The Portland daily press., 1895-03-01
UNHAPPY LOVE
And Leroy Fernald's Hereditary
Mental Taint
UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSED THE LEBA-
NON TRAGEDY,

and the Attendant Circum stances
Agents Book-''You Know I'm In a
Mess'-Facts About Mrs. FernaId's OPP
position to Mrs. Butler-How LEROY
Was Found With Hands CIasped Like a
yice-His Attempted Suicide In Alfred
| Jail Unsuccessful.
Yesterday noon the PRESS representative
took the Portland and Rochester train for
the little town of East Lebanon in York
county, near tie News- Hampshire line.
where the day before had occurred that
most frightful tragedy. when Leroy Fer
maid, thirty-nine years of age, killed bis
mother with an axe and then set fire to
the farm buildings.
On the train was Mr.. Frank L. Dexter.
editor Of the Springvsle Advocate. and
Grand Commander of the Golden Cross for
Maine. He was present Wednesday night
at the hearing before Justice Frost of
Sprngyale. when Leroy Fernald was
charged with having killed his mother and
plead mot guilty" though but few hours
before he had admitted to his neighbors
that he did kill his mother.
| Dr.. /. G. Sawyer was holding Fernald by
the wrist when Editor Dexter entered the
room. The doctor said 10 FernaId, apparent
ly trying to test his sanity:
why have you these on?" indicating the
handouts.
"Because | deserve it. suppose" was the
reply.
How long has this evil propensity taken
possession of you?'
FEWER SINCE I WAS BORN"
was the astonishing reply. te
Flow old are your
9"Thirty nine. i believe. 49,
Then the doctor placed his hand on Fer
maids temple and turning to the rest said ::
| ''He is apparently cool as a cucumber
Fernald had muller around his neck
and one Of sthes officers asked him if he
wasn't warm and loosened the scarf Fer
maid thanked him. He talked vely little
and was silent while the papers were being
made out. When he was questioned, he re-
piled promptly. but briefly. and in self
contained manner.
| Mr.. Dexter says that ne is about five feet
| ten inc hes tail, with dark complexion full
black beard and mustache with an appear
ance much like the az erage farmer.
He kept his eyes studiously turned down,
and when anyone addressed him he'd look
up quickly and then down again. His eyes
were clear and bright, and he seemed in
good health.
He has only common school educa ton.
but his language was good and above the
average in his position in lire
Mr.. Dexter said that SO far as he knew
and had been able to learn there has been
insanity IN t1e family and that they are
well known as qniet people. He heard had
that Leroy Fernald had shown no tedden-
cy toward insanity
TILL DURING LAST SUMMER,
when his actions. on several occasions,
though not suggesting any idea of restraint
brought to mind the tendency of the family
and caused remarks that lie was following
in thesfamily footsteps in that unfortunate
direction.
| Mrs. FerLald was considered Il very
pleasant. agreeable woman. All the trades
men with whom she traded and all the
neighbors speak very pleasantly of ner. She
had many friends. Her late husband was
one of the selectinen of the town ard Il
deacon in the Baptist church. He was con
sidered one of the prosperous, weil-to-do
| farmers of the place. The property that he
| left estimated at from $40, 900 to SIS, 900.
Leroy was a good farmer, patient. hard
working man and kept the farm Up in good
shape. Mrs. Butler, the widow. with whom
! Leroy had kept company and whose
\ marriage with him Mrs. Fernald had OBJ
jected 10 is about forty years of age and
lives in Sanford.
Mr.. Dexter had heard that the neighbors
| say that on the evening before the murder
mother and son had
HAD A SERIOUS QUARREL
about this matter. In the morning after
Leroy came in from doing the chores there
may have been renewal of the quarrel in
The kitchen and some word might have ex-
asperated him so that in fit of uncontrolI-
able anger lie had seized the axe and dealt
the fatal blow.
After the fearful deed was done he
probably realized his danger and concluded
| to burn the buildings in order to hide all
evidence of his crime. He may have bought
TO escape in the confusion, or he may have
intended to kill himself, but the circum-
stances of his hiding away in the garnet
would seem to indicate that he was alarmed
by seeing the neighbor coming to the fire
| anu ia" HinSelA AopAnR ~ escape them.
| 1t was about nine o'clock when the house
was pronounced out of danger, and it was
nearly one o'clock in the afternoon when
Leroy was found. OF course this theory as
10 the murderer's actions is surinise and
| bearsay. but must be very near the facts
In many farm houses an axe is kept in the
kitchen and one might have been in this
fatal kitchen ready to the nurderer's hand
AS to the quarrel with his mother the
night before, the probability of this will
appear later.
When the train reached Alfred, Mr..
Thomas Fernald of Lebanon, an elderly
man
UNCLE TO THE MURDERER,