The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-02

will impose.
Thus will end the public part of the
case of the State Of Maine vs.. Harry Dale
of Burlington, Vermont.
Surprising plea of insanity would be
set I'D DR.. Sanhorn, the fBcient superin-
tsndent of the State Insane Asylum at
Augusta was present in court to testify,
as an expert, in the case. After Dale had
pleaded guilty a PRESS man had most
interesting interview with EDr. Sanborn
in regard to his experience with Dale
during the four months Dale has been
under his charge, he having been cent to
Augusta on September 2Sth last.
Harry Dale is. without exception, the
in our institution said DR.. Sanborn,
with much emphasis. When man OF
the suparintendent's long and wide ex-
perience in dealing with desperate men
makes such statement, it will tie at
once appreciated how much it means.
He has worried me to DEATH" con-
tinued DR.. Sanborn. 81 lived in con-
slant fear that he would kill some of our
patients. 1t was only by the most con-
slant vigilance and vigorous and harsh
measures that we kept him down at all
where we could handle or control him.
On one occasion only good LUCK prevented
his escape"
k"He was evidently fsigning acute
mania. When any of the doctors were
around, he exhibited every symptom of
insanity, but when left to his attendants
be was very glad to read the newspapers.
He slept finely at night and often in the
day time. He never would speak to me
save to swear at me, but he would cons
verse freely with the attendants. He told
them he had been for years an opium
eate- and addicted to excessive use of
liquor ana cigarettes. He said his mother
had been an opium eater before he was
born and that he as taking liquor and
opium when he comm tilted the breaks in
Freeport.
You spoke of Dals's almost successful
attempt at escape doctor, what were the
particulars of that?"
"Well. - replied DR.. INFORM, "brietiy
it was like this: We have tier of rooms
at tbs hospital in one of the wings where
it was impossible to construct window
letting in light from out of door. So had
feet from the floor of the room window
which transmitted light from another
window opening out doors some twelve
feet distant. The light of glass used in
this window, was German class one inoh
thick. When Dale first came to us he was
tire stay after the event am telling you
about. One night shortly after midnight
Dale made Que of the boldest attempts to
escape I have ever known of. 1t is almost
uncomfortable in it's desperateness. Dale
ripped off oorDice of his room aud
battered hole through that inch thick
glass and this too, into the room of an
other male patient. He elimb bed through
and forcing the man into a corner he
Kissed at him:
" Damn you, if you zip I'll Kill you.
"The man was thoroughly cowed and
ulO AUU Stlf VI IudkC AL OQUCEys ohlC
broke out the glass window of this room
and battered down the iron window
easement outside too. Then he grabbed
the bed clothes and tied them $ together
to use to make a descent to the ground
below. by the meres5 chance one of the
outside guards discovered him just IN the
nick of time and alarmed some of his
associates. He secured a weapon and
yelled to Dale il he dared to descend he
would attack him. Meantime the other
guards rushed around inside to Dale's
room. They watched moment until it
was apparent that Dale WAS not
frightened and intended to drop and take
his chances with the guard below, and
they broke into the room and grabbed
him. There were two of them, one
weighing $50 pounds and the other $40.
and full of sand The struggle was
desperate one but do you know this man
was actually getting away from them
when third guard alarmed by the noise
arrived on the scene. He grasped Dale
around the legs and by : great effort
threw him. Then the three men jumped
on top of him and ohoked him into SUBJ
Since then he has not bean
without the wristers' and the harness
By night. / think you will believe me
now that he is the most desperate man.
have ever dealt with. he has the
strength of an OK. 1t is an intense relief
to me to know that he is out Of the
hospital. hope for good"
eff this mans history were known"
said DR.. Sanborn in conclusion am SURE
it would be an exciting one. 1 believe he
has been concerned in many desperate
deeds. He is covered with scars and
marks, one evidently the souvenir of
big knife thrust. believe he would kill
anybody who stood in his way in