Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-16
Investigation Of Shooting
Of VIM. B. MacMaster,
Vice Consul In Colombia, Shows
Suspicion Well Founded.
United States Will Not Take Action
Until Colombia Has Chance.

l1bBOld, 1DibttlUtdy aug. Aos- AC 4ts-
vestigation into the death of William
B. MacMaster, the United States vice
and deputy consul at Cartagena. whose
body. riddled with gunshot, was found
few miles outside of that city. Mon
day. has proved without doubt that
he was murdered.
No clues as to the perpetrators Of
the crime. which was committee while
Manchester was on hunting trip.
have yet been found.
Washington, Aug. 15.-Wiliiam B..
MacMaster, United States deputy con-
sui at Cartagena, Colombia. whose
dead body was found in the jungle 10
miles from that city. last Monday. was
murdered. American Consul Kemper
at Cartagena. today, reported that evil
denee so far gathered bears out such
charge. The Colombian government
will have an opportunity to punish
the assassins before any action is TAX
en- by the United States.
Manchester owned a ranch about 10
miles from Cartagena. and 1t is pre-
sumed he was on his own property
when he met his death. Though of
American parentage, he was actually
born in Colombia, and was looked up
| on by the natives of Cartagena as
practically of their own blood.
1t probably will be difficult for the
investigators to determine whether
the murder was political or the re-
suit of a personal feud. The vice con-
sui in his official capacity is known
to have aroused much Ill feeling in
| his defiance of a mob which threa.-
ened i'll treatment to American Min
lister Northeott, when he visited Co
ombia, several years ago.
1t is recalled Mr.. MacMaster charg-
ed the original assault upon him by
would-be assassins, several years ago,
| was because of his defence of Ameri-
can interests. 1t is believed, however.
| that the feud which followed, was OF
a personal character, owing to the vice
consurs relentless prosecution of his
assailants. several of whom he sue
ceeded in lodging In Jail. The general
belief is that he met his death at the
hands of some revengeful kinsmen.
| Colon, Panama, Aug. 15.-La Epoca.
a newspaper of Cartagena, prints
photograph of the body of VIM. B.
| MacMaster. the United States vice
| and deputy consul, who was killed
| while hunting on the outskirts OF
Cartagena last Sunday. The picture
shows what apparently were three
bites in the right arm, indicating the
| vice consul had a scuffie with an as
| sailant previous to being shot.
| The text of the governor of Car
| tagenas telegram to the foreign min
| lister at Bogota and a letter written
| by Graham H. Kemper, the Americaa
| consulate, published in the paper
| point to the theory that MacMaster
was murdered.
| An account of the tragedy was toll
by an American who arrived here,
| today from Cartagena He said:
Mr.. Manchester left Cartagena, last
4 Sunday. for his ranch, 10 miles along
| the coast where he met his wife. Sub
i seauentIy he went on a hunting trip
and not returning up to late hour
lin the afternoon, Mrs. Manchester be-
| came alarmed Word was sent to Mrs.
MacMaster's four brothers at Carta-
| gena and search for the missing man
was instituted.
",rhe body of the vice consul was
| found. Monday morning. in ravine
a mile from the MacMaster home IL
bore marks of blows on the right arm
and back of the right ear. and thers
were several bullet wounds in the
region of the heart.
The body was taken to Cartagenss
and will receive burial in that city.
|
Stockholders of the Chemung Cop
| nor 20 of q spaciql meeting held at