The Portland daily press., 1900-11-09
NORWAY'S PACPER.
Man who Earns Good Living Sent 10
Town Farm.

Norway, Novemb Der The most inter
esting pauper now dependent on the town
OF Norway Is Mr.. Russell 4. Merrill. who
is earning each week at his trade salary
which averages from $40 TO SIC. 1t was
week ago the man was declared to bs
town pauper. On Monday he was taken
to the town farm with his wife and
daughter. The next morning he resumed
work in the shoe shop, and although the
selectmen have appointed several times to
return him to the farm, as yet he has not
teen conveyed there second time.
1t is through Mrs. Merrill that he has
been declared a town charge, and the
whole question hinges on whether or no
she was his wife at one specified time
when he refused her the shelter Of his
house and food at his hands.
Mr.. and Mrs. Merrill were married
eighteen years ago and have a daughter
fourteen years old. The couple parted
last fall, the husband accusing the wife
OF infidelity, The woman went to Me-
chanic Falls and Mr.. MerrilI's niece came
to keep house for him. Finally Mrs. Mez-
rill was taken seriously i'll at Mechanic
Falls and asked help from the town. The
selectmen OF Norway were notified, and
brought Mrs Merrill back to Norway. In
the absence of Mr.. Merrill, the seleotmen
launched Mrs. Merrill into the Merrill
residence once more and departed. She
was allowed to remain for q time, living
on Merriil's bounty and receiving the
shelter OF his home. He maintains that
ha fhoU
live as man and wife. Meantime, Merrill
brought suit for divorce. W. +. Jones,
who Is the town agent, requested the
court to order Merrill to make deposit
of $50 to enable Mrs. Merrill to defend.
This was done by the judge, who finally
marked the price down to SIS. MIR. Mer-
rill did not make the deposit. and the
case was put over to the February term
OF court, in order that the deposit might
be made during the midwinter va7ation.
And all this while matters did not run
in any smoother channels at the Merrill
house. One night, after some rather acrid
conversation. Mrs. Merrill went out to
call on o neighbor. When she returned
the door was locked and she returned to
the neighbor's house, where she stayed
for the night.
In the morning she called to her coun-
sci the town agent, MIR. Jones. 1t is said
he advised her to force her way into the
house. She gained admission by means
of an axe. but Merrill locked up the food
and the fire wood. Mrs. Merrill again
appealed to the town and for while
meals were furnished from a restaurant.
The selectmen claim that furnishing food
in this manner makes the whole family
paupers. Thus 1t is that Mr.. Merrill has
been declared pauper and has been
taken to the farm. But on the strength
OF his assertion that she was not his wife
In truth, does Merrill object to the de-
cision of the selectmen, and thus 1t was
that he returned to the village and his
work. 1t is said that 1t was because the
restaurant refused to carry the meals to
the house that the family were taken to
the farm. Mrs. Merrill and the daughter
ara still there. Merrill has secured Hon.
A. S. Kimball to act for him In the mat
ter. 1t is understood that If the selectmen
undertake to carry Merrill to the farm
again, writ OF habeas corpus will bs
taken out to try to learn If he Is rightful-
ly detained at the farm.
Mr.. Merrill was not allowed to vote on
election day, his name having been taken
from the voting list ON the assumption
that he was pauper, and therefore not
entitled to the privilege of throwing q
ballot.