Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-18
ON nine WARRANTS.
Sensational Arrest Of Geo. W.
Pierce at Lewiston.
Two Charges Of Attempted Murder
and Seven Criminal Libel.
Victims Are Prominent cilizens-cood Work
by City Marshal Wing.

One of the strangest cases in the GRIM
inal annals of this State was brought
to sudden termination, this after
noon, when Detective Max Bolieu, al
the instigation of City Marshal Henry
A. Wing. arrested George w. Pierce at
the home of his mother on Bates street,
upon nine warrants, two of which were
for attempted murder and the other
seven for criminal libel
1t has been a hard case and has
caused the city marshal and other Of
ficials much worry and only by the
most careful study of all the clews
and faithful work was it possible for
the officers to run down their man.
City Marshal Wing went to work on
the case, last July. and. in November,
he sent for assistance from the Pinker-
ton Detective Agency and since that
time the Pinkerton detectives have
been in the city working under Marshal
Wings direction. Detective Odlin has
also been employed on the case.
The persons whom the warrants
charge Pierce with attempting to mur-
der are Judge A. d. Cornish of Lewis
ton. and Ex-City Marshal H. f. Teel
of the same place. Among the seven
persons whom criminal libel is charged
are Judge A. d. Cornish. Hon. D. j.
McGillicuddy. Mayor Newell, n. b.
Stockbridge. A. l.. Talbot, and two
against Detective Fred l.. Odlin, all of
Lewiston.
The case is a strange one inasmuch
as Pierce is a wealthy man but in
youth displayed a Maynard disposition.
He has been in court several times on
charges of assault and battery. He
was, in the last case, defended by
Mayor Newell and the prosecuting at
torney was Hon. D. J. McGilicuddy
Judge Cornish was the judge.
He is alleged to have attempted to
poison Judge Cornish by leaving sugar
filed with rough on rats at his home
and is also thought to have attempted
to poison Mayor Newell's children by
leaving poisoned candy on the front
doorsteps. He is alleged to have sent
Ex- City MarshalTeel Il box containing a
bottle of Whiskey with arsenic in it.
There are also two rifle shots which
were fired in the heart of the city. not
long ago, which are laid to Pierce.
1t is also charged that he has been
sending letters. in many instances
signed "A. ID. c., to the above parties
and friends of the parties. slanderine
them, ard as a result the whole of
them have been living in fear of their
lives and, the lives of their families.
Miss Maude Warren has confessed to
-: lntt :
she was not to do as Pierce told her.
Miss Warren has been taken into Gus
tody by the officers and is now in the
city prison.
After the arrest of Pierce. this after
noon, the houses owned by Pierce were
searched and damaging testimony
against him found. 1t was known to
City Marshal Wing that Pierce had a
typewriting machine which he had
purchased in Boston shipped to him.
The make and number of the machine
were known.
In Pierce's house this machine was
found and the libelous letters he has
written which have been received by
the men against whom he had emnity
were typewriter this evidence will be-
conclusive. In addition sheets of pa
per such as We're used by Pierce We're
found in his house.
In addition TO these, other articles We're
found which will figure strongly against
him. One startling piece, of evidence
which the police authorities will not ye
permit to be given out in relation to an
other very serious matter of which Pierce
was suspected and discovered. Pierce
when arrested was at home and pretended
to be very SICK.
Two prominent physicians were called
| in and they decided that while he wa
| sick it was safe TO remove him to thu
county iail in Auburn. and accordingl,
he was taken there, this evening.
;nterested party. the preliminary hearing
will be before Judge f. j. Mitchell o
Pierce is wealthy man and it is est
mated by the city marshal that he il
worth upwards of 200. He owns 10
of real estate He is the owner of ;
house on Howe street valued at $500 :
house and lot on Bates street ana o, OF
Blake street are owned by him and hi
mother. His mother owns number ,
houses besides these. Pierce has larg'
hank account distributed among severa
Maine banks.
| Aur ~. 1873, when he appeared in tn
| Lewiston municipal court, charged o!
| Abbie z. Golf, sister of Maynard Con- 0
! LEWISTON, OH Il CIliutiIstl SAdi 90
4 bond to her Of $500. Maynard Golf thinks
| that the gunpowder which was place.
IN :, stick in his wood pile and afterwart
niaceI in the fire. was placed by Pierce
for the purpose of killing GoT. ~
| pierce next was IN court July IL, nv
| -, The complaint of Eli l.. Rogers. 81
~, ~, charge OF assault with attempt to kill
~ ~ MAS bound over to the supreme court
~ The records of the court there is al
onirv Of q bastardy case. but no RECORD
~ what disposition was made OF 1T. There
~ y: " record of the case of Rogers which
Is i..as entered, "I'rineipal and suretics de
faulted. - of 1870 p;aro,
,o"ad attentions To a girl living IN al
| sH m''" ar Lisbon street a young French
| iIles was also paying the same girl atten
l in.., one night when he went to call OF
| tlons.. 10 Erench was attacked by ma.
hef, ;,N;ctad a number of wounds on hi
| VINO ~, Vim n knife. Pierce was ARRESTED
ps per- ha,nd over to the supreme court. bu
am ,,sn the time of trial arrived, TIL
EWr ns had mysterlousiy disap
peaii pears n.xt arrest was made in November
rus ne ,he charge of assault and batter,
Is?', ~ i,; , Bouchard. Pierce's attorne.
on Emii ~, ee was Mayor Newell, and Bou
IN ln 1.. az orney was Hon. u. ]. McGilli
chaI,a blanchard had boarded with tn
cmday on Family on Cedar street and wa
tWarreh ave ,lanve in search of work. He ha,
ABOUT ,nota,rtaining friends and Pierce toll
been e,, M 70 make so much noise. TIL
them w. A..,ad an naoe ~