Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-08
VILLAGES CRIME.
Story Of How He Shot Special
Officer Malioy
Near Tcgus, Oct. 9, 1884, for Which
He Went to Prison.
Failing to Secure a Pardon He Corr
n.itted Suicide.

The e,,icide of Charles Morgan Wal
lace at the State prison at Thomas
ton, Saturday night. brings to mind
one of the darkest and most cold
blooded crimes that was ever rerpe-
trated in Eennebec county. the murder
Of Special Officer Thomas r. Malloy
which was committed on Oct. 8, 1854
on referring to the files Of the Jour
nal OF that year, the details of the
crime are learned to be as follows:
Wallace, or Chas. Morgan, as he was
usually called, was one of the gang of
rumsellers which used 20 infest the
region surrounding the National Home,
and was probably as disreputable u
wretch as ever inhabited that section.
He had at one time been member OF
the Home, but had been discharged for
stealing, and other petty crimes. On
leaving the Home. he had taken up
his residence at the 'Snow Plow, 50
called, and embarked in the rum bust
ness.
This was at Il time when the traffic
was at it's height. and had @ttalneu
such proportions that Sheriff leo. X.
Stevens of kenrebec county, appointed
special officers for the enfCrt c..e-il o:
the liquor law, among them being the
late Stephen Cobb of Chelsea. and
Thomas f. Malloy Of the Home, he
having been police sergeant al the
Home for nine years.
Mr.. MalIoy was a member of = Co,
1874 N. Y. Vols. and had been admit
ted to the Home on account Of q wound
in the left breast, received at Port
Hudson. juno II. 1868. He, with Mr..
Cobb had inauSurated 4 vigorous cru
SADIE against the rumselers around the
Home. and had made it so hot for them
that they were constantly on the look
out, expecting to see the officers at any
time.
On the day of the shooting. Wallace
and his wife had been to Augusta to
make some purchases, and were re-
turning home by way of the HalloWell
road. About one mile from the Home
in a lane leading off from the Halo
well road, lived one Joshua Downs
Driving up to the house of Downs
Wallace and his wife went in, il is sun-
posed to deliver some liquor, and while
they were inside. Officers Cobb and
Malloy came UP the road, from tn"
direction of the Home. having war
rant for the arrest OF Downs, for q
single sale Of liquor.
Mrs. Wallace saw the officers first.
and told her husband, and the two
made q rush for the wagon. Wallace
then GraSped the reinS in one hand
and the whip in the other, ana tried to
lash the horse past the officers. brl
Cobb SGSpeCting that there was liGuoi
in the wagon. grabbed the animal l..
the bits ana pulled il over against tn
stone wall while MaliOy searched tn
wagon.
Wallace told them that they had n
right to search his wagon. whereupo'
Cobb replied that they had. and were
going to do so. Wallace then reache'
to his hip pocket for q revolver. where
upon Malloy. roting the action, tol
him not to draw his pistol. but he di|
so. pointing it at Cobb's head. Cob''
jumped quickly behind the horse, tell
ing Malloy TO arrest the man.
Malloy then placed his hand on Wal
lace's arm. and the latter. turning
quickly. pointed the revolver directly
at the officer and pulled the trigger.
The bullet took effect over Mailoy's
left breast. and he fell to the ground.
Wallace fred q second shot. but the
outlet Went WIFI. AS Sobf! as NIiItS
fell, Cobb made a dash at Wallace, who
tried to shoot him. but Cobb wrenche('
the revover from his hand, whereunon
Wallace leaped TO the ground. prcsuE-
ably to escape, but Cobb tackled him
again, and with the assistance of one
Joseph Perry and oneleggcl soldier
anamed Geo. Dietrich. overpo~cced him
and placed the irons on him.
Wallace was taken to the Homo and
placed in the guard house. and short
time after was brought to Augusta and
committed to Jail. On his arrival al
the Home, the news of the tragedy
spread rapidly. and the rage Of tho
veterans was such that threats OF