Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-03

mond's body, acknowledged the re-
ceipt Of the claim Of Pond and his
wife for the reward offered by Gov
ernor Brewster for the apprehension
Of the murderer of Miss Hayward.
II have yours Of recent date in
relation to the reward offered. in
connection with the murder of Miss
Aida Hayward of Winthrop, Maine,
and shall present 1t to the attention
Of the governor and council" says
Governor Brewster in his letter to
Mr.. Pond.
II am enclosing a copy Of the for
NAL offer of reward in this matter
which you note Is offered for infor-
nation leading to the capture Of the
person or persons responsible for
the murder" continues the letter.
"This does not require that the
claimant to the reward should actu-
ally make the arrest but does require
that the responsibility for the crime
shall be established.
"This is not intended to indicate
any doubt as to the responsibility OF
the one whom the state holds under
arrest in this matter, but only the
necessity of it's establishment in an
orderly way.
"Your rights are protected by the
application you have filed and we
will communicate with you further If
additional information is desired.
The Pond Letter
The letter received by Gov. Brews-
ter from Frank E. Pond and his
wife, Evelyn A. Pond, of Newbury-
port, Mass, is as follows:
"Averting to the case of the MUIR
der of Miss Aida Hayward at Win
throp, Maine, on May 10. 1925, for
which one Harry A. Kirby is now
Eeld we, the undersigned. husband
and wife, residing at No. "a Market
street, Newburyport, Mass, now sub
init to you our claim for the reward
of $1,000 which was offered by you
in your capacity as governor of the
State of Maine for the capture of
the said Kirby, as it appears to us
that we have complied with all the
conditions contained in the same.
"On Saturday evening, May %, 1925,
at about $3.50 we rented a room in
our house to Harry A. Kirby. On
Sunday, May "a. 1925, we entertained
the said Kirby at our home, took
him to church services in the eve
ming, and during that day he related
to us facts concerning his life.
"On Monday morning, May rs,
1925, we read in the newspapers
items concerning the alleged murder
and the fact that reward of $1,000
had been offered by you for his cap
ture. The facts he related to us
concerning his life and photograph
he had shown us of his child all cor
responded with the newspaper items
and these with other facts, led us
to believe that he was the man
wanted.
Then knowing of the reward of
fered and being convinced he was
the man wanted, we Immediately
communicated with the city marshal
OF Newburyport, Mass, had some
difficulty in convincing him that the
man at our house was in fact Kirby,
and, upon insisting that he send an
officer or officers to the house to
take him into custody, he finally sent
officers to our home who were ad-
nitted by us and shown the room &C.
cupied by Kirby, who then admitted
he was the man wanted. The officers
then in the pursuance of their du-
ties as officers of this city made the
arrest.
1.-THE facts of the case clearly in
dictate that the undersigned were
wholly responsible for the capture Of
Kirby, that were it not for our in
sistence action would probably not
have been taken in the matter; that
the officers involved merely placed
him under arrest in the performance
of their duty; that the undersigned
were wholly cognizant of the re-
ward offered by you in your official
capacity, and that acting upon that
and upon the conviction that he was
the man wanted. caused his arrest,
thereby meeting all conditions of the
reward then outstanding and fully
performing cur part of the condi-
tions of the reward then outstand-
ing and fully performing our part Of
the contract.
"Whereupon, Honorable Sir, we
submit these facts to you as claim
ants of the reward with the request
that you forward to us any vouchers
or papers necessary for the further
submission of this claim"