The Portland daily press., 1894-04-12

1t will be remembered that there was
some time ago family disagreement
among the children of Henry Mansfield,
who lives on Great Cheageague Island.
He is 81 years old, and has lived on the
home farm with his son, Isaiah Mans
field, who has family. There was an
agreement that this son should possess
the farm if he gave the old man a-home.
There is insanity in the Mansfield
family. A daughter, who lived also on
the farm, was taken, within year to
augusta.
A little over a year ago the son, Isaiah
who is between 40 and so years of age
became mentally deranged. He fell sud
denly into state of profound melan-
cholia, refused to speak to or recognize
anybody, kept closely to his own room,
and though never violent, and healthy
in body, was mental nonenity.
Then his wife's troubles began. She
soon after gave birth to the seventh
child the Oldest being less than Is years
of age The crazy sister was dangerous
at times, the old father was mentally as
well as bodily feeble, her husband
simply animal, and, to fill her cup OF
misfortune, she fell and injured her
knee last fall, and then soon after her
husbands brothers, Joseph H. Ind
James Mansfield, of Yarmouth. began
to. endeavor to get her home away from
her. They alleged that their father had
not been properly treated, and thus
Isaiah's title to the farm was void. The
matter came to legal contest, the unfor
tunate wife having the assistance of kind
people, who knew about the CASE
| At the present term of the Supreme
Court in this city the case was to have
been tried. but yesterday the counsel
of both sides held meeting and agreed
| to postpone the case till October. The
old man, Henry Mansfield, is the plain
tiff in the case, against his son Isaiah,
but the defendant, who is of course
Isaiah's wife, claims that the feeble old
father is simply influenced by the
other sons.
The postponement was due to aschange
| III bu0 COuOlUlOA VI ASdlohs LIZ AiaN ~
manned in his quiet melancholy until
very early this spring, when he began to
evince little intelligence, and assumed
| some care of his children, dressing and
undressing them ,setc. Thenshe began
| to use needle and thread, though he
had never done So previously. He soon
became very proficient, made dresses
| for the children and and handled the nee
die as we'll as woman.
| It will be remembered that his wife
| gave birth to the seventh child after
his mental arrangement. On the 18th
of last month he says that he suddenly
| became conscious of himself aud the
world around him, and found himself
holding and dressing baby that he
had never seen:before. He rushed out
and exclaimed to his astonished wife,
| "whose Child Is This?"
! He had seen nothing during the year
| that was past, not even his own infant,
that he had held in mis- arms day after
| day. He says he seemed to have
awakened from sleep, and the whole
year was but as one night.
| He went out doors and saw the new
cottage OF. Professor Morse of Baltimore,
| for the first time, though he had looked
at it forsmonths His ability at sew
| ing.and tlressmaking has left him. He
| is as clumsy with needle as he was be-
fore. While his mind was clouded he
slept all night like a child, but since
March 18th he has been troubled with
insomnia, as ne always was before. He
is now able to help his wife in defending
the attack upon their home and for
her, as we'll as for him there has come
the sunshine after the dark night of the
pastsyear.
Memorial to Mr.. and Mrs. Thwing.
| Dr C1arence Thwinp formerly a Port