The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-03-06
TuR WEST BUXTON CASE.
A Gard to the Pablic-The other sido OF
the story.


The following paper relative to the alleged
case of brutality and neglect on the part OF Mr.
Hugh Smith of West Buxton toward his in
sane wife, is published in justice to the &C
cused:
In order to preserve in the estimation OF all a
fair regard for the dignity and moral sense OF
our community; and especially IN Denaai OF h Mi
Hugh Smith our neighbor and associate IN Dusi-
ness for many years;-we have felt 1t TO Dc our
duty to transmit the following facts in extenua-
ton Of the unfortunate affair for which Mr..
Smith has been so severely denounced and 70
give the reason why the supposed crininai has
not been arrested. -,
The particular instance of Mrs. Smith which
has been made known to the public was ior
tuitous-not of course. 1t was contingency
which when all the attending circumstances
are known relieves MIR. Smith In great de-
gree from the odium which has naturally
enough been produced by che statements pub
lished.
The story that Mrs. Smith-who has been for
years maniac invalid. has during . severe
winter been confined in barren, airy QUIZ
room, without fire. clothes or bedding-ls one
that will upon little reflection detect itself.
A robust person would have persisted under
such treatment. There was not night lot
weeks previous to this event through which
Mrs. Smith could have lived, if she bad not had
the best of care.
This pitiable woman has been insane for
twenty years with occasional intervals. Her
mania is to destroy. Not shred OF clothing
bedding used for her which she can
tear. A few years since she managed TO
break the guard around the stove 10
her room and tipping all ever together, the
house was totally burned. MIR. Smith reached
the scene barely in time to rescue her, winch
he did by forcing barred window and bearing
her ont of the same in his arms. By dint of
hard labor, Mr.. Smith has reared another good
house. A second and third stove has peen
turned over and broken in this house in the
same way and with imminent danger of fire.
The frenzy OF the poor woman to set hre ana
to destroy is continual and unending. ana
although she is cripple from long continued
crouching in one posture, she is able to creep
and thus do mischief Under these crcum.
stances Mr.. Saith bad the alternative to tie
her fast in one part of the room and keep fire
in another part, or give her the exercise OF the
room without fire. Mr.. Smith preferred the
latter course through the fall as being less
troublesome to himself and better for her. AS
the more severe weather came on be neglect
ed to do what he intended, which was to
| place stove with sufficient guard around it
| in her room. And this neglect was character
| istic of the man. He is a very industrious,
attentive man to his particular business
which is teeming. 1t had become Ia COM
| mon saying among his neigh6ors years
ago that in his home affairs be is
about three weeks behndhand To keep
hot stones and bricks have been placed in her
bunk nights and strong canvass or il.c!oth
which she could not pick or tear has been used
for covering In the daytime she has ire
ouently if not always sat in the same room
with the family, and always ate at table with
them when it could be allowed with decency.
| On the day that Mr.. Townsenda, n officer OF the
town, who was at a neighbours near BY, had
his attention called to the matter. Mr.. Smith
| was upon the road with his team. His mother
| who had been sick in his house all winter, and
| is now buried, they thought to be dying; and
| son of Mr.. Smith, young man, had just been
| brought home with both feet frozen terribly.
| All was excitement in the house and as con-
| sequence Mrs. Smith did not nave ner usual
care
Mr.. Townsend whose name is appended to
| this article states that the door OF her room
| was 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 has
occupied all winter, and no one who kdows Mr..
| Smith will have any doubt that she has had
plenty of food and of good quality.
In consideration OF these things and null
| titude of like nature, which can neither be
mentioned or explained, We wish to say to
| all. and particularly to the business men of
| Portland to whom Mr. Smith has long been
known. that we reproach Mr. Smith with moth
ing farther than unmeanng neglect with
which he equally reproached himself; we also,
4 at the same time, accord to him the merit of
sustaining, with accomplishing patience for
many years, trials and burdens in consequence
of his demented wife, which but few men
would have borne as we'll
But it is said that it is currently reported
| that Mr. Smith, at the time of this occurrence,
was away from home with another woman, SC.
| All this is utterly false. MIR. Smiths char
| acter is unimpeached in this respect
| DANIEL TOWNSEND,
| one of the Selectmen of Buxton.
| JAMES MORTON.
| CHARLES HoBsoN. s
| JAMES MEsERvB.
| WIN. III. SMITH.
| THEODORE ELwELLs.
| Wrsr RuxroN March g. 1873