The Portland daily press., 1879-04-14
William Hutchins.
WHAT A GARDINER POLICEMAN
SAYS
The Recent Mysterious Death on Fore
Street,

Last week the PRESS mentioned the death oil
William Hutchins from an overdose of opium,
atW. H. Gray's, Stafford Block, and after
wards stated thata telegram announced that q
post mortem examination was to be held in
4, Gardiner
Saturday police officer Hatten from Gardi1 ell
was here and made the statement to the Port
land police, Cororer Gould and Mr.. Andrew
Rich that suspicious were entertained that
Hutchins met with foul play. According to
Mr.. Hatten it is claimed by certain parties that
deceased's brother wife was too intimate with a
Gardiner man of means, and her husband,
George Hutchins, got what money he wanted
from this man in order to keep his tongue still
as his wife's paramour was married and had a
family. 1t is also claimed that William found
out the secret by which George got his money
and also threatened to expose the Lothario if
he didn't btbe hip to silence. The policeman
further stated that Mrs. William Hutchins, de-
ceased's wife, said William told her the Gar.
diner man had given him $25 to carry to man
in Portland and he was to have S. for his ex-
panses. George Hutchins had already come to
Portland, and the theory held by the Gardiner
policeman is that the Gardiner man sent
George up first, and then hired William to do
his errand so he could be put out of the way af-
ter he got here. William had $13 % in his
pocket-book when DR.. Ordway was called to
him, and the doctor took charge of the money
until the relatives should claim it, and after
wards handed it all over except his fee. George
admitted receiving $40 from William. One
xuby x,1o Il, ;s -
though Hutchins used to drink, he has been
temperate for year, and the policeman says
his friends in Gardiner claim he was not an
opium eater. When Coroner Gould Investigated
the case here he was told the man had taken
opium, and afterwards drink of liquor. Mr..
Rich visited Mr.. Gray's with Mr.. Hatten. Mrs.
Gray says William Hutchins came to her house
about II a. m. the day he was taken sick. He
went to the side door, knocked, and asked if
Mr. Gray lived there. Said he was an old
schoolmate of his. Was invited in and sat
down and talked. Appeared all right. Soon
after rested his head on his hands and
the perspiration poured down his face. His
brother George was in the room. Had recent
~ come in from Mr.. Foden's. William asked
George for paper and wrote on sheet after
sheet 81 have settled with Mr.. Brown and
nothing more. DR.. Ordway says he cousds red
the man suffering from an overdose of opium.
Used the stomach pump and smelt no traces of
liquor. A coffin was provided at Mr.. Gray's
request by an order from Mr.. Baker, Secretary
of the Overssers of the Poor, given to George
Hutchins. Mr.. Hatten returned to Gardiner
Saturday night.
A despatch from Gardiner says Hutchins's
body will be returned to Portland today for an
inquest to bs heidi Coroner Libby of Gardiner
says that he has no Jurisdiction, and that great
dissatisfaction is felt because the IL
quest was not held before the body left Port
land.
Mr.. Gray, at whose house the death of VII
liam Hutchins occurred, has sailed on voyage,
but this was not sudden step, as be had ship
ped before he saw Mr. Hutchins. Mr.. Gray
stated before he sailed that he was told that
Hutchins was in the habit of taking opium to
relieve his sufferings from rheumatism.