Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-13
gE WEST BrfT0f INs4Ni7f CASE

THE WEST BUXTON INSANITY CASE.
| We find in the columns of the Bddeford Jour.
nal the following statement concerning the alleged
case Of brutality and neglect on the part Of Mr.
Hugh Smith of West Buxton toward his insane
wife, which is published justice to the accused :
| In order to preserve in the estimation of all
fair regard for the dignity and moral sense of
| community and especially in behalf OF Mr.. Hugh
Smith, our neighbor and associate in business for
many years we have felt it to be our duty to
| transmit the following facts in eAtenuation of the
unfortunate affair Tor which Mr.. Smith has been
| so severely denounced and to give the reason why
the supposed criminal has not en- arrested.
The particular instance of Mrs. Smith which
has been made known to the public was fortutous
not of cour,e. 1t was a continge ncy which hen
all the attending circumstances are known re-
lieves Mr.. Smith in great degrer from the odium
which has naturally enough been produced by the
state ments published.
The story that Mrs. Smith-who has been for
years q maniac invalid has during q severe winter
been confined in barren, airy out room, without
fire, clothes bedding-is one that will upon
little reflection detect itself. A robust person
ould have persisted under such treatment. There
was not night for weeks previous to this event
through which Mrs. Smith could have lived, if she
had not had the test Of care
This pitiable woman has been insane for TWEEN
ty years with occasional intervals. Her mania Is
to destr, v. Not shr6 d OF clothing can be kept
for her which she can tear. A few years since she
managed to break the guard around The stove in
her and tipping all over together, the house
was totally burned. Mr.. Smith reached the scene
forcing barred window and bearing her out Of
the same in his arms. BY dnt of hard labor, Mr..
| Smith has real ed another good house. A second
| and third stove has been turned over and broken
in this house in the same way and with imminent
danger of fiie. The frenzy Of the poor woman to
| act fire n IL
And although she is q cripple from long continued
croncbing in ne posture she IS able to creep ana
| thus do mischief Under these circumstances MIR.
| Smith had the alternative to tie her fast in one
part Ct the room and keep fire in another part, or
| give her the exercise Of the room without hre
Mr.. Smith pref, rred the latter course through the
fall as being less troublesome to himself and bet
ter for her. AS the more severe weather came on
he neglected to do what he intended, which was
to place a stove with q sufficient guard around it
| in her room. And this neglect was characteristic
| of the mar He is very industrious, attentive
| man to his particular business whi h Is teaming.
1t had become a common saying among his neigh
bors years ago that in his home affairs he is about
three weeks behindhand. To keep the woman
comfortable might be, hot stones and bricks
have been placed in her bunk nights, and strong
canvass or sail cloth which she could not pick or
tear has been used for a covering. In the day
time she has frequently if not always sat in the
same room with the family, and always ate at Ia
Bile with them when it could be allowed with de-
c,ncy. On the day that Mr.. Townsend an officer
of the town, who was at q neighbours near by, had
bis attention called to the matter, Mr.. Smith was
upon the road with his team. His mother who
has been sick in his house all winter, and is now
buried, they thought to be dying; and a son Of
Mr. Smith, young man, had just been brought
home with both feet frozen terribly. All was ex-
citemen mt in the house and consequence Mrs.
Smith did not have her usual care.
MIR. Townsend whose name is appended to this
article, states that the door of her room not
locked and that there was no question about his
entering.
The woman has not been removed from the
house: She is in the same room which she nas
occupied all winter and no one who knows MIR
Smith will have any doubt that she has had plenty
OF food and of good quality.
In consideration Of these things and a multitude
of like nature, which can neither be mentioned or
explained, we wish to say to all, and particularly
to the business men of Portlsnd to whom Mr.
Smith has long been known, that we reproach Mr.
Smith with nothing farther than unmear ing ne
glect,-with which be equally reproached himself;
also, at the same time, accord to him the merit
of sustaining, with explaining patience for
many years trials and burdens in consequence of
his demented wife, which but few men would have l
borne well.
But it is said that it is currently reported that
Mr.. Smith, at the time Of this occurrence, was
away fiom home with another woman, etc. All
this is utterly false. Mir. Smiths charact is un-
impeached in this respect.
DANIEL TOWNSEND,
One of the Selectmen of Buxton.
JAMES MORTON.
CHARLES HoBsoN.
JAMES MEsERvE.
VIM. II. SMITH.
THEODORE FLwELLS. a
WEST BUXTON, March 3, 1875.