Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-29
Aged chas, H Richards,
Rockport, Dies at Camden.
Found wandering with Bad
Wounds on His Head.
Unable to Tell Cause and Dies
Without Being Conscious.

Camden. Me-, Sept. 25.-An investi-
CATION was begun today in the case OF
Charles H. Richards, a 71-year-old
resident of Rockport, who died at the
home of his brother early Monday
morning. The old man was found
wandering aimlessly about begging for
water Saturday night with a deep cash
on his nose and with fragments OF
wood in numerous cuts and bruises on
his face. He was last seen Saturday
afternoon by several of his friends.
Camden, Me-, Sept. 2S.-Charles H.
Richards aged II, resident of Rock
port, died at tht home of his brother,
William Richards, on Union street at
midnight Sunday night, the probable
victim of foul play. A deep cash ex-
tending the entire length of the nose,
cuts and bruises of the eyes and cuts
and bruises on the backs of both hands
summarize the evidence of violence
which left Mr.. Richards an object Of
pity when his nephews found him
wandering in the streets at $50 Satur-
day night begging for water.
Official recognition of the affair came
tardily, the selectmen not being noti-
fled until Monday forenoon, while
Coroner NJ P. Judkins of Rockland re-
manned in ignorance of the tragic out
come of the case until afternoon. This
far the investigation has been only of
superficial character. County Attor-
ney Philip Howard came from Rock
land to look into the affair, which he
finds serious enough to warrant detail
ing a detective on the case.
Mr.. Richards, who worked at odd
jobs since his health broke down some
years ago, finished a task in Rockport
at noon saturday and was paid $3.50.
He left town on an early car, saying
he was going to Camden Harbor.
About two hours later he was seen ly-
ing in ditch on Union street.
His condition was discovered by four
rock haulers about 2 o'clock and he
was taken away in their wagon to
what is known as the crock" dump on
the outskirts of the town. The men
claim to have left him there half an
hour later uninjured. Subsequent
events covering the period when Mr..
Richards met with the fatal blows are
shrouded in mystery.
Eugene Mouton and Joseph Millay,
honeward bound at $50 2. M. passed
Park street short distance, when
they heard means and through the
mist could see an Old man wandering
about He was talking inco-
herently, but appeared to be begging
for water The men went to his assist
ance and were amazed to find that it
was their uncle. Blood was streaming
down his face, which had already be-
gun to swell from the effects of mis-
juries.
He was found only a short distance
from the home of his Brother, William
Richards, and he was taken there. DR..
w. H. Young treated him and in the
cash in his nuse found fibres of wood
which had the appearance of having
become embedded there from a blow
from a club. Mr.. Richards made no
rational remarks while DR.. Young
was present, but was sufficiently con-
SciouS of his presence to reach in his
pocket for money with which to pay
the physicians fee.
An examination of his clothing
showed that he had 81. Mr.. Richards
remained semiconscious Sunday and
talked little in a dazed way When
asked by Mrs. William Richards how
he became hurt ne repeated the word
hurt in Questioning manner, and
finally murnlured that tree struck
MIN. The nature of the wounds are
such that Coroner Judkins and DIR.
Young are both of the opinion that
such a miShap could not have been
responsible for them.
Mr.. richards died just before mid
night Sunday, without coherent speech
or in any way indicating the author
of his condition. His eyes became 50
swollen that he could not see and he
had violent hemorrhagcs.
Mr.. Richards formerly worked in
lime quarries. He was of kindly
and likeable disposition and had NJ,
enemies in the two towns as far as
known.
Two daughters. Miss Eliza Richards
and Mrs. Alice Fields, the brother
mentioned and four sisters, Mrs. Win
throp Mcintosh of Rockland, MfS.
Isaac Clough and Mrs. Frank Sails
bury of Rockport and Mrs Elizabeth
Ferrin of Massachusetts, survive.
After running apuck and attacking
the officers and hospital stewards OF
the United States hospital ship Re-
lief, at Manila, John Ransom, a fire.