The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-05

because she did not sanction it, and because
| the family would not receive her brothers
| wife. She so told her friends. She did not
care for her brothers property, only that it
should be so cared for as to support him. She
was on the train when he and his wife went to
Boston, and saw the strange movements of her
| brother.
Mrs. Paris, the younger sister, next testified,
but it was entirely corroborative of the previous
| witnesses.
Marshal Bridges testified that the prisoner
appeared to be an insane man, and stated some
| circumstances showing it while in the police
office.
Officer Hanson testified as to his orders,
his detention of the carriage and taking it to
the station, also to the violence of Mr.. Willis
in the station where among other things he at
tempted to get away and used base ball bat
in the room.
Mr.. VIM R. Woods testified to the strange
conduct of the prisoner at his house Friday and
Sunday. The former day he talked strangely,
ate hearty and went asleep three times at the
table. Sunday he acted still more strangely
took all of certain dish and mixed it up in a
disgusting manner and ate voraciously. His
wife was with him at first and tried to get him
away. He had visited Mr.. Woods previously
and appeared well-bred man.
This closed the testimony for the complain.
ants, though Mr.. Strout stated that he had
other witnesses which he. could not get at
night.
DR.. S. H. Tewksbury was called by Mr.. Lib
by. He testified that he had known the pris-
reta oh Hal LID
states. Called to mind one at Bangor two
years ago. He was suffering from temporary
arrangement but not amounting to mania.
It was caused by the condition of the brain
brought about by undue excitement. He was
consulted by his wife and he advised her to
take him under her own protection away to
quiet place, and there exclude him from all
sources of excitement, and that she was acting
under his advice when detained He did made
arrangements for them at a friends in Con-
way. He knew the man was harmless and
was confident that he would resume calm
condition as soon as removed from the annoy.
ing circumstances, and that he could as well
recover at place of quiet as in an asylum.
Mrs. Willis, the wife of the prisoner, next
testified. She had known her husband three
months previous to marriage. Had been en-
gagged six weeks. Had in her possession letters
from his sisters approving the marriage; never
heard of their opposition till the Friday before
the marriage 1t was then by letters to her in
tended husband, about which he was greatly
excited and very angry. The sister, Mrs. Will
lis, called ON her Sunday previous to the mar
riage and they dined together. She then told
har ohio tho sistarl pvas onnoeod IN tho
on account of the condition of her brother
The sister did all she could to influence her
brother to postpone. A paper appointing
a trustee was presented Mr.. Willis to sign. He
was angry and tore it up Her husband had
made will of his property to her. Did not see
the sister until after they had started for Boston,
When they left Mr.. Willis was laboring I'M
der intense excitement at the conduct of his
sister and others who had taken her side. He
wept, and several times in the evening took
some Kind of medicine which affected him Sc
rlously. She admitted that she had Snot staid
in his.room, but it was on the advice of Mrs..
Willis who thought it was not safe. The
nephew also advised separate rooms. She did
not request the presence of the nephew and af-
ter she was apprised that his presence was det-
rimental to her husband she requested him to
leave. She had never had an intimation that
Mr.. Wilisswas insane until very few days
before the marriage.
Her friends consulted DR.. Brown on the SUBJ
ject of the fitness of Mr.. Willis to marry and
he told them he was non.committal. Her pas.
tor and all of her friends who knew the parties
told her that the marriage would be statutory
for both. Mr.. Willis had been fifteen years
away from his friends-was well spoken off.
She had sincere purpose to care for him.
She was confident she could take care of him
better than it could be done at an asylum.
She was anxious to try. She said respecting
the ride in Evergreen that it was her fault as
much as hIs-that they rode long way on
path that both thought would lead them out.
1t did not. She got out and went to get help,
and did send him help. He aid not appear ex-
cited. She showed considerable emotion at
times and appeared to excellent advantage
Lewis Pierce, Esq, testified that at the sug-
gestion of Mrs. Willis he sent Mr.. Willis
blank form to put his property in the hands of
trustee so that the two could have the income
of his property and thereby protect it against
his possible wastefulness.
The counsel at 1.30 this morning agreed to
submit the case without argument, and Judge
Symonds said that the testimony failed to show
that the prisoner was Insane to an extent that
would warrant his detention by the municipal
officers of a city of which he was not resi-.
dent-that the arresting of man who was
passing through the city and was not in a state
threatening danger to others was illegal and
unwarrantable, and accordingly ordered that
the prisoner, Benjamin Willis, be discharged
from custody.