The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-11
CIrcum ,tances Point to Foul Play iD
The Blenn Case.
TWO MEN NOW UNDER ARREST
Must Answer to the Charge Of Ma; :
slaughter--Big Excitement In tn
Little Maine Citv-wakeneld Denie.
any Knowledge OF the Crime.

GARDINER, Me-. Sept 1i.-Thsre was
great excitement in this city on account
Of the grand jury finding an indictment
against Edgar G. Wakefield and George
Silver for manslaughter.
II will be remembered that Charles
Blenn met his death on July % at Horse
Shoe pond. six miles from this city, under
very suspicious circumstances. At that
time Wakefield and Silver were detained
by order Of Judge Larrabee, but the
coroner's jury failing to find evidence
enough to hold them they were released.
The jury's verdict was that "Blcnn came
to his death by drowning, but as to how
he got into the water we are unable to de-
termine"
Blenn's relatives, not being satisfied
with this verdict, engaged Detective d. w.
Sullivan Of Boston to unravel the mystery.
Sullivan arrived here about q week ago,
aud how well he has succeeded is shown
by the fact that the grand jury have found
an indic>inept against them for man
slaughter. Detective Sullivan, assisted by
State Detective True, arrested Silver
Saturday night aud placed him In Jail.
Wakefield, although ont Of town, will be
apprehended.
On the 2sd of last July Wakefield and
Silver were spending the day Sunday at
Wakefield's camp on Horseshoe pond.
Charles Blenn, employed as farmland
by Fred Babcock, living near the camp,
started about p. m. from Babcock's to
visit Wakefield and Silver, with whom he
was acquainted. At the camp he was seen
by the Babcock family to take small
float, paddle across the stream, land and
disappear into the camp. What happened
there can only be surmised, undoubtedly
card playing. drinking and general row.
suspicious circumstances
II is known that there was some liquor
in camp, Of which it Is supposed all par
took freely. 1t is also admitted that Blepn
and Wakefield played cards. aud Blend is
said to have been winner. From the ap-
pearance of the camp il is evident that a
row had ensued, and. when first entered
by City Marshal Drake there were un-
mistakable signs of struggle, chair be-
ing broken and things turned upside down
generally.
1t is claimed that Wakefield went up
stairs to bed after they were through
playing cards. Silver claiming that he then
started to see Blenn aud another man
across the stream in the float.
About o'clock Silver appeared at the
house Of Mr.. Potter. near by. all wet, con-
siderably excited and apparently intoxi-
Gated, and he told the people that two
men whom he was setting across the
stream from camp were drowned
He said that when about half way across
Blenn stood up and commenced to rock
the boat He (Silver) told him to sit
down, or he would tip the boat over. Not
doing as he was requested, the boat sud-
denly upset, throwing all three into the
water Silver says that as soon as he
came up he struck out for the shore, about
30 yards off, and, arriving there, looked
around for the others, but could see moth
ing but the overturned boat. Silver had a
cut on bis head, which he says he sup
poses was received from the rail Of the
boat when it went over.
Boat Found Bottom Up.
Harry Dunn, who was at Potter's, 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, but could
not find them. Wakefield and Silver re-
turned to town late Sunday night, but did
not notify the authorities till Monday
morning, when Silver notified City
Marshal Drake, who Immediately started
for the scene of the accident with search
Ing party.
He grappled for the bodies, also used
dynamite, but d.d not succeed in finding
them till Wednesday morning, when
Blenn's body was found floating face up
ward opposite the camp, near the east
shore of the pond, 245 yards from where
Silver claimed the boat upset. Coroner
Kilbreth Of Hallowell took the body from
the water and discovered:th that IL was COW
cred with bruises, especially the head and
face.
The doctors made an examination there
and found sufficient water In the lungs to
on the head and face excited suspicion of
foul play.
Arrest OF wakefield.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Sept. 11.-Edgar c.
Wakefield of West Gardiner, Me-, was ar
rested by Inspector Guilty yesterday at
the home of his brother-in-law. The ar
rest was made on the strength of a tele-
gram from State Detective True of Hal
lowell, Me. Wakefield says he came to
this city Immediately after his release
from custody, the last of July. Two
weeks ago he returned from Gardiner, but
ame back to Springfield because he heard
he grand jury was likely to pnceed
against him Tor liquor selling. He denies
any knowledge OF how Blenn met his
leath. He says Blenn and Silver drank at
his place, then went out In a boat. He
went to bed, and next morning learned
Lhat Renn was dead He was taken tn