The Portland daily press., 1897-06-07
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.J

Sanford, June 5.-York county has got
another sensation on its hands, and one
that came within an eighth of an inch
OF resulting in murder. At about 1873
short, thick-set fellow, who claimed to
be Pinkerton detective, got off the
train at South WATERFORD, small station
on the line Of the Portland & Rochester,
and inquired for the Hotel Enterprise
where he afterwards registered as a
Pinkerton detective from New York city.
There he hired a team and a driver to
go out a mile, after telling f. G.. Murray,
deputy sheriff from Springvale, that he
might require his services little later.
The hostler from the hotel stable went
along with him. The hostler's name is
Edgar Nessler. They drove to the house
of Mrs. William Kimball, on the outskirts
of the village, and the supposed detective
left the wagon, went to the house and
demaded to see Charles L. Winchester,
Winchester went outside and the would
be detective told him to get into the car
riage; that he had a sheriff in the car
| riage and another down at the village,
and that if he did not come peacefully he
would have to come anyway.
Winchester refused to 60 at the same
time uttering an oath. Will Kimball,
another inmate of the house, went to the
door and was told by the detective that
if he did not get out of the way he would
blow his damned head off, the visitor at
the same time fourishing revolver.
By this time they had discovered that the
| Fo ,h, 1as, %1 I.oo O.,1I-1
detective was man named Fred Witham
| of Alfred.
Mrs. Kimball made an effort to close
the door to keep Witham from entering
the house and as she did so there were
TWO SHARP REPORTS
and two bullets crashed through the door,
one of them lodging in Mrs. Kimball's
adomen, just below the heart. This bull
let came through panel of the door, bui
the other lodged in the thickest portion
surrounding the panel. This latter has
been cut out and the section Of the dool
containing it is now in the hands of the
county officials. Witham then drove
away, still firing in the direction of the
Kimball house. He went directly to the
railroad station and was just in time to
catch the west bound train. He got of
| the train at Alfred and while at the sta
tion there, said that he was a Pinkertor
detective; that he was after a man named
Winchester for adultery; that he had 10
Gated his man at South WATERFORD, anG
as soon as he could get out warrant and
secure his man he would telephone the
| details.
County Attorney Willis T. Emmons OF
Saco happened to be at the station, and
Witham was pointed out to him. Mr.
Emmons was told that the fellow had
said that he was going to Moses Drew, 8
justice, to get warrant for Winchester
A few minutes later word came from
South Waterford to the officers about the
shooting affair, stating that Fred Witham
of Alfred was the man wanted. Mr.
Emmons sent Deputy Sheriff ]. H. Miles
to the office of Justice Drew where sure
enough he found Witham endeavoring tt
get the justice to issue warrant for the
arrest of Winchester. When the Officer
put in an appearance Witham pulled 3S
calibre revolver, the same that he used OF
Mrs. Kimball, and threatened to shoo1
the officer, but Miles took him unawares
and
SUDDENLY DISARMED HIM
Ten minutes later Witham was lodges
in the county Jail.
While the officials were discu ssino, FIJI