Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-01
MURDERER At LARGE.
No Effort Being Made 10 Investigate Report
That Nall Is In Florida.


A letter which has just been received
State department of labor, says that
Edward W. Hall. who murdered a fore
man of laborers on the Canadian Pacific
Railroad in Monsoon in 1885. is employed
in an orange grove at Orlando. Fla, anu
can be caught at any time. Two months
ago Major House received similar letter
Cleavcs. who advised him to consult the
county attorney 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 a reward of $780, and New Brunst
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were withdrawn.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 ana trlii
of Hall would cost several thousand dol
lars and as the county was poor the ON
Gals concluded not to- act in the case AS
long as the murdererlis out of this state
they will not attempt to catch nm.
Major House who lived in Monson al
the time says Hall belongs to first class
family. His father who conducted 4
large general store in Monson left nm
some sl5ooO worth of property, which the
young man sold that he might squander
the money When his money was all
gone young Hall built Il log cabin on the
shores of Lake Onawa, eight miles from
Monson village and obtained a poor NV
ing by hunting, fishing. and guiding tour
lists. AT about this time the Canauiaii
branch across Maine from the Megantlc
region to New Brunswick and a large
number of railroad hands came to Mon
corners 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 HAL ana
Kennedy We're together in the village
store Kennedy showed a roll of bills con-
tanning more than SEQ The storekeeper
advised Kennedy to put his money IN
IL bank. or send it home, as it was unsafe
to carry so much about. He replied that
he was going home on a visit in less than
a 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 ana
sleep, Hall came along in canoe. and
offered to take him across the lake. Ken
nedy 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 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 \, 81, shot OF.
blade and through the head above his
right eye. His face was burned and
blackened with powder. showing that the the
against his head Two rods away. hlu-
den behind log. was Halls Winchester
rifle with four cartridges in it, On the
sand close to Kennedy's body was Il
pocket comb which several identified as
Halls. A coroner's jury found that
Kennedy had come to his death from in
juries caused by Edward W. Hall of
Monsoon. The rewards. amounting to
$1,000. were offered, and for six months
detectives all over the United States and
Canada We're looking for Hall, but no one
was lucky enough to find him.
Kennedy was killed early on Friday
morning. Before noon on the same day
Hall came to the Monson store and
paid a small bill which he owed, Offering
poor. the trader was surprised to see the
money, but made no comment. Hall
went next to the Monsoon station and
asked for a ticket for Monson Junction.
Although the fare was but So cents Hall
again offered a so bill; When, the
have something smaller he produced the
required change and paid for his ticket.
At Monson Junction he bought a ticket
for. Bangor. but got off at Guilford and
where he boarded the night train for
Boston. a man who had lived in Mon
sat with him as far Brunswick.
Beyond this all traces were lost.
Mr.. Jones' who writes the letters from
Florida. is Il 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 committed the murder. AS the coun-
ty attorney of Piscataqus county does
not see fit to act in the case. the chances
are that Kennedy's murder will never be
avenged.-Portland Press
A decision has been received from the
law court which relates to the contro-
versy within the Portland Marine So
.infN f1,.,y. .f III,