Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-12
Involved in Killing Of John
Frei| at Amity, Me.
Was Fatal Shot Fired from
American or British Soil?
Life Imprisonment in One Case,
Hanging in the Other.

Houlton. Ne, Nov. Tiff a man
standing on Canadian soil fires at and
kills another standing on American
soil, is the murderer subject to the
laws oil Canada or of the United
Statep That is the question which the
lawyers of Aroostook are studying, d
question which promises to figure in a
trial in this county which will no
doubt cause discussion among the law
yers of the country.
In this case it may make vast diff
ference to the respondent, for II it IS
decided that he committed murder on
New Brunswick soil, his death on the
eallows appears sure, While If 1t IS
found that the crime was committed in
Maine it will be case of Imprisonment
for life.
The question has to do with Charles
K. Friel, row in Houlton Jail awaiting
trial on the charge of murder. 1t is
alleged that he shot his uncle, Jack
Friel, through the hip on the night of
Nov. 1. inflicting a wound from which
the man died three days later. The al
legged crime took place in Amity, so
near the eastern line of the town.
which is also the eastern line of the
United States, that there is a question
as to whether the shot was fired from
British or from American soil.
Should it be determined that the
man who fired the shot was standing
in New Brunswick and the bullet sped
across the boundary the complicated
question before referred to is bound to
arise
1t is not known what the quarrel was
about Charles Friel and Ellis Black
were Celebrating "a little" Sunday
with split" or the alcohol and water
drink common on the northern border
They got two turkeys from farm
cr's flock on the road and went to the
house of Pat Mcintosh where they
ask c Mrs. Mcintosh to make them a
turkey stew. Here they found Jack
Friei. uncle of Charles Friel. All hands
had a round or two of the split. There
wasn't enough so Jack and Charles
procured some more stock, two square
faces" or quarts of gin
Then the good cheer continued and
he turkey stew was eaten Along in
he night, another Charles Friel who
lives near heard rumpus at the Nc
irtosh house. and going over, found
Young Charles Friel and Jack F'riel
having q fight. both so drunk that they
codldn't explain or didn't know what
they wtr2 lighting about
They were separated and young
HharieS Friel and Black drove away in
thor wagon. While Jack Friel went
hon" With the elder Charles F'riel.
Jack and Charles sat down for smoke
and Jack WAS just about to go to his
own home when they heard someone
l'iEc into tire yard and call: Come
out, "" are ready for you
JACK went ont to investigate, and
soon tncre cane three rifle shots, and
"" fcii mortallv wounded. He was
aiken into the house and a doctor
called The wound was a bad one, and
l." lived but thrc" days. 1t appears that
after young Charles Fricl had let the
M"iHtosh housc he borrowed a liHr
rom a ntighior, thtn drove back loo,l-
NC tor JACK F,icl.
Young charles F'ricl was arrested as
'''" seen al 70 don't that he dill the
GCotinC. Ellis Black was also ar
rested "a an accompiicr. The question
seems to he rather uncertain as to
v here he was standing, allowing that
he fired the fatal shot. SO near was
he to- the line in any event that he may
have been on either side at the mo-
mont he pDlled the trigger.