Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-01
A DYING mAs,s cosrEssros.
Clue 90 a Murder Committed Years
Ago.

n bangor he. specia says. On the
evening Of February 8. 1879. brutal and
mysterious murder was committed in the
city of Bangor. The victim, William b.
Elliott, respected citizen and once tax.
collector OF the town Of Glenburn, was
found dying on the snow by the roadside
Mt q point about one mile and a half from
the City Hall, on Valley avenue. An
axe had been used in striking the deadly
blow, but whose hands welded the
weapon was never known. The po-
lice used strenuous efforts to gain some
clue to the guilty parties. bat their work
was unavailing, and as time passed the
case went on record as the most daring
and bloodthirsty tragedy ever recorded
in the criminal history of Maine. The
Barron murder at Dexter was then en-
crossing public attention TO great ex-
tent. and more than once the rumor was
whispered that the same hand which
struck down the unsuspecting bank
officer had ended the life OF William
Elliott. The same motive, robbery, in
spired both crimes, and, although in the
latter instance no money was secured,
the Office which the victim had held
would have warranted the belief that be
possessed 1t.
Years passed and both mysteries re-
NAMED unsolved. In the Elliott case a
man had seen the victim about 8 O'Clock
driving towards bis home on a sled. He
had recognized the horses rs Elliott's at
the time and thought he remembered
seeing a man on the sled with him. OF
the latter, however, he could give no de-
scription. AS soon as the Identification
became known, half dozen people
turned up who remembered seeing FL
lott riding out from the city soon after
6 o'clock In company with man who
wore d dark suit and had his collar
turned up, so that it concealed the lower
portion OF his face. Elliott, they claimed,
sat on some grain bags driving. while
his companion stood, holding on to q
stake on the back of the sled.
To learn who this stranger was and to
discover the whereabouts of the team
were very essential points to be worked
up. Detective Allen, who WAS then an
officer on the city force, accompanied
by Officer Doherty, stood near the sta
tion-house about III o'clock considering
the case. They agreed that the muir
derer had probably made an attempt to
leave town if he had not already sue
ceeded in getting away, and to ques-
ton the station hands was the mo-
tive that prompted their sudden
departure toward the European and
North American railroad station, which
line has since been absorbed by Tie
Maine Central. The team was driven 10
the house OF Marshal Reed, who ordered
il to be stabbed TO await developments.
All efforts were now turned toward
learning the whereabouts of the myste-
rious stranger, against whom circum-
stsntial evidence had been found so
strong. Almost every resort in the city
limits was searched, and upon weak sus-
picion an arrest was made, but morning
brought no further clues.
Ii was learned that Elliott had stopped
at a saloon kept by man named Lyons
and bought a drink, but the circum-
stance did not attract much attention at
the time. Three years ago Lyons COM
mitted suicide. 4 friend and confdant
of his now tells the following story:
"Soon after the Elliott murder Lyons
told me under oath OF secrecy that
man named Samuel Haynes WAS the As
sassin. lie said that about I o'clock on
the afternoon OF the murder HAYNES
came into the saloon and said that he
was Just up from Rockland for a few
days after some people to take to The
Farm, a notorious resort that he Was
running in the outskirts Of that city.
eve had several drinks" said Lyons,
"and the time passed quickly. About
6 o'clock, as Haynes was sitting in the
rear of the saloon, | saw Elliott come
in. He was cold and said he thought he
would run in and get one drink to keep
him warm on his long ride home. AS |
served him and then walked to the rear
where Haynes was sitting | said to him
THAT is the tnx-collector OF Glenburn.
How would you like to have his snap 2"
At that moment Elliott took out his
pocket-book, which was we'll filled with
papers and looked very tempting He
put down a small bill, the denomination
of which forget, and IS | was making
change Haynes stepped up behind and
eagerly looked over his shoulder. J. saw
a peculiar expression light up his face
and then it passed away and he came
back to me, saying: The Old bloke has
got Doodle, hasn't he2 / replied that
thought he had, Judging from the size
Of the book. At that moment Elliott left
the saloon, and, thirty seconds later,
Haynes went out after him. | did not
think anything strange Of this at first 1t
was time for me to 90 to supper, and /
according put on my oyercoat and lett
the store.
"When on the corner Of Central street
and East-Market Square l saw Elliott
gather up his reins and start for Stew
arts store, while who was on tho sled
with him but Samuel Haynes The mo-
ment L saw him had an impulse To call
him back. i felt certain that he would
rob the old fellow, and that would make
trouble, but on the other hand 1 knew
nothing TO substantiate my impression,
and so thought the best thing could
do was to say nothing. Even then he
was hanging on to the stake in Just the
manner described by the people who
saw the team on the fatal ride. The de-
scriptions given, moreover, of clothing
worn by him tailed precisely with the
garments he had on. He had been
shaved that afternoon. was told so by
the barber who did it.
60 1t was the next morning before !
heard the details of the murder, but |
was Just as we'll satisfied who did it as il
/ had seen the blow struck. What made
me feel the worst, however, was the fact
that | had been unconsciously the cause
Of the crime. If we're known to know
about it there would be many
who would really believe that ] con
spired to bring about the crime SO l
made up my mind 10 say nothing. At
present Haynes is serving life sentence
for murder at Thomaston. He was ar
rested for burglary in RocklGnd, and
while there killed police officer with
He is a bad one, and l
have no sympathy for him.
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