The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-10-23


murdered sometime during Wednes-
day night of last week. His body
WAS found by his brother, Henry Bart
lev of Greenyille and E. A. Piper of
Jackman early Saturday morning.
The body had been thrust into a de-
pression under an up-rooted tree, at
a point about two miles above Jack
man. on the road toward the Canadian
line.
bullet hole in the forehead land
possibly a second wound as was lat
or reported) was the evident cause
of his death. Sheriff F. l.. Gipson of
Bingham, was in Jackman at the time
the body was discovered, although
he had not been summoned there In
connection with this case. The, two
gentlemen just mentioned returned
with Mr.. Gipson to the point where
the body was found and it was then
removed. Investigation of the To-
calty showed the spot close by where
BARLEY must have lain after being
hit, and the amount of blood at this
point indicated that he bled to death
before the body was thrust under the
tree roots. The wound on the fore
head, somewhat obscured by cling
ing earth, made such an appearance
that those present at first thought
it had been inflicted with a stone,
and the rock, which it was at first
supposed was used for this purpose,
was picked up and taken in charge
by one Of the officers.
1t seems that Wednesday evening,
John Burke of Jackman, called at
Mr.. Bartley's hotel and he and Bart
ley went away together. The clerk
of the house recalls that they left
in a Ford car, which had been bor-
rowed by BARLEY for the purpose,
Burke acting as chauffeur. BARLEY
was not seen thereafter alive.
Later that evening, perhaps about
o'clock, Burke appeared at his own
home, seriously wounded in the leg,
between the thigh and knee. He
stated that he and BARLEY had had an
argument out in front of his house, |
and that BARLEY shot him as he was
STOPPING over to scratch a match on
the sidewalk BARLEY, according to
his story, then disappeared. Neigh
bors heard the shot fired at the time
Burke states, but paid no attention
to it. One of the families. living in
that vicinity, had been troubled by
noisy cats and had been shooting at
them more or less lately. The shot |
passed unnoticed as being simply one I
additional eat gone, or at amy rate,
having been fred for that purpose.
Early the following day, as BARLEY
had not appeared at his hotel, search !
was commenced for him. The fact
that the auto. already referred TO.
was seen empty during the evening
near the point where the body was
found was The clue which lead to its
discovery.
As soon as the body of BARLEY was
found and circumstances of Burke's
return home were known, suspicion
connected him with the tragedy. This
was of course heightened by the fact
that BARLEY was last seen in his
company. Sheriff Gipson proceeded
to Burke's home. 1t was a tragic
meeting. The two had been sher-
ifs together under II. l.. Goodrich,
and were always fast friends. Clip
son stepped along and taking the
wounded man by the hand, told him
news of the finding of Bartleys body
and acquainted him with the fact
that he was suspected of being con-
cerned in the crime. Burke express
ed the feeling that he would be un-
able to, go to Skowhegan, the County
seat and later his physician stated
that such a journey would involve
danger for his patient Deputies
Allie Crocker of Canaan and Fred
Tuscan of Solon, were placed on
guard. the circumstances were equal
to a detention in custody.
Somerset County has three medical
examiners, DR.. I. r. Boothby of
Jackman, DR.. w. G. Sawyer of Madi-
son and DR.. w. S. Stinchfield of
Skowhegan. Sheriff Mooers, who
was notified just about noon on Sat
urday, was at Norridgewock at the
time Not being able to reach DR..
Stinchfield, he telephoned DR.. o. ].
GAIA at Skowhegan, and the two men
proceeded to Jackman by auto. They
were also joined by DR.. Sawyer of
Madison. These two doctors, with
DR.. Boothby, made an autopsy Sun
day afternoon. At that time, it
is reported, the second bullet wound
was discovered in the head. 1t Is stat
ed that it must have been fired from
a direction opposite the other shot or
from the same direction after Bart