Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-21
rIaEsue cUSfessrs.
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William S. Grant was seen at hi.
pleasant home in Farmingdale, Mon
day afternoon, by one Of the Journa
reporters, in relation to the circum
stances surrounding the assistance III
gave Ella Harvey who escaped from
the Industrial school, Friday night.
Mr. Grant said: The girl came t.
my door about . o'clock, Friday night
and asked for drink of water. TOLD
her to come in and said What are yol
doing out alone at this time OF the
night" She told me that she had gone
to see her brother in Augusta from
Portland. She said her brother was II
the army and was going to leave fol
Santiago. Sunday.
She then said that she had lost hel
wallet containing s. with which she
was to have bought her ticket back II
Portland. She had friends in Gardi.
ner and expected them to assist her t.
reach her home. She had started out
down the Electric car track to reach
Gardiner.
l called my hOusekeeper and turned
her over to her. She put her to bee
and she remained all night. She was
very lady-like appearing young girl
l should say that she was not more
than 16 years old. She was quite wei
dressed and told a very straightfor.
ward story. She said that she belonged
to the Salvation Army.
The next morning / took her tC
Gardiner and we went to the ticket
agent at the station. / asked him tC
give her line to the conductor SC
that he could take her to Portland
This the ticket agent said he could not
do and that the conductor could not
take her without a ticket. To prevent
any further bother and trouble !
bought her ticket and she took the
1913 train for Portland.
II did not think anything was wrong
until / arrived home and found out
that while she had given her name to
me as Ella Harvey she had told my
housekeeper that her name was MOrri-
son. This made me suspicious and
then when at church. Sunday, my
housekeeper heard that q girl had es-
capped from the Industrial school !
communicated with the school authori-
ties and told them all l knew about
the girl and where she had gone. II
does not seem possible that so young
a girl could be such a smooth one. She
completely took me in and thought
she was a very nice girl. She appear
ed little nervous at the station but
I did not notice it at the time When
4 nj 10 "a
Gil and wrote down her name / remem-
Der now that she was very nervous"
Miss Emma Porter. Mrs. Grant
housekeeper was also interviewed She
is one of those motherly women to
whom everybody is attracted and one
whom is ever ready to sympathize with
those in distress. She admitted that
she was suspicious at first but the girl
was such a smooth talker and appear
ed SO nice that she was rather taken
with her Miss Porter was at one time
a matron at the Industrial school. She
said:
AT first l was very suspicious of
the girl and did not like the way she
came to us. But she was so ready to
tell how she had lost her money and
was on the way to Gardiner to seek
assistance from friends that believed
her. She told such good story that I
could not help but believe her. She
appeared very well. She had on a dark
blue wool dress. l thought at the time
that had seen it some where and now
remember to have seen her at church
She had on a monkey cape and col
larette. 1t seems that it was borrowed
clothing so there is no reason why she
should not look well.
las I said l was at first suspicious
of her and questioned her very close
ly. She told me correctly about several
people ! knew in Portland. She ans
wered all my questions very promtly.
She said that she had belonged to the
Salvation Army and had played the
trombone for them. She talked about
music and said that she had a piano at
home and played quite lot. She also
professed to be able to play the cornet
clan according to her own story.
"She told me that she attended the
Second Parish church in Portland.
She also told me quite lot about her
brothers. She said that she had twin
brothers in the army and that they
We're in some foreign department. She
said that the brother she had gone to
Augusta to see was recruit and that
he was to leave for Santiago. Sunday
Did she sleep with you?" was asked
by the reporter.
Yes. At first thought that would
not have her sleep with me as she was
a stranger and l did not know any
thing about her but she appeared so
nice that 1 changed my mind. Another
thing which led me to change my mind
was that when l was preparing to re-
tire she said that she always slept with
her mother when at home as she was
so lonely. She asked If she could not
sleep with me as she would be very
lonely if she had to sleep alone.
Il never thought Of the Industrial
school in connection with the girl and
now can't see why did not"
1.-The girl is supposed to have jumped
out of a window and waded through
the snow for some distance. Did you
notice that her clothes were wet when
she retired?'
mo, 1 did not notice her clothes but
I don't think they were wet. Still 1
could not say. 1t is strange how so