The Portland daily press., 1893-09-11
A DETECTIVES WORK.
The Horse Shoe Pond Mystery
Once More Rxeites Gardiner.
TWO MEN PREVIOUSLY SUSPECTED
HAVE BEEN INDICTED.

Charles Blenn Died Last July While
Coming From Sunday Visit to a
Camp on the Pond Evidences of a
Drunken Row Aroused Sus picions
Then-Now Edgar Wakefield and Geo.
Silver Have Been Arrested for Man.
slaughter.
Gardiner, Maine, September 1o.-Great
excitement was created in this city last
night when it became known that the
grand jury had found an Indictment
against Edgar G. Wakefield and George
Silver for manslaughter. 1t will be re-
mem bered that Charles Blenn met his
death on Sunday, July 2S, on Horse Shoe
Pond, six miles from this city, under
very suspicious circumstances. AT that
time Wakefield and Silver we're detained
by order of Judge Larrabee, and the
coroner's jury failing to find evidence
enough to hold them they were released.
The jury's verdict was that Blenn came
to his death by drowning, but as to how
he got into the water they were unable
to determine Blenn's relatives not be-
ing satisfied with this verdict engaged
Detective d. w. Sullivan of Boston to un-
ravel the mystery. Sullivan arrived here
about week ago, and the result of his
work is shown by the fact that the
grand jury found an Indictment against
the two men for manslaughter. Last
night Detective Sullivan assisted by
State Detective Ira M. True of Hallowell
arrested Silver and placed him in Jail.
Wakefield, although out OF town, will, it
is thought, be apprehended by Monday.
On the 23d of last July, Wakefield and
Silver were spending the day, Sunday.
at Wakefield camp on Horse Shoe Pond.
hand by Mr.. Fred Babcock, living near
the camp. At about 1 p. M, Blenn
started from Babcock's to visit Wakefield
and Silver, with whom he was ac-
quainted. He was seen by the Babcock
family to take a small float, paddle it
across stream, land and disappear into
the camp. What happened there es can
only be surmised. Parties living in the
vicinity heard considerable noise coming
from the camp. I 1t is known that there
was some liquor in the camp, of which,
it is supposed all partook freely. It is
also admitted that Blenn and Wakefield
played cards and Blenn is said to have
been the winner. From the appearance OF
ID, ii
Whenlthe camp was first entered by City
Marshal Drake of this city there were
unmistakabIe signs of a struggle, chair
being broken and things turned upside
down generally. 1t is claimed that Wake
field went up stairs to bed after he was
through playing cards, Silver claiming
that he started to set Blenn and another
man across the stream in the float. At
about 4 o'clock, Silver appeared at the
house of Mr.. Potter near by, all wet and
considerably excited. He appeared to be
intoxicated He said that two men whom
he was setting across the stream from the
camp were drowned; that when about
half way across, Blenn stood up and
commenced to rock the boat and he
(Silver) told him to sit down or he would
tip the boat over, and that Blenn, not
doing as requested, the boat was suddenly
upset, throwing all three into the water.
Silver said that as soon as he came up he
struck for the shore about thirty yards
off, and arriving there looked round for
the others, but could see nothing but the
overturned boat. Silver had cut on his
head and said he supposed he received
it from the rail of the boat when he went
over Harry Dunn, who was at Mr.. Pot-
ters, went to the pond with Silver and
saw the boat bottom up drifting down
stream. They Immediately took another
boat and searched for the other two men
DuU COulu uOU uuu uAClu dhCllOlo ethA
Silver returned to town late Saturday
night but did not notify the authorities
until Monday morning, when Silver
notified City Marshal Drake, who imme-
d1ately started for the scene of the acci-
dent with searching party. They grap--
pied for the bodies, and also used
dynamite, but did not succeed in finding
them until Wednesday morning when
Blenn's body was found floating face up
wards opposite the camp near the east
shore of the pond, 245 yards from Where
Silver claimed the boat was upset
Coroner Kilbreth of Hallowell imlnedl-
ately summoned jury and accompanied
by doctors repaired to the place where
the body was found. The coroner took
the body from the water and discovered
that it was covered with bruises, especial
| ly on the head and face. The doctors
made an examination and found sufficient
water in the lungs to cause death by
drowning. The bruises on the head and
| face excited suspicion of foul play,
| Wakefield and Silver being held by order
of the Judge, until after the coroner's in
quest, at which the evidence was not
sufficient to hold them and they were re-
leased. The people here are very anxious
| as to the outcome of the case, not know
| ing the nature of the evidence the prose.
cution have obtained.