Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-06
Found Hanging by Neck From Beam in
Arthur C|eason'S Barn Sunday.
Doctors Say Death Came Before Rope Went Around
Neck---Coroner Says Inquest Unnecessary

Oakland. Me. Aug. 5.-(SpeciaD.-
Death under very suspicious circum-
stances, which, in the minds of nearly
all who have investigated the case
points to murder. occurred during sat
urday night or Sunday morning, a
tramp, supposed to be Edward McNal-
ly, formerly an employee OF the Madison
wooden mills of Madison, being the vic
tim.
The body was found in the barn cf
Arthur a. Gleason on the Belgrade
road leading from Waterville, as the
latter WAS attending to his chores Sum
day morning. Mr.. Gleason had finished
the milking OF one COW, When seeing
things slightly disarranged, he walked
to the alcyway leading from the barn
to the stanchion and met the grueSome
sight of the dead body of n man in d
sitting posture. the feet squarcly placed
and the body within an inch from the
floor The body was suspended from a
cord tied about the neck and attached
to the beam overhead.
Marks on the body and other indica-
tions point to foul play. There was q
blood spot over the right temple. blood
on the left hand and over the left side
was a black and blue spot. which ac-
cording to physicians, might have been
recently caused or might have been
the result Of an old injury.
In the pockets were found two pay
slips issued by the Madison Wooden Co.
made out to Edward McNally. a small
Of fol hYn M a
looking glass and a handkerchief. The
man was rather shabbily clothed, with
the exception of a derby which was al
most new. This hat was found to be
snuarcly resting on his head. a fact.
which alone, is sufficient to create i'll
the minds Of many, convictions that
murder was committed.
Near by and a few feet from where
il had been standing the night before.
was a pitciIfork, the only implement or
article in the barn which could have
been used for the INJECTING of a blow.
The handle Of the fork, however, bore
no marks of blood.
Coroner Smell, after arriving ut the
place and seeing that foul play was
not impossible. began search for two
WHO DIT tlt t'iC ''''NA'
the body was found were seen to strike
the highway from the woods but q lew
rods from Mr.. Gleason's barn. While
walking along the road the men we're
asked by a ncighboring farmer If they
had heard Of the death, to which they
reulied in the negative. Coroner smell
accordingly drove along the road IN
the direction which the trampS were
known to have taken and after having
oyertakcn them became strongly SuSpi-
cious that the men might have taken
alarm, as they had evidently turned
again into the woods.
Being called as undertaken 70 attend
, funeral at Vassalboro, Mr.. Smell was
obliged to leave after he had placed
a nossc of men in search of the tramps
They were found shortly afterwards
engaged in the innocent occupation OIL
shaving, near the banks of the Messa-
lonskee lake.
The men professed complete ignor-
ance of the hanging except what had
been told them and said that they were
from Massachusetts, and were on their
way to Madison. Having tried to make
connections with the Somerset Rail
road. they had wandered slightly away
from their proper course ana had peeh