Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-02


WAS SHOT FOR deer
Lewiston, Me, Nov. 1.-Relatives Of
Napoleon B. Jackson. late of Rumford.
have sought the assistance of Attorney
Fred W. Clair of waterville in correcting
a statement widely circulated in the press
to the effect that he jumped into a fire
and then shot himself at Rumford
The death of Mr.. Jackson, in the opinion
of his relatives, was caused by a bullet.
not frcm his own rife. but from some
careless hunter mistaking him for deer.
The following letter from Mr., Clair to
Sheriff Harry D. Cole of South Paris is
elf-explanatory:
Attorney Ciair's Letter
Waterville, Me, Oct. so. 1917.
Mr.. Harry d. Cole, South Paris, Me.
Dear Sir: This letter is written at re-
quest of w. $. Jackson of this city, son
of Ma loleon B. Jackson, who is alleged to
have Jumped into a fire and then shot
himself at Rumford. After a slight in
yestigation he says that this was printed
in the local paper and given wide circu-
laton, although the facts are al against
such conclusion. He wishes me to say
at the outset that he does not think it
premeditated crime. but rather n mis-
take on the part of some person.
First--there was no motive The fl.heS
was we'll taken care of. He hal no tret
about his living. tie was in unusually
good health the day he started of to
hunt Tor birds. 1t was usual for HIN 50
that there can be no motive for suicide.
Second-that it is Impossible and ridicu-
lous that man could do this, Think Of
sitting down in fire and smoke and then
never done and never could be done, AMI
it strikes the writer rs quite an impossible
thing tor any person to do. The James
and smoke would render him unconscious
so instantly that he would not have time
20 shoot. His clothing would catch fire,
envelope him in flames. and he would be
unable to shoot himself. He would not
lie in The fire because the ordinary human
or animal instinct would make him ger
ont of such torture before he could shoot.
Hence he says that the whole PERFORM
ance on the face Of It IN Impossible ana
absurd Please give this your careful con-
sideration and see IL you do not arr'Ve
at the same conclusion.
Now for the facts. On the limb OF
tree some distance ava; from the
G,.n ln,S fOIlnH nlO00.
The skull! and brains were scattered
from a short distance from the fire
to this place. The top of this tree
was cut to make the fire, and the
piece in the fire It's into the tree that
is there now. 1t was cut from the
tree upon which the blood was found.
Mr. jackson says that he is morally
certain. and all the facts indicate. that
his father was mistaken for a deer.
He was shot near the place where the
blood was found, dragged to the place
whore The fire was built. and a Are
was built over him in an endeavor
to hide the mistake. The susperders
on his back were not burnt. If he
had lied down in the fire all his cloth
ing would have been burnt leaving no
trace Of any part of his raiment. He
was known to have money and peck
Ell purse with steel trimmings. Moth
ing of this was found near the body.
He says that if the fire did not con-
sumo the body much less would 1t
have consumed the metal Of his mon
ey and purse. 1t did not happen in
the pasture but near logging road
in the woods. His body was found
lying straight on the ground, which
could not have happened if he had
shot himself. His body would have
crumpled UP.
An ordinary shot gun would not have
blown his head off IN this manner,
and scatter his skull and brains over
a space of 20 feet. 1t must have been
done by an explosive bullet and at
that. not from afar, It is not revenge
upon any person that the relatives
ask, hut simply justice for the men,
ory Of their father and their own good
name. May they not expect you TO
take this up with the county attor-
ney. and ask YOU together to make
an investigation and if their conclu-
sions are right to give them as much
publicity as possible under the CIR
The brothers in Rumford will a.
sist slady. and show you or your der
'ity the evidence Of what they assert.
Yours very truly.