followed up. Detectives
Rhodes, Whitney and Shaw OF the Massa-
chusetts district police, have been in Maine
searching for Thompson, and in this work
have the assistance of several Maine detect
ives.
The zine trunk which has figured so prom
inently in this crime, faiIed To show up in
Portland, though it is positively known to
have been shipped from Boston on the nine
O'Clock train. 1t is believed that it was
dropped of At some other point and jus,
where the officers have yet to discover.
The appearance of two strange men at the
Augusta police station Tuesday night, asking
for lodging and evidently under the influence
of liquor, was not enough of rarity 10 cause
special interest in them. The men
appeared 10 be tramps, and the
following morning were taken before Judge
Andrews and sent up for 80 days. A care
full examination of the printed description of
Thompson which was sent out by the Mass
achusetts authorities and which arrived in
this city Wednesday, convinced City Mar
shsl Morse that one of these men Tailed with
it very nearly and that if he were not the
Braintree murderer he at least bore quite a
resemblance to him. This man gave his
name as James Price. He said he had come
from Springfield, Mass, that he was in Lynn
on election day and from there he came to
Waterville, where he remained Friday night.
Saturday night he stayed in Gard ner and
Sunday he came to Augusta. Between that
time aud Tuesday night his whereabouts are
not explained.
Price answers very nearly TO the descrip-
ton of Thompson except that he is only
feet and or a inches in height, whereas
the circular puts Thompson's height at
feet and 10 inches. Price has deep scar
o er his left ear running dom on to his
cheek, a point which is partic ularly empha-
sized in the description of Thompson and
which tallies exactly. The similarity in
other respects is also strong and answers the
description of Thompson as given in the
circular very closely.
Marshal Morse at once telegraphed full
description of Price TO Superintendent
Rufus X. Wade Of the Massachu-
setts district police. Late yester-
day afternoon a kennebec Journal re-
porter visited Price at the jail and que,-
toned him closely. He is a square-shoul-
dered, solid built fellow with small blue
eyes which meets the questioner squarely.
His beard has evidently not known razor
for several weeks, and gives rather un-
kempt appearance to his face. Hello"
said the scribe, chow long have you been
down this way!"
About a week"
Where did you come fromE'
II was in Massachusetts election day
What placer"
Lynn" .......
do you live there?"
No; live in Troy, N. T."
That's your home, is it?''
cit used to be. I'm shoe maker by
trade | go about the country for work
and my home is wherever find it,
What other places than Lynn have you
visited in Massachusetts"
Il ye been in Springfield.
Were you ever in BraintTeeg
"Braintret, repeated the prisoner retlec-
lively, dropping his head. "Braintree-I
never heard of the place. Perhaps my
cham may know about it. He's been over
Massachusetts more than have"
Nv here did you learn your trader"
II learned it when | was "a boy in New
York of Whitehouse & Co"
Are they there now
NO; they afterS ards moved to Pough-
keepsie, New York
What did you come to Maine forr
''See here, what are you asking me all
these questions for?" asked the prisoner sus-
piciously.
"Oh. you're new man, here AMI we
want to know something about you
"Well haint called upon to answer all
these questions am II
Certainly not, unless you choose to.
well what are you fellows trying to do
with me anyway This makes three times
I've been questioned today and besides that
my clothes have been taken out and exam
ined. Now what does it meant"
''Oh you're a new man-aud-'
Yes, that's all well enough. but you've
got some purpose in questioning me in this
way. Now why can't you tell me what it is.
If you'll do that I'll answer your questions,
otherwise not"
We feel some interest to know about
you of course
"well, but there is something else,
haven't done anything I'm ashamed of-that
is nothing bad, and Id like to know why I'm
questioned SO"
"Well, if you haven't done anything wrong
you haven't any thing to fear have you?"
Il s'pose not, but here W. been sent up
for thirty days and Ia like to know why
am quizzed so.
did you ever know man named Thomp-
SOM
mo, | never heard of such man."
Never happened to meet a man by that
name in ,uur travels did you
No"
The prisoner here renewed his entreaties
to be told what was up but the scribe put
him of again with the new man" chestnut
and took his departure.
Later