Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-11-17
The Preece Murder Case.
THE WANTED CIVILIAN DUNN"
NOT YET FOUND.

NOT YET FOUND.
Search Is still being made BY the au-
thorities for civilian Dunn, JAY" who
registered at Hotel Andrews, South
Paris, at midnight of the 7th inst, and
left for Portland on the early train on
the Ssh, and who Is now wanted for the
murder of Thomas E. Preece iu Sumner
on the evening of the It'll.
1t Is perhaps almost needless to say
that no such man as William Dunn Is
known In the vicinity of Jay. The name
was supposed by the officers to have
been assumed, and investigation con-
| firms that idea.
This man, whoever he was, left the
team which Preece had been driving at
Holden's stable at South Paris, near
midnight of the 7th. The horse belong
ed to Mrs. A bible Rawson of Paris Hill.
with whom Preece boarded while at
work at that place during the summer.
The carriage, it has since developed, Is
the property of Alfred NJ. Daniels of
Paris Hill. 1t had been stored in the
barn cellar of an unoccupied house, and
Mr.. Daniels did not know that II was
gone from there until one day last week.
With this team Preece and Lewis z.
Rawson, Mrs. Rawson's son, started
some time in the first week in August
and drove through to Presque Isle,
where they secured employment In har-
vesting potatoes. On the 2Sth of Octo-
Der Preece started on his return to Paris
Hill, where he expected to marry Mrs.
Rawson,s daughter, Mrs. Annie Frye,
who lives with her. He had got within
six miles of his destination when he was
murdered.
Letters written by him to Mrs. Frye
along the road indicated that he expect
ed to get to Paris Hill Saturday night, and
he was awaited until late hour at the
Rawsou home, where his fate was not
known until Sunday afternoon.
Rawson remained in Pressure Isle and
got job on a farm. He was located
there the first OF last week and said that
Preece left there on the 2Sth Of October,
alone, as he supposed. He thought
Preece had something like sixty dollars
IN money when he left. No money was
found on Preece's body, and he had I'M
questionably been robbed as we'll as
murdered.
Evidently at some point on the jour
ney Preece was joined by companion,
but who this companion was is the
question the answer to which would
solve the mystery of this murder.
Sheriff rockingham and some OF bis
deputies, and County Attorney elect Bell
veau have been working on the case
constantly, and have run down some
possible clues with no result as yet. The
wanted man had a number of hours
start before any Of his movements were
known.
According to the statement Of Robert
T. Stewart of Richmond, 1t appears that
the unknown man joined Preecs at Milo.
Mr.. Stewart was at Milo on Tuesday,
Nov. 8, and stayed at Guptill's lodging
house. Two men were there, one of
whom he thinks was Preece, while the
other man said he had been at work on
farm in Milo, but the work was too
hard, and he wanted to try something
else. He arranged to 60 on from there
with Preece, and when Stewart left in
the morning at o'clock the two men
were making preparations to start.
The register at Guptil's house shows
that Preece registered there on Nov. Sd,
also shows the name OF Mr.. Stewart on
the same date. There are no other
names for that date.
Deputy Sheriff Harry D. Hastings Of
Bethel went to Presque Isle during the
week, and returned to South Paris Sat
urday morning, bringing with him Lewis
Rawsou, who went to Presque Isle with
Preece in August. When Preece started
to return to Paris Rawson remained,
having secured work on the Hayden
farm in that town. 1t was desired to
learn from him all that could be learned
regarding Preece, and he has been
thoroughly questioned by the officers,
though there is no suspicion of his hav-
| ing been connected with any foul play.
He was not able to give any important
| information.
Saturday afternoon Rawson was ar
raigued in the Norway Municipal Court
charged with the larceny Of the carriage
with which he and Preece drove to
| Presque Isle. The case was continued
till next Saturday, and Rawson was al
lowed to 60 meanwhile on his own
recognizance.
Preece had formerly lived in the vi
cini,y of Boston, and his only relative in
the United States, 80 far az known, is a
sister, Mrs. Clara Brimicombe of 400
Dauforth ST., Taunton, Mass. Mrs
Brmicombe has written TO Sheriff Froth-
ingham that although she was poor
woman aud could not afford to come
here to identify the body, she would
bury ii IL II could be sent tn her. She
named marks which were sufficient iden-
tification, including tattooipg on one
arm, and a scar on one thigh, caused by
bullet wound received in the Boer
war.
| Preece Is reported to have told Mrs
FRYE that he was detective, and was
shifting from one job to another looking
for a man who would make way with
him without conjunction II it was dis
covered what his real business was.
Freezes body Is still at the undertak.
ing rooms of Miss Grace Thayer in South
Paris, but will probably be sent to Mrs.
Brimcombe within few days.
The inquest in the Preece case was
held on Saturday at West Sumner. The
hearing was not long. being sufficient
to get the main facts in the case, and the
verdict returned was in substance that
the deceased came to his death from a
bullet fired by some person to the jurors
unknown.
| School Notes.
The first meeting OF the extension
course for teachers was held 10 the Paris
High School building at S:l5 Saturday
morning. This course Ia conducted by
Professor James L. McConaughy of
Bowdoin College; and the subject Is
Educational Psychology. The class
meets for the next session in the com.
mercial room of Norway High School
building at Ais next Tuesday afternoon.
The teachers taking the course are as
follows: Miss Jeanne NJ. Towle. Miss
Ir AI;,a Watborall MIRA Alta Rankin