The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-15
GONE TO THE INSANE ASYLUM.
Last Chapter In the Romantic History of
II. G. Penney

Lewiston, SEPTEMBER 14.-H, G. Penney
OF Lewiston has been taken to the insane
asylum.
MIR. Penney came to Lewiston from
bangor year ago in comp any with q
we'll known Lewiston man. He opened
rooms in Centennial block, afterwards
Plllsbury block as dermatologist, and
1t is said he really did grow hair on several
bald heads about town. He advertised
extensively standing on the street corners
when the people came from the mills
ana putting his flyers into their hands. He
mas taken to drink, to drown his sorrows
perhaps, for last week he went to City
Marshal Feel and gave himself up, sa y
ing that he expected he was going crazy.
As matter Of fact he has had the hor-
rors and council Of physicians decided
to send him to Augusta. He was taken
there Saturday night. While in the Lew
iston police stallion he grew rapidly worse
seeing all manner of snakes and creeping
things. he would take up one of the iron
bedsteads and toss 1t in the ak as man
would toss grape basket.
DR.. Penney, healer of skin erupti ons
and grower of hair on bald heads has a
history. Six years ago he opened an
office In Belfast and while there became
Acquainted with Mrs. Ann French FORM
erly the wife of Capt. Jerry French, who
will be remembered in Bangor as an as
ISOLATE of the Famous Capt. Sanford of
the Bangor & Boston Steamship line.
Mrs. French at the time of the meeting
with the young and stalwart dermatolo-
gist, was SO years old and was lady of
remarkably well preserved ideas of ro-
nance. She fell in love with the young
man In spite of the Biblical warning
that man may not marry his grand
mother. She had many friends but none
of them dreamed what was coming about
in the lives of those lovers. 1t was not
a question of love, by the way with the
doctor.
/: He knew that Mrs. French was worth
$50, 600 and mostly in money. He trented
her professionally and made her believe
it is said that he could return her lost
youth and loneliness. A minister Of the
gospel was found who married them, and
the people of the town Immediately pro-
posed eggs on tar with the feathers
sprinkled OF top. They hooted and beat
tin kettles about the house of the happy
couple for some nights. H. was scien-
list in more ways than enc. He didn't
want to settle it with anyone. He and
his bride moved down to Amherst and
bought place and settled down in solid
comfort The Buoksport people tried
in vain to get guardian appointed for
her.
Penny used to drived up to Bangor in
great style and ON one or two occasions
created some excitement. For instance
one day he drove dashing pair of horses
off pier into the river and escaped with
his life. He sued Bangor for not having
gate there and recovered the price of
his horses. One day he bought lot OF
horses and paid more than they were
worth, but took them down to Bar Har-
Dor and convinced some of the swells
there that they were high bloodsd and
sold them at a profit.
Domestic happiness did not come to
the newly married couple down in
Amherst and they drifted apart Per-
haps the gap Of years had something to
do with it-anyway the money nearly all
gone the professor went up to Bangor
and like Pontius plate tried to kill
himself 4 by casting his ssbody from a
tower. He sprang from an upper window
in the Windsor hotel and dislocated his
shoulder. That made him look on life in
different manner and he lived on.
He has cut quite figure in certain
circles since coming to Lewiston but mas
always conducted himself quietly here.