The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-03
A DYING MANS CONFESSION.
Clew to Murder Committed Years
Ago.
Fron The NelO York Times.

BANGOR, Me, July 29.-On the evening
of Feb 5, 1879, brutal and mysterious
murder was committed in the city of Ban
gor. The victim, William B. Elliott, re-
spected citizen, and once tax collector of
the town of Glenburn, was found dying on
the snow by the roadside at point about
one mile and half from the city hail. on
Valley avenue An ak had been used in
striking the deadly blow, but whose hands
welded the weapon was never
known. The police used strenuous
efforts to gain some clews TO
the guilty parties. but their work was I'M
awaiting and, as time passed, the case went
on record as the most daring and blood
thirsty tragedy ever recorded in the crimi-
nal history of Maine The Barron murder
at Dexter was then engrossing public atten-
tion to a great extent, 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, rcbbery, in
spired both crimes, aud, although in the
latter instance no money was slcured, the
Office which the victim had held would
have warranted the belief that he pos
sessed it.
Years Fpassed and both mysteries re-
NAMED unsolved. In the Elliott case man
had seen the victim about O'Clock driving
toward his home on a sled. He had reCog-
nized the horses as Elliott's at the time, aud
thought he remembered seeing a man on
the sled with him. OF the latter, however,
he could give no description. As soon as
the Identification became known, half
dozen people turned up who remembered
that they had seen Elliott riding out from
the city soon after 8 o'clock in company
with man who wore dark suit and had
his collar turned up, SO that il 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 station house
about II o'clock considering the case. They
agreed that the murderer had probably
made an attempt to leave town, if he had
not already succeeded in getting away,
and to question the station hands was the
motive that p rompted their sudden depart
ure toward the European and North
American railroad station; which line has
since been absorbed by the Main Central.
Tho team was driven TO the house of
Marshal Reed, who ordered il to DO stabbed
to swat developments. All efforts were
now turned toward learning the where
abouts of the mysterious stranger, against
whom circumstantial evidence had boon
found so strong. Almost every resort in
the city limits was searched and, upon
weak suspicion, an arrest was made, but
morning brought no further clues.
1t was learned that Elliott had stopped at
O saloon kept by n man named Lyons, ana
bought drink, but the circumstances did
not attract much attention at the time.
Three years ago Lyons committed suicide.
A friend and confidant of his now tells the
following story;
"Soon after the Elliott murder Lyons
told me, under oath Of secrecy, that a man
named Sam Haynes was the ASSASSIN. He
sold that, about o'clock on the afternoon
Of the murder, Haynes came into tbs sa-
loon and said that he was just up from
Roclxland for a few DAYS after some people
TO take to Tho Farm notorious resort
that he was running ia the outskirts OF that
city.
eve had several drinIks,p said Lyons,
land the time passed quickly. About .