The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-08
FERNALD CANNOT LIVE.
Will Probably Save the Expense Of a
Trial.
THE WOUND in HIS THROAT HAS
NOT HEALED.
Close the Gaping Wound-Little Hope
Felt That He Will Recover.

Physicians Took Thi rty y-eight Stitches to
Close the Gaping Wound-Little Hope
Felt That He Will Recover.
Alfred, Me-, March LEROY Fernald,
the Lebanon matricide, was nearer right
than most people thought when he told
Couny Attorney Emmons that he wou Id
never live TO be tried. 1t is very donbt-
ful il the county is ever put to any ex-
pense for the trial of the prisoner, as
Fernald's death now seems to be but a
question of few days. He may recoy-
er. but it is very doubtful.
1t will be remem bered that Fernald
made an attempt to commit suicide in
Alfred Jail last Thursday morning, at
which time he made a four inch cash in
his throat, and was discovered just in
time to prevent his bleeding to death.
He made desperate strugge to. open the
wound as soon as he was found. and his
arms had to be bound while the doctors
were attending him. At that time eight
stitches were taken to draw the wound
together, and it was thought that it
would heal up all right. Fernald has
nnO w NC WdUCACQ 6lA 70 tACh
to prevent his tearing the bandages
away. and also to prevent him from
committing suicide by jumping into the
corridor below. He has been very rest
lesss, has slept but little, has been able
to take no nourishment except Cruel,
and very little of that. His throat has
trou bled him a great deal, and has made
breathing difficult He has not wanted
to live, ani has asked his guards repeat
1IrTk ,1l,D H. 5e,1 SFa
Drs. Landers and Day, who have been
attending him. unbound his throat yes
terday, and were surprised to find that
the wound had not healed at all, and
that it was, in fact, gaped open as much
as when he was first found. The stitch
es had all pulled out, and the neck was
much infiamed, the wound being mat
terated. The opening int the windpipe
had not closed UP either, and blood still
ooZed slowly into it. The doctors found
it necessary to sew the wound up imme-
diately, and took eight stitches in it,
the stitches being made with the great
test difficulty, as the edges of the wound
has become much thiCkened. A gentle
man who saw the doctors at work, said
that the wound WAS in terrible condi-
tion, and that he did not believe it would
ever heal Fernald stood the painful
operation with nerve, never uttering a
word, but it must have been extremely
painful. as the doctors had to use all
their force to get the needle through.
The patient gripped the sides of the bed
with his hands, and trembied. all over.
He must have wished more than ever
that he was dead, as there is nothing
that is more painful than the sewing up
of flesh wound. On account of the
wound being on his NECK, ,sit was not pos
sible to give him erther.
In the evening the doctors returned and
took about thirty more stitches in the
wound, closing 1t up. They hope that it
will heal, but are said not to be very
confident about it.
1t is supposed that in his struggles
Fernald broke the wound open. and that
he has kept it constantly infiamed by
working the muscles of his neck. He
had a severe fit of coughing yesterday
morning, before the doctors attended
him, which was the reason for their be-
ing summoned. This probably helped to
open the wound.
Sheriff Hurd, who was in town today,
saw FernaId yesterday, and does not
believe that he can live long. He says
that Fernald mas taken little nourish-
ment, is much weakened by loss of
blood and sleep, is suffering greatly
from the wound, and moreover is des-
pondent and melancholy, and does not
wish to live.