The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-05
AN EXCITING AFFAIR.
Bridegroom Arrested for Insanity
A Midnight Scene in the Court
Room.
The Husband Released-The Wife Victo-
trious-The Relations Defeated.

cent or Bangor, was married to MISS Emma
Gould of that city. Mr., Willis age is given as
So years. Miss Gould's age in the marriage
certificate is recorded as 40. Mr. Willis is a
slight man, of quick movement and gentleman
ly appearance, hut has the reputation of being
peculiar and not of vigorous intellect, and with
al, of nervous and excitable temperament
Mrs. Willis is a stylishly dressed lady, rather
below medium size, blonde, and having the ap-
pearance of one who has been accustomed TO
good society.
The marriage was the occasion of much COM
ment in Bangor society, and was strenuously
opposed by the relations Of Mr.. Willis, ostens-
bly, on the ground that he was not in such a
condition Of health and mind as to warrant his
entering upon the marriage relation.
After the marriage the bridal party started
| for Boston on the Pullman train. Mrs. Willis,
his eldest sister, was on the train, as was the
lady with whom Mr. Willis boarded. After the
train had proceeded part of the way, Mr..
Willis was seized with symptoms of insanity or
rather was in highly nervous condition, aud
continued in that state until his arrival in Bos-
tons Thursday Mr.. Willis and wife, with his
nephew, returned to Portland, and took rooms
at the United States. Mr.. Willis movements
and symptoms have been very strange while
here.
His sisters, Miss Willis and Mrs. Paris, ar
rived Monday, and after consultation with Lew
is Pierce, Esq, who has charge of the family
| estate, as well as eminent lawyers and physi
| clans, it was deemed advisable to send him to
the Insane Hospital. The usual complaint,
| signed by the sisters, Mrs. Willis and Parris
and the nephew, Mr.. Hamilton Willis, accom-
panied by the certificate Of Drs. Hamlin and
Weston Of Bangor, made before the marriage,
asserting the insanity Of Benjamin Willis, was
made to Mayor Fessenden and the Board of
| Aldermen.
1t being represented that Benjamin Willis
might leave the city, the Mayor directed the
Marshal to see that it did Lot take place, and
officer Hanson was despatched to the United
States Hotel to watch the movements of the
man. Hanson watched the man and did not
| interfere until the trunks of Mr.. Willis and
wife were put upon hack and the gentleman
| and lady, attended by Mr.. Edwin Morrill,, the
| we'll known attendant of the sick entered the
| carriage. At that time he judged that the ten
or of his instructions were such that he could
not permit the man to escape and he informed
Mr.. Morrill, and the driver that they must pro-
coed TO the police station. Arriving at the sta
ton, Marshal Bridges informed the lady of the
cause of the detention of the carriage, and af-
| ter making them as comfortable as could be
| under the circumstances, went for Mayor Fes-
| sender.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen met at
$50 p. M, and had just finished reading the
L 1a;p r hhu Ecn fbo
| room somewhat hurriedly and intimated that
he desired to participate in the affair. He had
no time for preparation, but denounced the
proceedings in rather vehement terms. S. q.
Strout, Esq, who was the counsel for the COM
plainants, asked him to proceed and show why
the party in question should not be sent to the
Asylum. Mr.. Libby did not choose to do this,
but simply alleged that the arrest was illegal,
and the action of those instituting it in the
manner they did, was no less than an outage.
Thereupon Alderman Taylor said he was un-
willing to send stranger to the Insane Asylum
after few minutes hearing of one side, and
moved that the matter be postponed until this
"wednesday afternoon, which was carried.
1t should have been stated that Mr.. Libby
demanded the release Of Mr.. Willis of the
i
peril.
At the close of the proceedings the prisoner
was remanded to the custody Of the Marshal,
and, by arrangement, he was put in charge of
Mr. Morrill, as keeper, and taken to the
States.
Mr.. Libby then proceeded to the Superior
Court and applied to Judge Symonds for a
writ of habeas corpus. After presenting the
case the prayer of the counsel was granted, and
about seven o'clock the writ was served upon
1 Mr. Morrill,, the keeper, by Deputy Sheriff
Adams, with orders to bring the prisoner be-
fore the Judge in the court room.
At 30 o'clock the sheriff, keeper, prisoner
| and his wife appeared in the court room. Mr..
Willis was soon taken to the adjoining room.
l He appeared quite calm and converted ration
! ally in quiet with DR.. Tewksbury and others.
l At 9 80 Willis was taken to the hotel and the
l hearing proceeded without his being present as
l soon as the parties arrived. S. G. Strout, Esq.,
| appeared for the compliments, and City So
licitor Reed for the Mayor and Boaad of AL
| dermen. Quite a time elapsed before Mr..
Pierce, and the sisters and nephew making the
complaint, answered what appeared to be
sudden summons.
Mr. Libby stated that the arrest was illegal,
and that the man should be set at liberty. For
the city officials, Mr.. Reed held that thu NUM-
cipal authorities had power to hold a man un-
der such grave charges as were made by the
compliments, while the case was being adjudi
| Gated. Mr.. Strout held that no injury was don
| the party-that he supposed that it had been
arranged with Mr.. Libby to leave the prisoner
| in the custody of Mr.. Morrill, until the NUM-
| cipal authorities could investigate the case
/ Mr.. Libby pressed for the immediate hearing
of the case.
Judge Symonds said that he would go on.
The counsel made explanation, but His Honor
intimated that testimoney was what was need
ed. Mr.. Clarence Pullen having been sent for
| by Mrs Benjamin Willis, the wife Of the pris-
oner, at the suggestion of Mr.. Libby he was
/ sworn and testified that he had known both
parties previous to the marriage for about four
years-had never heard it said that Mr.. Willis
was insane until day or two before the mar
riage. He was peculiar-quite unlike other
people-had strange ways, but was always gen.
tlemanly. The lady moved in good society in
! Bangor and was, SO far as he knew, generally
esteemed.
Judge Symonds called upon Mr.. Morrill,, the
keeper, to answer why he detained Benjamin
Willis in his custody. The answer was that
he was put in his charge as an insane man and
was awaiting the further action of the Board
of Mayor and Aldermen under whose orders
he was acting. Mr.. Libby said: II demand
the release of Benjamin Willis on the ground
that he is sane man and that his arrest and
detention is Illegal
The counsel for the compliments, Mr..
Strout, then called his witnesses. Mr.. Ham
ilton Willis. nephew of the prisoner, was first
called. Mr.. Willis testified that he first saw
his uncle at the United States Hotel in Boston
after his arrival from Bangor. He was wild at
times and acted strangely. The morning after
his arrival he Jumped on and off of the horse
| cars-shook his hands in a frantic manner
spread his money out on his lap in the hotel
Office and go to Sleep but would wake up on
being touched or spoken to. Said that the
prisoners wife was afraid of him and at her
| request, as he understood it, he occupied the
room with the prisoner. He did not sleep well