Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-10-08
PENoBscoT's TRAGEDY CLEARED up
STRUCK HER wITH AN AxE--No
MoTIvE-cRAzED BY LIQUOR
A CURIOUS CASE.

Guy Grindle, seventeen years old, con.
fessed yesterday that it was he who iasi
Eliza &. Littlefield at her home in Penob.
scot.
Grindie says he h9d no motive for COM
mitting the dastardiy deed; that he and
| the LittIefields had never quarreled; that
he can only account for his act on the
theory that he was crazed by some liquor
he drank that morning, and obeyed a
sudden and irresistible impulse to a deed
of violence.
Grindie confessed his guilt yesterday
/ afternoon to State Detective Fred l.. od-
lin. He was brought to Ellsworth last
night by Selectman Norris Grindle and
Detect i've Odlin, and lodged In the county
jail. He will be rraigned this afternoon.
STORY OF THE ASSAULT.
Last Thursday morning, a little before
noon, John, young son OF Eliza c., wife
OF Capt. Joseph b. Littiefieid, OF Penob-
scot, rushed into the village and an
nounced that his mother had been as
saulted and was probably killed.
He said he had been out hunting for an
hour or two previous, and on his return,
as he went into the door yard his at
tention was attracted by his mot hers hat
which lay near the we'll.
He instantly thought something must
be wrong, and rushed into the house,
kitchen floor, aud went to his mother's
chant ber, where he found her lying on
rug, her head in pool OF blood.
He cried: "Motherl" and bent over
her. She inquired fsintiy: "Who is it?'
He assured her that 1t was he, John,
her son, and attempted to raise her; blood
flowed from her mouth and wounds, and
she feebly said: "Let me lie."
John rushed from the house toward the
main road, about 800 yards away, for as
sistsnce. He first met Urban Leach,
whom he had just left, and sent him for
his mother He also met Joe Peterson in
his team, and sent him back to Penobscot
village for DIR. Wsrdweli. He then went
for other assistance.
Mrs. Leach, with several other women
and DIR. Wardwell, went with all haste to
the stricken woman, and everything pos
sible was done for her,
DIR. LittIefeld, OF Bluehill was called
the same day, and DR.. Manning, OF Ellis
worth, was called ia consultation the next
| morning.
Mrs. Littlefield's injuries consist OF a
| bad scalp wound on the back OF the
| head, apparently made with some blunt
Instrument; two stab wounds in neck,
apparently aimed at the throat, and made
| with a knife or some other sharp instru-
| ment, and black and bruised spots on
chin, breast, body and hip, apparently
made by kicking or beating.
Mrs. Littlefield had been washing. She
| apparently had left the house by the back
door to 90 to the spring for water, or to
see II water enough had run into the well
| to enable her to draw some for use, and
was struck down by the blow on
| the head, struck from behind, near the
we'll, where the first pool OF blood was
found; then stabbed, beat or kicked, and
left for dead.
How the unfortunate woman got from
the spot where she was struck down into
the house and then into her bedroom is
still q mystery; she has not sufficiently
recovered to tell, and Grindle says he
| doesn't know.
LOOKING FOR THE AssAILANT.
Intense excitement followed the an
uouncement of the assault, and immedi-
stely the legal n schinery Was set in mo-
| tion. First Selectmsn W. J. Cresmer
promptly notified Sheriff Whitcomb and
| County Attorney Tracy. la few hours
the local officers were reinforced by Dep
uty Sheriffs d. l. Fields, Of Ellsworth h, and
| Walter Snowman, OF Bucksport. On Fri
day Sheriff Whitcomb himself arrived in
| Peuobscnt, and on sunday State Detective
Fred l.. Odlin put In an appearance.
WORKING UP THE CASE.
Deputy. Sheriff yields says he very
quickly became satisfied in his own mind
after questioning the three boys, John
| Continued on page 8.