The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-03-03
December and May Welded.

THE HOUSE ATTACKED AND THE GROOM AS
sAULTED. NO ARRESTS MADE. THE BRIDE
AND GROOM LEAVE TOWN.
No event in Belfast for years has caused
so much indignation and talk as the marri-
age on Saturday evening last of Horace C.
Penney and Mrs. Anna J. French.
Mrs. French, who is nearly So years old,
came from Bangor three years ago and
bought house on Bell street. To a Jour
nal representative Tuesday morning the old
lady said she came to Belfast because she
thought her health would be better here.
For many years she went to sea with her
husband and was fond of salt water. She
said she was born at Castine, but her moth
er dying when young she was thrown upon
her own resources. She married Capt. Jere-
miah French, of Bangor. It successful ship
master, who died in 1852, leaving a hand
some property. Mrs. French told the Jour
nal man that he left.S50,00 The old lady
is very eccentric person and is thought by
many 10 be insane. She 1magines her rela-
tives are after her property and will not al
low one OF them to come to her home She
has sister living somewhere ''down on the
island' as she expresses it. Mrs French is
spiritualist and members of that belief
have been more or less intimate with her.
The house is handsomely furnished and CON
tains numerous pieces of bric-a-brac and
curios picked up in foreign countries. Speci-
mems of fancy bead and needle work are to
be seen on every hand, and there are many
evidences that c ba 70 n 1a1x Of
ment. Her relatives are most respectable
people. Capt Marcus Peirce, master of
steamer Katahdin, is her nephew. While
living in Belfast Mrs. French has had a
handsome bank account. She has had two
wills drawn up by attorneys. In one, made
during recent illness, she left all her prop
erty to a Searsport man.
Horace G. Penney, the man she married,
halls from Amherst, Me-, and is about 50
years old. In the Maine Register he is put
down as barber. He came here last No
vember and travelled from house to house
selling complexion powders and paints. His
chief occupation was in beautifying the faces
OF the ladies, and manya Belfast belle has
submitted to his painting process. Penny is
a cousin of Graves, who is serving life SEN
tence i'll state prison for the murder of the
game warden at Fletcher Brook 1t is said
that Penney is the man who BETRAYED Graves
and gave the information which lead to his
arrest and subsequent conviction. For some
time Penney has roomed at Mrs. French's
house, taking his meals at Ellis restaurant
1t has been surnised that he might marry
the old lady, as she has often expressed a
wish to be married and said she preferred IL
young man. TO journal representative
Tuesday morning Penney said he found the
old lady, sick and alone and had taken care
of her and provided Il nurse for her \ few
days az" Penney presented himself to CItv
Clerk Murch and WAS published. hut I ll,. fact
WAS not generally known. He told Nh
Murch that Mrs. French was upwards of
seventy Years of age. Penney has been mar
rled before, but claims he has been divorced
Saturday evening was fixed upon ;ls the
time for marriage and Penny began a search
for Il Justice of the Peace toperfurm the Ger
em"ny. He first called upon Judge .IollnSon
Then he went to X. f. DuntonS office and
asked him if he was Justice of the Peace
and ON beng answered in the affirmative
Penney asked if he would marry "a vouple
Mr.. Dunton replied ''Nes" Twenty aim
utes later Penney came With a hack and drove
to Mrs. Frenchs house ON Bell street Mr.
Dunton did not know Penney and did not
know who was to be married. Mr. Dunton
has performed considerable legal business
for Mrs. French and knew her mental con-
ditlon. He was much surprised when he
learned that she was the party to he married
and asked her if it was all right. She said
she didn't know. Mr.. Dunton refused to
perform the marriage ceremony and told
Mr.. Penney he would have nothing to do with
the matter. Mr., Dunton then left the house
Penney then sought Rev. r. 7. H tcl, who 1t
late hour, in the presence of Mr. and Mrs.
John Harris, married the couple
Sunday it became known that the mar
riage had taken place, and the indignation
was great. Everyone said that Penney w. 8
an adventurer and was after the old ladv's
money, and on obtaining it would desert
her Last week Mrs. French, who had a
handsome deposit at the Belfast Savings
$500. This was endorsed to Penney and he
drew the cash from the bank He also oh
tanned a large quantity of gold which it is
alleged belonged to the old lady, and dis
played it about town, weighing it in the
scales of the shops.
Monday the talk increased and threats
We're heard ON every hand. 'He ought to
he tarred and feathere,l - ''ridden on a raj! .
"drummed out Of town. We're fire.
Quent expressions. No one believed that
bodily harm would be offered Monday
evening, however, a large crowd assembled
i'll front of the house, many estimating the
number as high as POO. The door WAS
pounded, but there was no response. Eggs,
rotten apples, potatoes and other missiles
were thrown against the house. breaking out
nearly every pane of glass in the front Win
dows. The door was then forced open and
an entrance gained. Mrs. Penney was alone,
nearly frightened to death, and much eNcit-
ed. The crowd demanded Penney. "He is in
Bangor, answered the old lady. Evidences
of his presence were on every hand, and the
crowd went through the house Penney was
found under the caves of the porch chamber
armed with revolver. He did not fire but
with the rpJnlyar kent ha at lao,