Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-30
INDICATIONS OF
MURDER IN Death
OF LINCOLN MAN
HIT BY train

Lincoln, Me, April 29.-Whether the
death Wednesday night Of Big Char
ley" a Polander, employed in the Ka-
tahdin Pulp & Paper mill here is the
result Of his having been struck by
the train from Tanceboro, due in
BANGOR about midnight or whether he
WAS murderously assaulted and then
dragged 70 the railroad track and left
there to make it appear that he met
his death under the onrushing wheels
of the locomotive, is a question which
is Duzzling the town authorities here
| Thursday.
There are circumstances which lead
some Of the officials to incline to the
latter theory, notable among them be-
inc 2 trail Of blood leading toward the
track from a point where a pool OF
The crimson fluid has been discovered.
There is evidence that desperate
struggle occurred there, although the
officers admit It is not conclusive.
Coroner Haskell has taken charge
Of the case and the most rigid inquiry
is to he made during the course OF the
/ INQUEST which is to be held.
Train No S, which is due at Lin
/ coin at 1l09 o'clock on its run from
! Tanceboro TO Bangor, was rafting
/ down The rails toward the station
/ "Wednesday night with Engineer Wal
ter Coburn and Fireman A. X. Rush,
( both of Bangor, in the cab, when Co.
burn saw a body ahead. squareiy
I across the steel ribbons. He isn't sure
whether the body was lying prone or
/ was in q sitting posture He damned
on the airbrakes but il was impossible
| to check the momentum of the train
before striking the body.
1t proved TO be that of Big Char
ley" q Polander. 50 years old, who is
employed in the pulp mill, He was
quite dead with q lsh in his head
! near the temple, about the size Of a
half dollar The Eh0SX sTas picked IL
and, after y minutes delay, the train
continued on 10 Bangor
II was supposed al first that the
unfortunate man mad been Killed by
the train and It was not until Thurs
day morning that suspicious Of muir
der were aroused. Then followed an
! investigation commenced by Coroner
Haskell. who found so it is stated, q
pool Of blood some distance from the
track and above the spot where the
train struck the Polander. Leadin,
from this point 70 the railroad was Z
trail Of blood which could plainly be
made cut.
I There is q strong suspicion on the
TART Of the officers that struggle oC-
CURED at the place where the pool
o. blood was found, and that Big
Charley was dragged to the railroad
track while still alive, and left there
in the hope that he would be man
gled under the wheels Of the locono-
tive and that the cause Of his death
| would be put down as accidental.
1t IS rega1 Ged as being OF the Ut
most Importance whether Engineer
Coburn saw him lying down or in q
sitting position. If the latter was tn
case, it is pointed out that the Po-
lander must have been still living
when the engineer saw him. It is I'M
derstood: however, that Coburn is un-
able 10 remember upon this point.
The hole in the dead mans temp.
was one as might have been made by
q hammer or a heavy file.
1t is not admitted by the Maine
Central officers that the train struck
Big Charley"
, The victim apparently had beer
killed by q hammer OF heavy file
There was q hole in one of hie
temples. Several witnesses were
summoned for examination.
: The killing was said 10 have beer
the outcome OF a feud started in the
!, victims native country. and it was
claimed his assailant hao been look.
ing for him for four years. While the
suspect was being held under surveill'
| ance. no arrest had been made early
this afternoon. The dead man had M
relatives here He was called BIS
Charley O'Lacey" The eoroner's in.
quest was adjourned until tomorrow
when the medical examiner and coun-
~ attorney will be present.