Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-11-10
Murder N Sumner
VICTIM OF SHOOTING
THOMAS e. PREECE

The dead body OF THOMAS Z. troece
was discovered lying beside . highway
In the south part Of the town Of Sumner
Sunday morning. Mr.. and Mrs. Fred
Cushman Of South Paris, who were driv
ing from South Paris into Sumner, made
the discovery about s O'Clock in the fore.
| noon.
The place where the body was found
was beside the road leading from Yves,
Sumner to Paris Hill, about quarter OF
q mile south from what IL known as the
John N. Lane place, some two rods from
branch road which leads down valley
to the westward to place now owned
by Clarence Damon but unoccupied
The body was lying in the bushes ten OF
twelve feet from the wheel track.
Although an autopsy held on Monday
will officially determine the cause oil
death, there is no real question as TO
what 1t was. A bullet bad entered the
mans back below the shoulder blade,
and had gone entirely through, coming
out in front near the left nipple and
lodging in the underclothing. The
weapon had been held so near the mans
back when it was discharged that the
clothing was burned by the powder.
Sheriff VIM. o. rockingham of South
Paris was notified and was soon at the
scene, accompanied by DR.. Stewart.
Coroner VIM. j. Wheeler of South Paris
not being at home at the time, Coroner
q. L. Elliott of Rumford was summoned.
he empaneled q jury of Sumner men,
who viewed the body, and it was then
removed. An autopsy will be made on
Monday by DR.. Il. L.. Bartlett, the
county physician, and hearing will be
held by the coroner at later day.
County Attorney Dyer OF Buckfleld
being away from home, the county at
torney elect, Albert Beliveau of Rum
ford, was summoned to aid in the inves-
tigation. 1t is likely however that the
inquest will not be held until after Mr..
Dyer returns home.
Thomas E. Preece, the dead man, was
about so years of age. He is said to have
been Nova Scotian. During the past
summer he worked for considerable
time on the road in Paris, under the
selectmen, first in the south part of the
town and later near Paris Hill. he Is
said to have been we'll liked by those
who were acquainted with him. Later
in the season be went to the eastern part
of the state, where be was employed In
potato digging, and had recently re-
turned to Paris.
1t appears that Preece was out on Sat
urday with either one or two other men,
with team belonging on Paris Hill, q
small black horse with white strip in
the face, and top carriage, owned by
Mrs. Abbie Rawson, with whom Preece
had boarded at Paris Hill. Some time
in the course of Saturday evening some
parties inquired the way to Paris Hill at
Barrett's store at West Sumner, and
later inquiries were made at tue door at
Vinton Keene's, on the John Lane place
above referred to. No very good de-
scription of the party can be gathered by
the officers from those who saw them,
but it is said that the horse was small
and jaded looking, and that it appeared
as If one man was going ahead on foot
with a lantern, and another following
leading the horse. Some of those OF
whom inquiries were made think that
there were two men with the team,
others think there were three.
An old Boston and Maine railroad
lantern was found thrown into the
bushes at distance of a few feet from
the body, which 10 said to be similar to
the one carried by the man who made
inquiries along the road, particular
notice having been taken of the lantern,
as it is so unusual to see q railroad
lantern carried except about the rail-
road.
About midnight Saturday night the
team was left at Il. B. Holden's stable at
Hotel Andrews in South Paris by man
who registered as William Dunn of Jay,
who went to bed, ordering call for the
early train. Proprietor B. W. futile
was obliged to call him two or three
times Sunday morning, but got him up
in time to take the early train.
A pint bottle which had contained
kerosene, probably used for the lantern,
was found in the carriage, but there was
no sign Of liquor about either the dead
man or the team.
A thorough investigation of the case
is being made by the officers, and it is
thought they are In possession OF more
or less information which has not been
made public and that developments iD
the case are likely to come soon.