Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-10

| a detective, Chief of Detectives,
Superintendent of Police, a Member of
the State House of Representatives
and Senate and President Pro Tenn OF
the Senate. At the age of 81. his
mind remains as active as ever, al
though his sight has totally failed
! him.
! Many notorious criminal events,
such as the murder by Mrs. Whiting,
of her husband and children, occurred
while he was Superintendent of Police.
His most interesting stories are those
of crimes that happened while he was
on the detective force.
"There isn't a question of the big
difference between the old and the
new Philadelphia Mr.. Lamon says.
This is a quiet, peaceful and law
abiding city compared to the old
days.
Il do not mean that Philadelphians
of a generation or two ago were any
worse than they are today. Com
parison is out of the question, for the
times and conditions must be reck
oned with. Prior to the Civil War
the police had their hands full at
every large fire with the volunteer
| fremen's riots.
"One of my first important APP
| pointments as detective was to
guard President Lincoln when he came
here to raise the flag at Independence
| Square. ] was close to the President
during the parade on the previous af-
ternoon; at the exercises at Inde-
pendence Hall | was right beside him.
i had the honor also of guarding
the President during the inauguration
ceremonies, and. like my companions,
thought that was guarding him on
the way from Philadelphia TO Wash
ington. Nine detectives were Sc
lected to safeguard the Presidents
life during the days preceding the in
auguration. Three were selected
from New York, three from Boston
and three from this city. The Phila-
delphians. besides myself, were Ben
jamin Franklin and George Handy
Smith.
After the ceremonies were over
here we went to the Board and Prime
streets station and took our places on
the train, believing that the President
was in the car in front of US. Word
had been received, however, that there
was a plot on foot to assaSsinate the
President elect. so Mr.. Lincoln was
switched TO the Northern Central
Railroad. In order to carry out the
plan of smuggling Mr.. Lincoln into the
capital we were kept on the train and
were not even informed of the change
of plans. If any attempt had been
made to kill the President there isn't
a hot IF ms
have got the brunt of it.
I'VE had the danger post during the
inauguration. A clear path of eight
feet wide was made. to prevent any
swelling of the mob and to protect the
Presidents life. We were in the
front, and If any one had attempted to
reach the President. he would have
had to pass us first. The precautions
against an attack were well laid out.
cannons were in place and artillery
men were on the roofs of the sur
rounding buildings.
During these troublesome times
there were only eight detectives on
the city's force, with four High Con-
stables. Now there are a hundred. of
whom all, If not regular city detec-
tives, serve in that capacity.
The old-time election troubles seem
to have died out, too. You hear of a
rumpus once in while, but ii does
not amount to much. / arrested 400
men one time during an election. They
were brought up here from Baltimore
to vote. With other men of the force
| met the train when II arrived and
placed the entire rain load under ar
rest.
I'VE co-operated with the Secret
Service during the war and caught a
number of smugglers attempting to
ship goods to the rebels. On one oc-
casion I captured a dozen men off
the Bastile, at Fl. Delaware. They
we're shipping thousands of dollars
worth of goods TO the South. There
were drugs of all descriptions, food
clothing and equipment
"Quinine was in great demand and
oftimes brought as high as 800 an
ounce. 1 captured one of the most
notorious men in this line of business
He was the Confederate agent in this
city. He would purchase the quinine
here and smuggle 1t from Seaford
Del, to the Eastern Shore of Mary
land, where he had rebel accomplices
He was shrewd and cunning, and
traced him for five or six weeks be-
fore l could get the goods on him.
Then / captured him with three large
boxes, which were intended for one OF
the Major Generals of the Confederate
army.
I'VE also had crimes of other des-
criptions to look after. One of the
most important, which stirred the en-
tire city at the time, was the murder
of the mother of General Majilton.
do not think that the politics of the
/ conflict entered into it. The MUIR
derer, George w. Wynnemoor, was a
Spiritualist, and he averred that he
had an order from the Lord, and that
God commanded him to send her
home
Il will never forget the hanging
The scene is as clear in my mind as
though it were yesterday. At that
time we formed hanging parties and
so men were permitted to witness the
executions. AS l had played an i'm
portant role in the apprehending of