Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-03
SUSPICIOUS DEATH
Of Frederick Farnham at HAL
lowell, Tuesday Morning.
Found Unconscious in CIough's Field
Beneath Pile of Bushes.
Suspicious Circumstances Surrounds Death
and Are Being investigated.

Halloweu. Me-. July 2.-(Spec;aD.-
This usually quiet city was thrown in
to state OF excitement, this morning.
by the report that the body of a man
had been discovered in 4 field on Mid
-dl' street ana that there were circum-
stances connected with the case that
would warrant the belief that death re-
suited from other than natural or acci-
dental causes.
About ! O'Clock Tuesday mornins
Is j. W. CloGGh. who lives on Middle
street. WAS crossing his field to feed
some cattle which he keeps in barn
on TIE OF pUsitc side of the field. he dis-
covered beneath n pile of bushes which
had evidently been cut 10. the purpose,
III" body OF = man in an unconscious
Non"tilon and apparently nearly dead.
NJ. tlough al once sent for phySi-
IAN ana The police and Or. H. \. Mill
ken and Night officer John Quinn soon
arrived or the scene.
Inc unconscious man proved to be
one Frederick Farnham Of Windsor.
ana had been in Hailowcn but n few
weeks. 1t was evident that the man
could live but a short time but a CON
Eeyance was secured and he was taken
10 the police station where he died, at
about $50.
Coroner r. NJ. Henderson was noti-
ie'i. and after reviewing the remains
ordered that an autopsy be held. which
was done Al IL O'Clock. being conducted
BY DI. w. II. Harris of Augusta, as
Il toll Inv Ilr l.
city. The result Of the autopsy showed
that death was due to acute alcohol
ism.
Coroner Henderson held an inquest
IT 3 O'Clock this afternoon. at City hall
ana the following citizens were empan-
HID as a jury: Fred +. Became. fore
nan: H. r. Clearwater. j. s. Hamilton.
r. q. Wall. l.. u. Merchant AMI Geo
Il Willis
After the jury We're sworn in. sew
Ar1l witnesses werc examined but ow-
ing to the 1ateness Of the hour ana the
large number of witnesses summoned
tie inquest was adjourned until 3
D'clack "Wednesday forenoon. The pro
ceedingS are conducted behind closed
doors.
County Attorney Leigh came to the
'ity early i'll the day ana is conduct
ing the case with 4 thoroughnoss that
cannot fail to dispel the mystery that
1t present surrounds it,
Tie dead man. Farnham. was a ma
tive of Dover, Me. and would have
brcn IS years Of age next October. His
parents died hen he was small and he
made his home with an uncle, Jesse
Ross. Later. when Ross moved to
Windsor, young Farnham went with
him. Not long ago the two came to
HalloWeII, whore they have since made
their home with Ezra Smith. AT the
time Of his death Farnham was an
ploycd at haying by a farmer named
Mitchell. who lives out on the Itch
Id road.
Farnham was over six feet in height,
slender. had light brown hair. blue
eyes, smooth face and vas unmarried.
He was not generally known about
town. bur to those with whom he as
s0Ciatcd he had often stated that he
had never touched n drop Of liquor in
hia life.
There are many suspicious circum-
stances connected with the case that
yet remain to be explained. 1t is known
that the man. in q helplessly drunken
condition. was at first taken to the High
school building by four men and after
ward removed from that place and
taken to the field where he was found.
A man answering his description was
seen running up Academy street at
about 10 O'Clock. With -four fellows
chasing him and calling to him TO stop.
and at II o'clock people on Middle
street saw four men carving another
between them.
1t is understood that the names of
the field on Middle street are known.
and that the men Will testify at the
inquest. Wednesday.
The concensus of opinion on the
street seems to be that the deceased
fell in with a crowd of fellows who
piled him with liquor for the sake Of
having sport with him, and when they
had got him helplessly drunk, laid him
away until he should recover.
BY order Of County Attorney Thomas
Leigh, Deputy Sheriff j. F.. Beane
sv ore out warrant against f. a. Nc
Clench. and assisted by Deputy Sheriff
Morse searched the saloon of Nc
Clench. shortly after noon, today,
seizing % gallons Of gin, rye and whis-
| key and 100 bottles of beer. McClench
was arraigned before Judge Stafford
n-fe- trit CT