The following was
published in an 1886 newspaper article.
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.
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