Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-17
GEORGE HEbERT;
Maine RECLuSE,
FOUND MURDERED
Body Found in Camp at Five Is
lands on Schoodic Lake, Ly.
ing in Pool of Blood with Skull
Battered

Milo, Ne. March 1.-THE body Of
George HILBERT. who for many year.
had lived hermit's life at Five Isl.
ands on Schoodic Lake, was brough,
here Thursday morning. Mr.. Heber,
was a victim Of murder and probably
robbery. his skull having been crushed
by some blunt instrument by some un-
known person early in the week. a
strong evidence that robbery was the
cause OF the crime is the fact that He
bert always had the reputation Of be-
ing very comfortably situated financial
ly and that he always kept a substan-
tial sum Of money hidden away in his
camp. which is a small but very COM
Portable abode on the shore of the lake
and only a short distance from the
boarding house at Rand Cove.
Just when the murder was commit
ted is not known. The body was dis
covered in the camp Tuesday night by
Wallace London. who lives at the board
ing house where Hebert had been in
the habit of going every other day for
bread. AS Hebert had not appeared
there for several days. London went
over to his camp and upon finding the
door locked. looked through the win
dow and saw his lifeless body lying in
a pool Of blood on the floor. The next
morning London went to Lakeview
where he telephoned to DR.. Harry Snow
Of Milo, medical examiner for Piscat-
aquis county. what he had SEEN Know
ing that Hebert was in feeble health
DR.. Snow had no suspicion Of foul play
and telephoned TO DR.. BundyAsof Lake
view, who, with ]. l.. Martin of Milo.
an undertaken, went to Five Islands
20 take charge of the remains. Upon
arriving there. they found conditions
which clearly indicated brutal muir
der The body Of Hebert which was
fully clothed was lying in a pool OF
blood on the floor and the room was
in great disorder, the bed having been
pulled to pieces. the cupboards and
drawers ransacked and the place spat-
tered with blood. An empty whiskey
bottle was found on the floor and this
a club upon the dead mans skull. On
the table was a small dipper in which
was a small quantity Of whiskey. On
Hebert's person were found gold
watch, knife and a bunch OF keys
but no money was found and a search
about the camp failed to locate any Of
the money which 1t has been said He
bert kept concealed there.
That Hebert was we'll to do is shown
by the fact that he is said to have
been seen to take from his pocket as
much as $500 in bills at one time and
that he never was in want and that
mis- camp was always we'll stocked
with provisions and firewood. This
was noticed by DR.. Bundy and Under
taker Martin in their search Of the
camp, nearly everything in the line
of groceries being found in substantial
quantities.
Little Known Of Past
Hebert was regarded as peculiar in
his habits, and very little was known
Of his past. He had lived in the camp
the greater part of the past 80 years
and during the past eight or ten years
seldom left the immediate vicinity of
the lake. Previous to that he is known
to have gone to sea summers and re-
turned to Five Islands for the winter
months. For number Of years he
was employed as Waterman by the
American Thread Co. and was regard
ed as a relible workman. His age was
Il years.
Member Masonic Order
At an autopsy at Milo by Medical
Examiner Snow Thursday it was dis
covered that Hebert was q member OF
the Masonic order which gives rise to
the fact that at one time ne may have
been prominent in the social life Of
some community. a Masonic emblem
was found tattooed upon his body, as
we'll as other tattoo marks, character
istic with seafaring men.
The body Of the man gave appear
ance of his having made desperate
struggle when attacked. His head was
frightfully battered, having been
crushed from his left eye to the base
Of his skull.
Thursday morning Sheriff Morton Of
Dover and Deputy Sheriff Chadbourne
started for Five Islands, picking I'D
DR.. Snow at Milo. 1t was expected
that they would arrive at the scene of
the murder at about O'Clock. A care
full investigation will be made in the
hope Of securing some clue as to the
murderer although it is felt that very
little may be secured at present on
account OF the fact that Tuesday
nights snow covered any tracks that
might have been of assistance in
forming the basis of theory. An in
quest will be held on the return of the
officials Friday morning