Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-07
Man Captured

Matthew and Alex Gagnon had come
on duty at II o'clock Thursday night
and had been working about three
quarters of an hour when a freight
train came in from the east 1t stop
ped at the upper end of the bridge
owing to a block signal against it, and
as 1t did so Matthew saw two men
Jump from one of the cars near the
engine. One went to one side of the
track and the other one the opposite
way. Matthew captured the one who
lett the train on the side he was on,
he TOOK the fellow across the bridge
after the train had crossed and left
MN there for the officer from head
quarters to come up and get, and
started TO return to his post. He was
part way across when he was forced
10 step to one side as n freight was
pulling up out of the yards. He watch
ca II go by and noticed a man stand
ing between the cars but did not nav
much attention to him as hoboes are
III the haDlt OF riding that way
Alter the train passed he resumed his
walk to his post, and just before he got
to the end of the iron work. where II
projects out over the stone pier. he
saw sparks beside the track. at first
ne thought that it was sparks from the
locomotive but as he looked it seemed
70 ne moving and he quickcned hjs
pace and as he reached i, saw that !,
was a fuse and was attached 10 \
bundle. Without waiting to 500 ub,+
II was ne seized it and threw II ~
Tar away as possible where it expyodeh
against the bank with terrific report
investigation
In the meantime Deputy N,reb,,
simpson had been sent for and bo
came up to take the fellow who had
oeeh arrested, to the station. He in
Nes'sated when he arrived but there
uid not seem to be anything that could
pc done at that time and it was report
ca TO City Marshal Finnemore early i,
the morning and he immediately start
ca 2 rigid inVe Stigation. He went ia
Inc scene of the explosion with S,Int
Mclaughlin of the Maine Central ann
the place where the dynamite was no
flced by Matthew was noted. II was
laying on the stone pier about four or
five inches outside of the rail. A meas
urement of the place where il cxplod-
Cd showed that it was about 40 feet
from where it was found, this bein..
the distance it was thrown by Inc
guard
Chlef Of Detectives Russell Of the
Maine Central arrived in the city at
ABOUT noon and in company with City
MarShaI Flhnemore gave the young man
VINO had been arrested and who gavs
the name of Alfred McSpeehy and his
residence as Boston a most thorough
grilling. According to his story he hag
been working in the woods this win
ter and has been in Bangor for several
days and was working his way homo.
As he could not be connected with tho
dynamite in any way and as he declared
that he had not the slightest idea az
to whom the other fellow on the car
was, had never seen him before thar
night, it was thought best by Mr.. Fin.
nemore to bring technical charge Of
evading fare against him. and he was
sent down for - days on that charge
Sheriff Harwood of Augusta arrived
in the city in the afternoon and he in
company with Marshal Finnemore and
Detective Russell went up to the bridge
and went over the situation again dur
ing the afternoon.
The news reached Augusta quickly
and was taken UP at once by Governor
Milliken, who telephoned to Watervills
for authentic news of the matter Tho
corridor in City hall was filled with
people all day and they bombarded the
police with questions, but through it all
Headquarters Officer Davis kept his head
and was able TO keep things moving Ia
the department while the chief devoted
himself to the Investigation.