Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-09-27
Robbed and Impriso,
RAsrARDLY OUTRAGE rfoN AN OXFORD
COUNTY NAN OF A SHARP CONF
BENCE OPERATOR.

One of the most sensational, darins
and dastardly outrages that ever occurred
in Maine, was perpetrated last week II
Franklin County, the victim being Viii
liam G. Harlow, a well known and re
spected citizen of Dixfield.
i Upon a recent visit to Portland Mr.
Harlow occupied seat at the Gen
Theatre at Peaks Island adjoining the
seat of well-dressed and good looking
stranger, who engaged him in converse
ton from which an acquaintance anC
friendship afterward ripened. The
stranger gave the name of Leroy A.
French and claimed to be an officer OF
the United States Secret Service, assign.
ed to the state of Maine to apprehend
lcounterfeiters.
After exchanging calls several times
at their hotels in Portland where Mr.
Harlow remained about week, French
suggested that he would like to visit the
Rangeley Lakes this fall and asked Har
low if he would not take pleasure trip
to the lakes with him to which Mr.
Harlow assented.
| Later French came to Dixfield by
previous arrangement where he met Mr..
Harlow and they went to the lakes,
stopping nearly week at different
hotels, most of the time at the Rangeley
Lake House, where they passed the
time very pleasantly.
On Monday afternoon of last week
French told Harlow that he had dis
covered moose's head hidden in the
woods and asked him to go with him
and help bring it in, to which Mr.. Har-
low assented. They went, and after a
few hours of vain search, which led
them few miles from human habita-
ton deep in the woods, French suddenly
wheels around, points revolver at Har-
low and commands him to ''throw up
his hands'-Harlow resists-French
fires a revolver, the shot striking Mr..
Harlow in the neck and making quite a
wound. The cartridge has not yet been
removed. Harlow then decides that
he is no match for French, who is a
larger and more powerful man, and does
his bidding. French then relieves him
of all his money, checks, watch, chain
and diamond ring, and again at the point
of the revolver compels him to make
out check to his (French's) order for
$3.50, and sign some other paper, Mr..
Harlow does not know just what it was.
French then tells Harlow that not far
from where they are standing, man is
watching their every move, with his re-
volver levelled, ready to shoot Harlow at
the slightest sign of resistance. French
next commands Harlow to stay in the
woods till he, French, returns, for if he
moves the strange man in the woods
will stop him with shot from his re-
volver.
Completely terrorized by French, Har-
low spends two hours at this lonely spot
guarded by an invisible man. Then
French returns, tells Harlow he is a
prisoner and after drive through the
woods, halt of several hours at a coun-
try hotel, at which French represents
himself as an officer taking prisoner to
Jail, and second drive of many miles,
during which French was constantly
threatening to shoot Harlow if he made
any call for help, the two reach Farm
ington where French ushers Harlow into
the county Jail, at the point of the re-
volver, telling the jailer that he is a
dangerous prisoner, and charges him
with having passed counterfeit money.
French displays an officers badge as his
authority, but no warrant.
French next goes to the Peoples bank
in Pennington and endeavors to cash
the check for $3.50 which he compelled
Harlow to make out to his order, and
two other checks properly endorsed,
which he took from HarlOw's person.
The bank cashier refuses to cash the
checks till French is identified. Sud-
denly an officer appears with warrant
for French's arrest on the charge of lar
ceny of team and French is taken to
the county Jail.
After hearing in the Pennington
Municipal Court the Judge said he saw
no evidence connecting Mr.. Harlow with
any counterfeit money and discharged
him.
French was held on three counts,
robbery of watch, chain, diamond ring,
cash and checks; assault with intent to
kill; and larceny of horse, wagon, etc,
and placed under bonds. On one case in
the sum of $1,000, on another $500, and
Others are held over him.
All the stolen goods except Mr.. Har-
lows diamond ring have been taken
away from French. That has not yet
been found.
The officers are much pleased at the
capture of French and believe he will
prove to be notorious crook.