The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-18
THE STRANGE STORY OF A LETTER
Left at the Falmouth Hotel, Il Served
as a Clue
Which Brought Two Outsiders Into
the SawteII Case.
Wasn't for Isaac and Or. Blood
Did Not Write 1t.


| DOVER, N. H., teDrudIy li-oaturuay
| evening there appeared in the Boston papers
a short despatch from Great Falls, N. H.,
| which stated that the man who called on
Sawtell at the Falmouth Hotel, Portland,
was LAWYER Pierce of Great Falls who went
to see Sawtell at the request of d. z. Bart
lett of Boston, the attorney who made the
transfer of Mr.. SawtelPs property to
Isaac.
Now the man who called on Sawtell at the
Falmouth. knew his man by his assumed
name and was described as slouchy Ia ap-
pearance with black beard, aud was ilnme-
mediately thought by some to be an accom-
plice. When it was announced that the call
Ell was Lawyer Pierce it put new phase on
the matter. 1t naturall, caused people to
| say at once, "What business had Lawyers
| Bartlett and Pierce with Sawtell when he
! was wanted for murder, and how did Fierce
know him by his alias of j. Bridge, Do
| ver."
To clear the matter. the PRESS representa-
| tive has made an investigation today to as
| certain just what was Mr.. Pierce's business
| at the Falmouth and the result was an inter-
esting story with several peculiar coinc den
| ees connected with it.
| The Pierce in question is William S. Pierce
| of Great Falls, who was the Republican can
| didate for county solicitor at the last election
| against Solicitor Kivel, the present incum-
bent He was found by the PRESS reporter
| in lawyers office in this city. stated my
| errand to Mr.. Pierce who consented to ex-
| plain his visit to Portland. He said:
"The combination of circumstances which
| have led up to the statement that was in
| Portland to see Sawtell have been peculiar.
| A short time ago two large shoe firms in Do
yer failed tor large amount. With other
| lawyers, was retained as counsel In the
| case. George HI. Briggs was the treasurer of
| one of the companies aud after the failure he
| disappeared from public view. / learned
| through private information that he had very
| likely gone to Portland, and being very de-
| sirous of an interview with him, started out
to find him. On reaching Portland on last
Tuesday evening, | went where my informa-
tiOn led me, to the Merchants Exchange hO-
tel. He was not there and after supper 1
resolved to look for him at the various hotels
went first to the Falmouth. The moment l
looked at the register | saw the name of j.
Bridge, Dover, and it occurred to me at once
that 1t was very Likely name for Briggs to
be stopping under. 1 then asked the clerk
to describe the man in 96, and he gave me a
very good description of Briggs which
of course strengthened my belief that
the occupant of that room was. the
very man. [ then sent a bell boy to 96
with instructions to tell the occupant that
Pierce of Great Falls wanted to see him.
The boy soon returned with the word that
he was not there. went out and came back
ldbeE III LUb 6N6ulDR Will bu0 SdlH0 I6oulL.
Then wrote note and sent it to j. Bridge,
thinking of course it would hit Briggs, and
the clerk put it in BRIDGES box. l then went
to my hotel and to bed. The next morning
about 10 30, whom should meet in tie office
of the Merchants but Briggs himself. | said
to him:
Il suppose you got my letter."
Letter, no; what letter."
"Why, the letter left for YOU at the Fall
mouth"
"Why, haven't been near the Falmouth"
exclaimed Briggs astonished.
Il then explained what had done and not
being anxious the letter should fall into 9TH
er hands told him to go to the Falmouth,
say he was the occupant of 90 and get the let
ter. He did so and returned with the letter.
Now learn that the occupant of 96 was in
reality Sawlel That Is the story %f,say So
scription the clerk gave me Of the occupant
of 96 (SawtelD was very good one OF Briggs
aud you can see that they must have resem-
bled each other as the clerk delivered the
mail to Briggs without question and | have
seen accounts in the paper how Sawtell call
ed Tor the note left by the mysterious strang-
er thought to be DR. Blood or some other
conspirator. The man who called
for the note was Briggs and the
man who called for Bridge was myself 1t is
a curious coincidence that in trying to trace
one man who had disappeared from view |
should hit the alias of a hiding murderer "
This is the first satisfactory explanation that
has been given In print oil Mr.. Plerce'S Visit
to Portland. The item which was printed TO
the effect tnat Mr.. Pierce went to Portland
to see Sawtell at the instigation of ID. G.
Bartlett of Boston, Is pronounced by both of
these gentlemen absolutely false. The pub
lication, however, was be-inning to give rise
to little unpleasant inquiry as regards to
his (Pierce's) business with Sawtelle, which
must have been accounted for, as reputable
lawyers do not as a rule inquire for murder
ers WHOM the police are looking for. and
know their assumed names. Mr.. Plerce's
statements are corroborated by Lawyer
Bartlett of Boston, and others. rhis state
ment shows two or three things. Tuesday
night sSawtell arrived in Portland and reg
istered at the Falmouth. He was not in the
house in all probability that evening between
eight o'clock and half past ten, the hour
when Mr.. Pierce called.
The mysterious caller is mysterious no
longer.
"Dr. Blood or no other ''conspirator" left
any letters for Sawtell at the Falmouth.