Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-10-21


'ira'gned Tuesday afternoon on the
charge OF assault with ntent to kin Mrs.
Eiizt Z. Littlefield on the morning n,
October Q, 1902
he retrscted his former plea OF not
guilty made at the October term OF court
IN Isoz, and pleaded guilty to the charge.
me case Is one which has excited wide-
spread attention, and the story OF the
oastardiy deed need not now be repeat ed
nearing was given by the court to
determine the sentence to be imposed,
Inc principal witness was DR.. Bigelow
l. sanborn, superintendent OF the insane
hospital at Augusta. Grindle's father.
Francis Grinole, was also called and The
respondent took the stand in his own
behalf.
DIR. Sanborn's testimony was report OF
MS observations as to tIrindle's mental
condition during the past year. in which
tue respondent has been in his care.
DR.. SaDborn said that he was called to
Ellsworth a year ago and examined the
respondent, both physically and mentally.
he could detect no physical ailment, but
from the first, the respondent impressed
him as suffering from a mild case Of
melancholia, In other words, the blues.
1t was, however, Of a very mild charac-
ter, and he was unable to detect any hal
fluctuations Of the mind which constitute
insanity, and he exercised all the common
senses.
From the boys father he had learned
that at times, particularly during the
latter part Of the day, he would seem de-
jected, would sit down, rest on his ell
bows, and apparently notice nothing that
was going on about him.
He found this TO be true, and said that
he appeared detected or respondent from
the first.
He took daily exercise out OF doors and
atten ded the entertainments and dances,
In which be took part, but went through
all in sort OF a matter-of-fact way, and
had none Of the vivacity which should be
observed in young man OF that age, and
he manifested depressed state OF mind at
all times.
From what the boys father told him OF
his early life, he thought that his growth
was at the expense OF his men,
fai capacity. He can place the respondent
In the class denominsted as the feeble
He distin guished three classes of lu-
nscy: the first was the idiot, who was
deprived Of all mental power; the second,
those who ha d but little mental power,
but could acquire some simple accom-
and third, the feeble minded,
lack OF ambition, will power and vivacity,
a depressed state OF mind.
He thought that Guy Grindle suffered
from state OF feeble. mindedness, from
an unsta bic brain.
In examinations and interviews Grindle
told him that at the time OF tragedy he
had drank liquor, mixed liquor given
him by a Mr.. Walker. He had no know
ledge whatever OF going to Mrs. Little
fields house, and the first that he remem-
bered was when he was going home, his
acts began to come back to him, but he
never remem bered fully about what he
did.
The doctor said that he could under
stand such a condition, as liquor had such
an effect on the feeble minded. He
thinks that the young man was in pre-
cisely the same condition as he says. He
thinks that the boys mind was In state
of stimulated confusion, and that 1t was
as he says.
Replying to questions of the county
attorney, DR.. Sanborn said that Grindle's
efforts to cover up his acts by disposing
furth indication that what he said was
true, as he would be unlikely to exhibit
this weapon after using it as he did.
He thong t that at any time the young
man knew the difference between right
and wrong, but answering the query of
he court, he thought that he was I'M
able to write anythi on the subject.
Answering questions of the court as
TO the future, DR.. Sauborn said that there
was not much likelihood OF improvement,
yet he had known cases OF young men
fully recovering their faculties at the age
OF Twenty-Five. ne Thought tudt Srinuie
won d improve as soon as he fully ma
Iured.
He had no theory as TO motive for the
deed he considered that act was done in
blind, unreasoning craze or fury, and that
II there had been no liquor there would
have been no tragedy.
The sympathy OF every person in the
was touched when Francis
Grindle, the aged father OF the respond
emit, took the stand.
MIR. Grindls is sixty-six years. old, and
is veteran of the Civil war. He told of
his sons early life, from the death of his
mot her when he was but year and half
old. To him Guy had always been good
boy, never quarrelsome.
Since he became old enough to work
he had been Industrious, and had always
brought his earnings home. When not
at work be had given him spend ing
money.
Guy had always acted solemn and sober
at times: he called it an oddness. At