IT RECALLS THE FAMOUS SMITH CASE

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ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL CRIMES IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE.

Bucksport July 18, 1902--The Treworgy trial now in progress in Ellsworth has brought Bucksport again into the greatest prominence throughout the State and has recalled in the minds of the Bucksport people the famous Smith case tried some 25 years ago in which Edward M. Smith was convicted of the murder of Robert Trim, daughter and her little girl in this town. The crime was one of the most brutal that has ever been committed in the State in it’s history. It has also recalled to the minds of the oldest residents of the village a number of other crimes and deaths that have excited comment in the town at the time since its incorporation.

Bucksport has now been a town for about 60 years and in that time there have been a total of 15 such deaths and crimes taking place and in but two has there been a punishment for the commission of the crime and in most of them not even an investigation has been made.

The other day I met a man who has lived in Bucksport all his life--a man who was born here, went to the district school, in short a man whose whole life has been in some way connected with Bucksport. One who has grown gray in his home town and who takes that interest in it such as is only possible to him who has never known another home; to him there are the same ties binding him to the beautiful town that binds all of us to the house we’ve spent our lives in and makes us regret most heartily the leaving of it; the ties which no home, however grand, can ever entirely sever or cause us to forget.

This kind, old gentlemen stood under the vine covered porch of his pleasant little courtly farm house, his gray locks and beard blowing in the breeze and told that simplicity of manner that never falls to impress the hearer with its accuracy.

Told, as the story was, in a manner that showed no desire for notoriety or to be sensational it was impressive to the degree and was impressive to the degree and made one thing that after all it was not so improbable as it seemed.

And yet the story seemed one that would cause the hearer to stop and question of himself if the oft repeated saying that murder will out could possibly be true.

And even when this, question has been asked and answered with a no, as it probably would be, the story does not reflect a lack of effort on the part of the officials.

Rather, it shows how possible it is for those with a thirst for blood to gratify their frightful craving and still escape punishment at the hands of the law, by a careful and determined effort to destroy all that could possibly be used as evidence against them.

There is the story of the man who suddenly went out into darkness of the night and never seen again. Was he murdered, or did he wander away into the darkness and die of exposure. Either question is proper and answer to given can never be given for those who would know it have crossed that dark , silent river which is always rolling on, carrying its burden of human souls that have finished their duties on earth.

In brief, the histories of events follow:

Justine Carr, living near the Long pond settlement was murdered some 60 years ago by a knife thrust, and John Patten and his son, John Patten Jr., were arrested, convicted and sentenced to prison for a term of ten years, which they served. The murder was committed with a knife made from an old scythe blade. It was, and has always been claimed that Carr was killed by mistake and that another man was the one that the Pattens intended to kill.

A few years later a pedlar disappeared in Bucksport. He called at a house early in the evening and went away. He was never heard of again in any part of the world. He had money on his person, it has always been claimed. And many a Bucksport man feels today that he was waylaid and killed for the money and the body buried for the money and the body buried in the dark woods far from any human habitation.

Next, in the year 1862, was the killing of Zelotus Crocker in Bucksport village. One night he walked into the stable now known as Tillock’s, but then kept by a different man and fell flat upon the floor. Those present supposed him drunk, and helped him to the lounge in the office, where they discovered blood upon him, and an examination revealed the fact that he had been stabbed through the heart, and from the back. There were suspicions, but it was impossible to secure evidence to warrant a move in the case and the crime went unpunished.

Then there was the death of Fred Clement. He was found at the foot of the stairs with a bullet wound through the body. He was dead, and it was claimed he committed suicide, but murder was hinted at by the people about town, but the authorities could obtain nothing upon which to make a case, a cause or anything like that being unobtainable.

At North Bucksport there was another case of mysterious death, but my informant could not remember names or details of it.

Leonard Perkins was another man who died under peculiar circumstances it being said there were finger marks upon the throat, but the same reasons as in the other prevented a prosecution.

A Mr. Kief died, and his wife was arrested for poisoning him, but no case was made against her.

It has always been claimed that a man died in September, 1898 from injuries received in a peculiar manner on the night of Sarah Ware’s disappearance, but nothing substantial could be made of it.

The Smith case has already been mentioned.

`Dr. McClellan was found dead one day in a doorway and Daniel McEachren was arrested on charge of causing his death, but was acquitted.

A man named Davis is also reported to have died under circumstances that have never yet been satisfactorily explained.