ISLAND FALLS, Maine — On Dec. 21, 1914, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Deputy Harold C. Hillman left his Island Falls home for what his wife thought was a routine police matter.
But when he didn’t return home, it sparked a massive manhunt that generated the interest of news organizations from as far away as Boston.
Hillman’s body was never found, but evidence led police to believe he was beaten to death by someone who was upset with the deputy’s seizure of illegal liquor. A suspect was charged in connection with the case, but a grand jury failed to indict him because the evidence was circumstantial without a body.
Likely because of the mystery surrounding his disappearance, Hillman’s sacrifice wasn’t recognized at the state level until 1991, when his name was added to the Maine Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Augusta. He has not, however, received the same distinction and recognition nationally.
On the 100th anniversary of the officer’s disappearance, Luke Dyer, a sergeant with the Van Buren Police Department, is hoping the time is finally right to get Hillman’s name added to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington, D.C.
“Deputy Hillman was a dedicated law enforcement officer who worked during prohibition times,” Dyer said. “That involved seizing a lot of liquor at that time. On Dec. 21, 1914, he went out to return some seized liquor that was not illegal to have. He disappeared and was never seen again.”
On average, a police officer dies in the line of duty every 53 hours in the United States, Dyer said. More than 28,000 names are etched on the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., acknowledging the ultimate sacrifice these officers made protecting and serving their communities.
“By losing his life in the line of duty 100 years ago, [Deputy Hillman] earned his place among the other heroes who fell before him and those who have sacrificed their lives since,” Dyer said.
In order to get Hillman’s name added to the list, Dyer has spent the past two years pouring over old newspapers and gathering all the documentation he could.
“There is a substantial vetting process to receive ‘status’ as a ‘line of duty death’ and be recognized by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial,” he explained.
According to Dyer, the application process requires proof of service — being a sworn officer or deputy — at the time of his or her death, and it requires the officer be performing in an “official capacity” at the time of his or her death.
“In other words, having a cardiac incident at home would not qualify, unless it could be directly connected to an on-duty event — i.e. fighting with a suspect prior to going home,” Dyer explained.
Dyer said the official request for recognition also must be made by the head of the sheriff’s department, and a living relative needs to verify the information presented.
Dyer consulted with retiring Sheriff James Madore and incoming Sheriff Darrell Crandall before committing himself to doing the research and application.
“They have been 100 percent supportive of the effort to have Deputy Hillman recognized,” he said.
Dyer added he believed Hillman has a granddaughter living in the Island Falls area and was in the process of contacting her.
Once the application is received and reviewed, a historian will be assigned to verify all data submitted in the application.
“If they are able to confirm that all requirements have been met, they will contact the submitting agency and notify them of the acceptance,” Dyer said. “In May of 2015, I hope to see Deputy Hillman’s name engraved on the wall. On May 13, 2015, all the names of the officers who were killed in 2014 and those historical entries will be announced at the annual National Candlelight Vigil held on the memorial grounds in Washington, D.C.”
Hillman’s history
Editor’s Note: Based on his research and the documentation he has been able to gather, Sgt. Luke Dyer has provided the following partial account of what happened to Deputy Harold C. Hillman:
Hillman was a well-known lawman in the region with a strong arm for illegal alcohol smuggling and sales during Prohibition. His persistence earned him many enemies. He was a family man who was married with six children, the oldest being 12 years old. He had been a deputy for six years and was considered “fearless” by the citizenry. He was a strong, broad man in stature, it is said, as his prior occupation was that of a blacksmith.
On Dec. 21, Hillman left his residence in Island Falls at approximately 8 p.m., telling his family he would only be gone for 15 minutes. He reportedly was returning mistakenly seized liquor he had confiscated from Greek tannery workers who lived in the area and expected he would only be gone a short period of time. His wife, concerned for his well-being, began making inquiries the following morning when he had failed to return home.
Led by Sheriff William Bryson, more than 100 men searched the road and surrounding areas between the Hillman residence and a settlement of eight tenement homes occupied by Greek migrant workers employed by the Frank W. Hunt and Company tannery in Island Falls. Their search yielded no sign of Hillman.
A suspect quickly emerged in Hillman’s disappearance. He was an implant who originated from the Fort Kent area named Freeman Nadeau, known locally as “The Outlaw” in newspaper reports of the time. Nadeau had made numerous public threats against Hillman’s life, and his disdain for the deputy — and all lawmen — was well-known.
Many times Hillman had seized shipments of liquor believed to have belonged to Nadeau. Only 10 days before his disappearance, Hillman had intercepted a shipment of six mules carrying loads of liquor destined for Crystal that was suspected to have belonged to Nadeau but was believed to be intended for sale during the holiday season to the Greek tannery workers.
Hillman was confronted by Nadeau regarding the seizure but refused to release the liquor and was met with threats on his life. Regardless, Hillman stood firm and did not back down.
On the morning of Dec. 22, 1914, Nadeau was detained by a deputy in Millinocket after word was sent for him to meet the train there and take him into custody. He had boarded the train at the Crystal Station headed to Bangor. He carried with him a suitcase that reportedly only contained a piece of rope and a blanket. The state’s case against him weighed heavily on the fact that Nadeau spoke of Hillman’s disappearance at the Crystal Railroad Station early that morning.
It was stated that the first words he spoke to the station clerk when he arrived at 7 a.m. was that Hillman had been murdered. This reportedly was before Hillman’s wife had even informed anyone he was missing. He was quoted by the Crystal Station clerk as stating, “Hillman won’t take anyone’s whiskey for a while.” Others reported Nadeau as stating, “Hillman had gone on a long journey and would not seize any more booze.”
The search for Hillman went on for weeks with very little evidence connected to the crime revealed. A blood spot in Sherman initially thought to be a clue was later identified as the location where a partridge had been killed and cleaned. But on the road between Sherman and Shin Pond a significant discovery was made by a local man. A club covered with blood and matted hair was found after it had been kicked up to the surface of the snow-covered road. Bryson considered this an important clue. The Moro Road was a continuous thoroughfare between Island Falls and Shin Pond, the home of suspect Freeman Nadeau. (This piece of evidence and all official investigative documents pertaining to Hillman’s disappearance and murder are believed lost in time.)
Nadeau was arraigned Dec. 28 and charged with “assault with intent to kill” Hillman. Following the hearing, Nadeau, who was unable to produce the $5,000 bond, was held at the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton for grand jury in April.
Hundreds of citizens and deputies from across the state continued to search every pond, lake, stream and river for any sign of Hillman. More than 30 search warrants were issued to explore houses throughout the area, initially focusing on the Greek tenements where he was last known to be.
On March 13, 1915 the 77th Legislature of the state of Maine declared Hillman deceased so his widow, Mary Sewall Hillman, could receive a pension of $500 per annum. The Statement of Facts read as follows: “Said Mary S. Hillman is the widow of Harold C. Hillman who was a deputy sheriff for the County of Aroostook, and who, it is believed, was killed at said Island Falls by reason of his diligence and faithfulness in enforcing the prohibitory law of this state, while in the performance of his official duties. Said Mary S. Hillman has a family of six children, and has a small amount of property for her support and the maintenance of her family.”
On April 23, the grand jury failed to indict Nadeau, asserting that without the discovery of Hillman’s body, the only evidence in the case was purely circumstantial. Nadeau was released from custody a free man.