Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-22
FIRST MURDER ON
MAINE COAST is
BROUGHT TO MIND

BROUGHI 10 MIND
In the early evening when shadows
are lowering around the old mill at
Pemaquid Falls, forming picture
weird in its dusky blankness. mem
cries revive the scenes of nearly a
century and a hall ago when near
this spot was committed most bar
barous murder. said to he the first
capital crime perpetrated in Lincoln
county and perhaps on the Maine
coast. The horrible affair took place
in February. 1855. and produced great
excitement throughout New England.
Z Michael ClearH. cor McClearA. as
some records give IT'D. the victim of the
murder, came from Ireland as pas
senger with Captain William \ickels.
Pemaquid skipper, about 1854. leav-
ing wife and daughter. it was said.
in the county OF Cork. He landed in
Boston. bat soon found his way. to
Pemaquid. probably through his ac-
Qualntance With Capt. Nickels
lie was industrious in his habits
and economical in his expenditures.
and gra dually accumulated consider
able property. purCha sing a small tract
of land on the eastern side of the
stream. near the old mill In respect
10 religion he profcssed to be a Roma n
Catholic. but was a man of very low
and grovelins views and tastes. and
worse morals. He lived alone in q
miserable and filthy hut. doing his own
cooking and having little intercourse
"ltn the people Of the place
John O'\eil was another Irishman OF
a similar character, if not worse who
came TO Bristol the year previous to
the murder. He obtained a lob on the
farm Of Deacon William Burns at
Musconeus. and worked there for sew
eral months. Being discharged in the
faii d1sO. he wandered down toward
Pemaquid. arriving at the falls in the
early winter. When cold weather shut
IN. oNeil had not been able to find
work. and Cleary out of compass
Tor him, took him into his house.
ONeil was man with past"
and, s some Of the outstanding fea
lures Of his previous history gradual
~ became known about the Falls no
was looked upon with considerable
suspicion and aversion. It seems that
he had been convicted Of some Of
tense III his own country and sent as
convict TO Newfoundland by the
government. In some WAY he man
aged TO escape across the jnterna
t'na' boundary line to Machias. Ne.
AMI tt"rce wandered from nlace 70
place until he finally landed in Bris-
toll
He was another Jean Vatican IN
stead OF rewarding his benefactor even
ny an expression of his appreciation.
= Nell began at the very start to plot
against him. He had been with
Cieary only few weeks when the
latter commenced to have some fears
for his own personal safety which he
lntlmated to a neighhor. Cleary car
ried in his pocket few pieces or gold
and silver and the neichbor warned
him that he might vet be murdered for
them. But rleary replied that he wa
not IN the least afraid in the day time
rs time went on, however. his fears
increa sed, and finally for two nights
he left O'Neil at his hut and slept at
the house of neighbor
Wednesday morning. Feb 18th
Cleary was seen going home. Soon
house and found the two men there
engaged in heated dispute over sill
yer buckle. When he left thew were
SIN quarreling. Scarcely two hours
later Omen was seen riding away on
Cleary's horse. It was subsequentIv
ascertaned that he was then attired in
the old mans clothes and that he rode
the dense forest about ten
miles to Broad Cove where he spent
the night at the house Of his friend
James Poor an Irishman and Catholic
and an honest and upright citizen. who
always extended hand OF welcome 10
all his brother Trishmen O'Netl told
Poor that their mutual friend. Cleary.
was seriously III and could not live
long. and complained of not being well
himself and said he could not sleep
In the morning he started back to
Pemaduid. and that evening a negro
boy spent two hours with him at
Cleary's hut, the young darkie telling
the neighhors that he had gone to at
tend to his horse.
Shortly after daybreak the follow
ing morning O'Neil again made his
appearance in Broad Cove having rode
horseback all the distance in the
night. He told Mr.. Poor that Cleary
was dead, claiming that he had first
fallen on the ice and badly hurt his
head. thus leaving it to he assumed
that his death had been caused by the
injury. He further declared that
Cleary had willed him all his property
and. a little while befofe he died. told
him to take what money he had and
purchase for himself a suit of clothes,