The Portland daily press., 1900-06-13
rsrxc,AL TO THE PRESS,

West Newfleld, June 12.-where Is
George Championp That is the question
which most interests the investigators of
the wholesale crime committed in this
town Sunday night. 1t isn't now a ques-
tion of how 1t was done or who did 1t,
but what has become OF the murderer?
There is not shadow Of doubt that the
murder of George W. Goodwin, his son,
housekeeper and farm hand was CON-
mitted by somebody thoroughly aquainted
with the habits OF the household. The
testimony before the inquest today con-
clusively located George Champion at
Goodwin's house late Sunday afternoon.
He was missing after the buildings were
burned, Monday morning and has not yet
been located. Suspicion points to nobody
else. County Attorney Matthews ex-
pressed himself. after the inquest ad
journed this afternoon, as satisfied that
the officers are following up the right
clues, and he added that he believed they
viii be successful.
All last night Deputy Sheriffs Miles OF
Saco an1 Spencer OF Berwick We're driv-
ing about the surrounding country,
hunting for some trace Of Champion.
John Carlton, proprietor Of the Carlton
house, West Newfield, went with them.
They called pc ople out Of their beds to
give description Of the missing man
and to ask II he had been seen within
twenty -four hours. The homes Of two
families with whom he was acquainted
were visited, and two road houses be-
tween here and Union village were
searched in vain
Early In the forenoon Carlton drove
home, tired and discouraged, put up his
horse and started into recover little of
his lost sleep. But the two deputies. after
a decidedly brief spell at mapping, re-
sumed their quest. They were at work on
o Dover clue when they got word that
man, thought to be Champion, had
Union, on the northern division Of the
Boston 6s Maine at $40, and got off at
wenham. Sheriff Thompson sent the two
deputies to Wenham, but as soon as they
reached there they became aware that
they were on the wrong trail. The sus-
pected party was none other than the
American express agent at Wenham, who
had come down to the New Hampshire
border on brief visit, and whose board
ing of the early train had SO stirred up
the dwellers at Union.
There are many who believe that Cham
pion Is in hiding within few miles of
the Goodwin farm; others think that he
improved the four hours start and, being
familiar with the woods, has been able to
keep under cover and make rapid progress
away from the scene of his crime.
Coroner Moulton and his jury, assisted
by County Attorney Matthews and
Sheriff Thompson, were In session from
nine till two o'clock today, with an
hours recess at noon. During that time
they examined ten witnesses.
The most important testimony was that
of DIR. Leavitt Of Effingham, N. H., who
described in detail the condition of the
bodies and stated that there was positive
evidence Of murder. Two little girls,
Rachel Wadleigh and Lena Smart. testi-
fled that they called at the Goodwin
house, late Sunday afternoon and saw
George Champion there.
Leon Moorsfs son of Samuel o. Moors,
repeated to the jury the statement pub
lished this morning, that Scott Goodwin
told him Sunday, that Champion had
been at the Goodwin farm week, was to
work there hoeing, and didn't want any
body to know about 1t, for fears the tax
collector would be after him.
The other witnesses We're George Reed,
Mrs. Reed and Ida Reed, at whose home
Fred Bertsh, the farm hand, spent the
early part of Sunday evening; John Drew
and Fred Reed, occupants Of the farm
about mile from the fire, Drew being
the first to visit the scene Of the tragedy;