Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-22
Was Insane and EIuded Guard
Late Friday Evening.
Demanded That He Be Allowed
To See Neighbor's Daughter.
Clifford Pushed Him from Window
With Rifle which Was Discharged.

Waterville, Me. May 21.--(SpeciaD.
While endeavoring to force an en-
try at the home of Horace Clifford a
neighbor on the Unity road, about
three miles south of Clinton. Grin
tally unsound, was shot and killed by
Clifford shortly after ten O'Clock Fri
day night. Clifford claimed that the
tragedy was an accident. that while he
knew the rifle was loaded with which
he was trying to push Hayes out from
the window, he did not deliberately
pull the trigger and fire at the man.
He claims that the trigger must have
caught In the window casing and re-
leased. He was not formally arrested.
He was later in the day exonerated by
a eoroner,s jury, which was summon
ed by Frank Redington at the Brown
q schoolhouse. short distance from the
scene of the tragedy.
The affair happening late Friday
night in that rural community caused
no little stir among the residents of
that vicinity as both men were we'll
known and respected, although it had
been known for years that Hayes was
subject to insane periods and for the
past week had been in care of a
guard. whom he must have eluded.
The story Of the homicide is that
about 10 o'clock Friday night. after
Mr.. Clifford and his family had re-
tired for the night, Mr.. Clifford was
awakened by some one entering the
yard. He soon heard some one
knucking heavily at the rear door and
going to the window called out When
$He opened the window he saw Hayes
ln nude attire and asked him what he
B 4nted Hayes replied that he
4 wished to see Leila, the daughter of
81 ME-. Clifford. Hayes was told that she
WAS not at home and he left mutter-
& II was only short time later after
$4yes had left the place that Mr..
Hord went down stairs and braced
fht kitchen door with a chair. He
then returned to bed. but in few
minutes again heard a noise about the
rear door. He took his rifle, which he
had in his bedroom and went to the
kitchen. Ae he opened the door he
saw Hayes with the window in the
kitchen raised and endeavorng to
take the chair away from the door so
that he could gain admittance.
Clifford told him to get away but
Hayes refused whereupon Clifford with
the muzzle of the rifle attempted to
push him out from the window. Hayes
had about half his body inside. Cliff
ford who says he was afraid of Hayes.
succeeded III pushing him out several
times but Hayes persistently came
back. Next to the last time he pushed
him out the rifle was discharged while
Hayes was in a erouching position at
the edge of the embankment which
surrounds the house. Hayes came back
once more but blood on his hands with
which he grapped the casing OF the
window, told that he had been hit. He
fell back over the bank. He died a
short time after the arrival of a ply
stefan. The bullet, a 44-calibre pass
ed almost directly through him, near
the heart.
Residents of that vicinity hearing
the rife report and several young men
who were walking down the road at
the time, hurried TO t1O CLIFFORD nome
to find Hayes in a naked condition
lying on the ground apparently dead
while Clifford stood in the door of his
home with a rifle in his hands A
physician was sent for and Hayes was
carried into the house, but he died in
about 30 minutes.
Selectman Brown who lives but a
short distance from the scene. notified
Kthe officials in Clinton. Early in the
\ morning Sheriff Charles M. Richard
son and County Attorney Joseph Will
hanson were notified, who together
with Coroner Frank Redington of this
city went on the morning train tc
Clinton. After viewing the body q
Hayes and getting the exact details OF
the affair." a coroner's jury was sum
moned. The following men were chos.
en-: Arthur Holt, foreman: Senator
Howard w. Dodge. Eben Gordon. Mar
cellus Cain. James C. Moor and Arthur
Richardson. All are from Clinton.
The inquest was held at II O'Clock il
the morning at the Brown schoolhous
and large number of witnesses wer,
examined, including Mrs Clifford AM
her daughter, Leila, aged II years
George Philbrook, Rhodes Gerry. VIII
were first on the scene. The hearing ad
journed at noon until 2.30 o'clock.
CONTINUED on Page Four)