The Portland daily press., 1897-02-26
PiSCATAQUis ECONOMY.
A County Which Feels:Too Poor to Arrest
Murderer.


A letter which has just been received
by Major Charles j. House, clerk in the
State Department of Labor, says that
Edward W. Hail. who murdered fore
man of laborers on the Canadian Pacific
Railroad III Monson in 1885, is employed
in an orange grove at Orlando, Fla, and
can be caught at any time. Two months
ago Major..House received similar letter
fir ON the same man, and took 1t to Gov
Cleaves, who advised him to consult the
countyaattorney and other officials OF
Piscataquis county, where the crime was
committed. The county Officers consid-
cred the matter for some time before
making answer.
At the time of the murder Maine
offered reward of $500, and New Brun s
wick, which was the home Of the muir
dered man, appropriated an equal sum
for Halls arrest. Afterward both offers
were withdrawn. AS the arrest and trial
of Hall would COS several shousand dol
lars aud as the county was poor the Off
| Gals concluded not to act in the case. AS
long as the murderer is out of this State
they Will not attempt to oatoh him.
Major House who lived in Monson at
the. time says Hall belongs to first class
family. His father who conducted
large general store in Monson left
him some $4,000 worth of property.
which. the young man sold that he might
squander the money. When his money
was jail .gonezyoung Hall built log cabin
| on tine shores of Lake Onawa, eight
miles from Monson village. and obtained
poor living by hunting, fishing, and
guiding tourists AT about this time the
Canadian Pacific Railway built Its inter
colonial branch across Maine from the
Megantio rsgion to New Brunswick, and
large number of railroad hands oame to
Monson for employment. Among the
new ooMers was JAMES Kennedy from st.
Stephen, N. B., who was hired as FORE
man of the night crew which was drill
ing and blasting lodges beyond Monson
village. To save his wages Kennedy
boarded himself in shanty not far from
Halls camp. One day when Hall and
Kennedy were together in the village
store Kennedy showed roll of bills con-
tanning more than $500. The storekeeper
advised Kennedy to put his money in
bank, or send it home, as 1t was unsafe
to carry so much about He replied that
he was going home on visit in less than
week. when he would dispose of the
bills.
That was on Tuesday afternoon. By
Thursday morning, as Kennedy was
making ready to go to his camp and
sleep, Hall came along in canoe. and
offered to take Inn across the lake. Ken
needy jumped in and was padded toward
his home. That night he did not appear
to take charge Of his crew. As he was
still missing at noon q crew was sent to
learn of his whereabouts. His dead body
was found on the beach a few rods away.
from his cabin. He had been shot
through the back below the left shoulder
blade.and through the head above his
right eye. His face was burned and
| blackenad with powder, showing that the
muzzle of the rife had been placed
against his head. Two rods away, hid
den behind log, was Halls Winchester
rife with. four cartridges in 1t. On the
sand close to Kennedy's body was a
pocket comb whiohyseveral identified as
Halls. A Coroner's jury found that
Kennedy had come to his death from in
juries CAUSED by Edward W. Hall of
Monson. The rewards, amounting to
$1,000, were offered, and for six months
detectives all over the United States and
CAnada3were looking forlIdall, but no one
was lucky enough to find HIM.
honn6Qy WIS k1liou early Oh Rrgudy
morning. Before noon on the same day
Hall came to the Monson store and
paid small bill which he owed, Offering
$40 bill. AS he was known ito be very
poor, the tradsr was surprised to see the
money, but made no comments. Hall
went next to the Monson station and
asked for ticket for Monson junction.
Although the fare was but 85 cents Hall
again offered a $40 bill. When the
station agent asked him II he did not
have something smaller he produced the
required change and paid for his ticket.
At Monson junction he bought ticket
for Bangor, but got off at Guilford and
took the stage overland for Newport
where he boarded the night train for
Boston. A man who had lived in Mon
son sat with him as far as Brunswick.
Beyond this all traces were lost.
Mr.. Jones, who writes the letters from
Florida. Is Maine man who knew Hall
in his days.of prosperity. He says there
can be no doubt about his identity. In
fact, Hall had virtually confessed ! that
he com lnitted the murder. As the Coun-
ty Attorney Of Piscataquis county does
not see fit tc act in ths case, the chances
are that Kennedy's murder will never he
avenged.