The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-07-01
A QUEER CASE.
A Woman Found I'm a Condition Pointing
Towards Foul Play.


Yesterday morning the police authorities
were informed that woman was lying in the
house No. 266 Fore street in an apparently
dangerous condition. Officer Sterling was
ordered to go to the house at once and investi-
gate and he would be met there as quickly as
possible by Marshal Decelle and Deputy
Marshal Black. Officer Sterling found wo-
man lying on the bed in small room in the
second story in an entirely I'm conscious condi-
tlon Her throat had the appearance of bad
usage. With her was man by the name of
Hiram Reynolds. Upon being questioned by
the officer as to whether he had not been
published" to the woman he said he had.
DR.. Ordway was called in and made an ex-
animation. Soon after the Marshal and
Deputy Black arrived and it was ascertained
that the woman had been, and was still I'M
der the treatment of DIR. Clarence A. Baker.
DR.. Baker said he was called to see the
woman on Sunday morning by man who, as
the reporter understood, was the same man
found at the woman's bedside. When he
reached the house he discovered the woman
had marks under the chin, such as indicated
choking. The man said that he was an ac-
qoaintance of the woman's, and called to sec
her Saturday morning. She was in bed and
not responding to his questions he supposed
she was grouty and he left without going
near her. Sunday morning as he happened
to pass the house he saw her window open and
went in. Her condition then startled him and
he went for the doctor at once, after throwing
some water on her to try and revive hes DIR.
Baker said the woman had been lying some
time in the posture in which she was found.
He Immediately commenced treatment and
visited her three times during the day and at
night thought she was little better. He also
called in DR.. 81. T. Merrill for consultation.
The woman's name is Annie Gilman and
she is about As years of age. She has always
had reputation as woman OF the town, at
least, as Marshal Decelle says, since he was a
deputy marshal under Marshal Clark. Yes
terday she presented very bad appearance.
There was a mark behind the right ear, the
length and thickness of two fingers, where
the blood had settled, and marks under the
chin as if she had been choked.
Reynolds was taken 10 the station and there
said he was painter by trade but chiefly fol-
lowed the sea for living He said he was So
years old. He is quick in his movements,
beardless. and has rather wrinkled face. In
conversation with Marshal Decelle, Rey-
nolds said he was not in the house with the
Gilman woman after o'clock Friday night:
that he then went out and took a stroll on
Commercial street, stepped aboard vessel
where he found Il crew pretty merry and
that he stayed all night with them. He di
not remember the vessels name nor any of
the sailors names, nor the wharf the vessel
laid at
Yesterday afternoon reporter of the PRESS
visited the building where the strange affair
took place, but was unable to gain an entrance,
as the door leading to the upper tenement was
fastened. However, he found woman in No.
268 who seemed to know something about the
affair. Her story was substantially as follows:
My name is Mrs. Emma Williams and I
have lived here about two weeks, Miss Gill
man lives in the upper tenement of 266, and
man whose name have forgotten has been in
the habit OF calling upon her. He was short
man with sandy complexion, and wore
squeaky boots, for could sometimes hear him
walking across the floor. He is the same man
that was arrested this afternoon. Another
man about 90 years OF age came to see Miss
Gilman last Tuesday. Friday night about $50
o'clock was sitting in my room when heard
strange choking noise, and as it grew louder
L rushed out doors, and looking up saw that
the window was open and there was a light in
there, and man was walking backwards and
forwards across the room. He was the same
man that the officers took to-day. Two men
heard the noise about the same time, and came
up to where was. They said, whats the
matter with -Annie?" and the man inside put
his head out OF the window and said, There's
nothing the matter now
am quite positive, said she, that the man
was there all that night. Saturday morning
heard him coming down stairs about
O'Clock During the day he would stay mp
there little while, and then go out. About
O'Clock Sunday morning, he came down stairs
and asked me to go up and see Annie. He
looked as II ne had been up all night. I went
up stairs, and upon seeing her, said, "She has
been choked." The man said, 80, no; she
must have fallen down stairs. She is ALWAYS
having fits, and when she does she fallsn
Mrs. Williams told the reporter that she never
knew of Miss Gilman ever having any fits.
The woman continued: "She did not move
much and did not speak. There was blood
around the woman's nose and mouth, and I
took rag and wiped it off. The button holes
in the top of her dress were broken out. I
think 1t was the same dress she had on Friday
afternoon. The man asked me what he
should do, and advised him to go for doc
tor, and think it was DR.. Baker that came"
Later in the day the officers arrested a man,
whose name we shall not give, as SO far he has
no connection with the affair other than that it
is said he was in the habit of going with the
Gilman woman. 1t was reported that she told
Reynolds after they were published" she
liked the other man the best and wouldn't
marry Reynolds.
Shortly after midnight a reporter of the
PRESS visited the Greeley Hospital and learned
that Miss Gilman's condition had not
changed.