Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-11
Jamaica Plain Yeggs Sus-
.pected Of Methuen Crime
Interesting Developments From
Secret Glue Is Expected.
SeIeetmen Of Town Postpone Action
Regarding a Reward.

Methuen, Mass, Aug. 10.-A clew
that promised interesting developments
within "a hours was found today by
state officers investigating the brutal
murder of Charles H. Emerson and
Frank McDermott who were shot and
beaten to death late Saturday night
while trying to catch hen and garden
thieves The nature of the clew was
not made public, but the officers look
ed hopeful and said they thought that
within another day they could offer
some interesting developments.
SO far as the actual work today
went towards experimenting the per-
sons who killed the two officers, the
mystery of the crime is as deep as 1T
was when the bodies were discovered
among the bushes in a peat meadow on
the Lowell road yesterday.
The autopsy today performed by
Medical Examiners erosion of Hay
crhill and Dow of Lawrence showed
that both the victims had been shot
either at close range or with powerful
revolvers, for the bullets passed
through the bodies. There were evil
dences on the ground nearby to show
that, although evidently shot from
ambush, the two officers made brave
fight for their lives and were finally
beaten to death with heavy rocks.
The theory that the murders were
committed by the two missing MEM
bers of the gang of three desperadots
that shot up saloon in Jamaica
Plain, the latter part of July and then
fought sensational running battle
fnrcn the
following night, resulting in the death
of one OF the outlaws, gained ground
rapidly today.
The Boston officers and the state
police admit that the killing of the
two Methuen officers has many SINH
lar aspects to the Jamaica Plain at
fray. 1t is argued that a crime so
desperate and brutal as the murder Of
the two officers would not have been
committed by ordinary country thieves.
A theory that the murder may have
been one of revenge was also advanced
tonight.
A gray coat torn across the back was
picked up near the scene today. 1t bore
the name of Il Lowell clothing house.
Two suspects were taken in Lowell during
the day The officials decided that they
could have had nothing to do with the
Methuen murders and they were sent to
Bridsewater on the charge of vagrancy.
Joseph Christian, a 15-year-Old Polander
boy employed on a milk team, was ques-
toned by the policemen today on the sto-
ry he had told on the day before the MUIR
ders had become known. He had asked
one of the employees of the milk farm IL
he had heard that two Methuen policemen
had been knocked out in field. Upon
being questioned at the Lawrence police
station the boy is said to have told the
officers that two French boys whom he
did not know had asked him IL he had
heard of two Andover policemen being
laid OUT in a fight, and that at. That
time he did not know that two Methuen
officers had been killed. After the police
had questioned him thoroughly the lad
was let go.
The seectmen of Methuen held a special
meeting this afternoon to consider the
advisability of offering a reward of $500
for the arrest and conviction of the MUIR
derers. hut upon learning from the state
police that they had a clue that might de-
velop within "A hours the selectmen de-
cided to postpone any action on offering
a reward until later.