Portrait of Clifton Harris,1867
Newspapers reported nineteen-year-old Clifton Harris grew up in the American south. Harris (sometimes spelled “Haries”) gave varied accounts of his origin and military service during the American Civil War. He arrived in Auburn, Maine in the summer of 1866 and worked as a farm hand.Maine Historic Preservation Commission
Suspect: Clifton Harris and Luther Verrill
Accusation: Murder
Location: Auburn, Maine
Date: January 16 ,1867
Victims: Susannah Kinsley and Polly Caswell
After several days of no activity at their home, a neighbor discovered the bodies of Susannah Kinsley (1802-1867) and Polly Caswell (1800- 1867). The Widow Caswell’s “mangled” body showed signs of sexual assault, while Miss Caswell suffered a blow to the head. With no signs of robbery, the brutal crime scene offered few clues. A lack of evidence caused panic in the Auburn, Maine community.
Authorities initially focused on local transient Charles “Frenchman” Fretchie, but he produced an alibi. Out of leads, Auburn police asked a New York detective, Sgt. Blake, to assist with the crime. Blake became interested in Clifton Harris (1848-1868), who worked for Polly Caswell’s nephew. When questioned, police found blood on Harris’s boots—although he worked as a butcher. After questioning, Harris confessed to the murders and implicated Luther Verrill (1826-1907) as an accomplice.
Authorities doubted Harris’s hasty confession and brought in his love interest, who asked him to tell the truth, but Harris restated his guilt. A jury swiftly found Clifton Harris and Luther Verrill guilty—largely based on Harris’s testimony—and sentenced both men to death. However, Harris later recanted Verrill’s involvement, which led to Verrill’s retrial and acquittal. Clifton Harris continued to profess his own guilt, but many doubted his story and questioned if he was mentally fit for trial.
In an era where the state governor’s signature finalized all executions, Gov. Joshua L. Chamberlain (1828-1914) —despite public outcry against the death penalty—signed Harris’s death warrant.
Clifton Harris was hanged at Maine State Prison in Thomaston on March 12, 1869.