Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-29
WANTED REVENGE.
VIM. Ellsworth Burns Poor
Farm Buildings at Greene.
Later Attempted to Commit Suicide
Taken to Lewiston.
Six Persons Have Narrow Escape
Loss, $500; Nc Insurance.

Lewiston. Me, Sept 2S.-(SpeciaD.-
William Ellsworth of Greene, 73 years
Of age. was brought to this city. today
and locked up in the city prison on 4
charge of setting fire to and burning
the buildings on the poor farm in
Greene. He has made a confession Of
to set fire to the buildings of the first
selectmaa of the town. When appre-
hended he attempted to commit suicide
by stranging himself with a rope which
was attached to two handles, but he
did not have strength enough to twist
the cord about his neck. Later he tried
to cut his throat with a pocket knife
but the implement was so dull that he
only succeeded in decorating the skin.
At about 1890 o'clock Saturday night,
Ellsworth, after pulling heavy wooden
stockings over his shoes TO deaden his
footsteps, crept out of the poor farm,
of which he was an inmate. and going
to the barn poured kerosene oil about
the floor and then set it on fire. lie
then returned to the house and taking
in the front nall and set fire to them
The buildings, consisting of house
and barn and shed. and the contents,
five COWS. two hogs, fifty hens and
three horses. We're burned. Loss. $2500.
no insurance. Six persons were in the
building and barely escaped in their
night clothes. Enoch Abbott vas
obliged to jump from a two-story WIN
dow and was badly injured. A young
woman was rescued by means OF lad
der.
Ellsworth talks about the matter in =
cool manner and says he committed the
CRIME to get back at the town. by
which he says he has been i'll treated.
He only expresses regret that the cows
and horses were burned and states that
he intended to let them out of the barn,
but that the flames spread so rapidly
hat he was unable to do so. He sGys
there was special town meeting held,
Saturday. and if at that time he had
been allowed opportunity to give eX-
preston to his grievances and explain
his position he would not have fired The
buildings.
Some time in August Ellsworth left
the town farm and started for Lewiston
in the night. He lost his way and fell
into a stream and was nearly drowned.
He was found by the police about NO
o'clock in the morning and was locked
up. At that time he said he had made
I'D his mind tn commit some crime 50
as to get into Jail, as he would not llv"
at the poor farm. When taken back To
Greene he made threats that he would
have revenge. He has lost the sight of
one eye and can barely see out of the
other 1t is alleged that his desire for
revenge is brought about because he
was not allowed to keep company with
n Young woman, an inmate of the poor
house.
At one time Ellsworth was quite wei
"a do Tie commanded high wages as
an expert operative in q mill. and bred
fine cattle which he exhibited ut the
Maine State fair.
Ellsworth exhibits no signs of lnsan-
itv. but has evidently brought himself
into his present frame of mind by
brooding over imaginary wrongs when
he thinks have been done him. Not
long ago he started to commit suicide
bv refusing 30 eat, but gave the expert
ment IN after two or three days trial.
He will be brought before the Lewis
ton municipal court in the morning on
charge of incendarism. He got hold Of
IN old niece of tarred rope at the city
nrison this afternoon. and endeayored
n kill himself. saying he did not wish
to live longer.