The Maine Murders

Further concerning the assassination of the forest wardens

Machias, Me., Nov. 9 - Lyman Hill and Charles Niles the Forest Wardens who were murdered yesterday, had for ten days been on the track of the poachers. On Monday afternoon they meet the two men on Fletcher brook, Michias river, forty-five miles north of Michias. The men drove a one-horse wagon, with a full camp outfit, and had a hound with them. No one knows whether the wardens knew the men. A controversy arose between the wardens and the poachers, but no violence  was apprehended. Niles removed his coat the better to sieze and handle the hound. In a moment one of the men fired at Niles with  a double-barreled shotgun and then at Hill, killing both instantly. Frank McReavy happened on the scene a moment before and saw the entire tragedy. Being threatened by the murderers he ran away and hid in the woods. In a few moments Thomas McReavy, father of Frank, came up. The murderers were still on the ground but soon drove off with their outfit. McReavy hurried to the nearest help and thence to Machias. Warrants were issued and officers started with McReady on the track of the murders.  One of the poachers claimed to hail from Hancock, Me.

Ellsworth, Me. Nov. 9, - Two officers from Washington County have been here to-day in search of Calvin Graves and James McFarland of Hancock, who are accused of murdering the two forest wardens near Machias. Sheriff Field and Deputy Devereux of this place have gone in search of the men. It is learned that on Thursday last McFarland hired a team Ellsworth to go on a gunning trip of several days. About day light this morning Calvin Graves left the team at Fletcher's place on the Waltham Road, about six miles from Ellsworth, with directions that the team should be returned to the livery stable here. Graves then suddenly departed. The murder has caused much excitement here.