The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-09-26
A Singular Case.
Wednesday in the Supreme Court the Case
Locke VS. Guilford was Tried

Wednesday in the Supreme Court the Case
Locke VS. Guilford was Tried
This was one OF the most interesting
cases which has come up in Somerset
county and the State of Maine for
many years.
On the morning Of Sunday, July Is,
1906, Anna Locke, a prepossessing
young woman went 10 the home of
Forrest Drew in Fairfield and asked
protection from Mrs. Margaret Gull
ford. To the Drews she stated that
she had been at work for Mrs. Gull
ford for many weeks as general ser
want and maid. The place she had
secured by answering an advertise
ment According TO the young wo-
nan, Mrs. Guilford, who was a Grip
pie from successive attacks of rheu-
matte fever, had abused the girl
In substantiation of this Miss Locke
displayed bruises on arms and face
and bare spots on her head from
which she said great quantities of
hair had been pulled by her mistress.
Further she stated she had only
been given the scraps from the table
to eat, that she had not had sufficient
time to sleep and no opportunity TO
comb her hair and that Mrs. Guilford
exerted some in huence over her.
Mr.. Drew became interested in the
girl and went with her 10 get her
clothing. Afterwards the story got
in the newspapers and attracted much
attention. Mrs. Guilford paid the
girl what was due her for her labor
and Miss Locke went 10 her home in
Addison, leaving the impression that
she would take on further action in
the case.
In the meantime Mrs. Guilford de-
MED the story in these words.
"If the house was burning down
and the flames were tapping my bed,
l would be perfectly helpless to save
myself If food were within six
inches of me and there was no one TO
help me, ! should have to starve to
death"
A few weeks after Miss Locke had
departed from Fairfield, Deputy
Sheriff w. W. Nye called upon Mrs.
Guilford and served the necessary
papers for the commencement of a
suit of SIS, 900 damages brought by the
young woman. The attorney who
| dCu6Q lot MISS 1OOh6 WAS II. II. rat
ten, esq, of, Bangor, while George G.
Weeks of Fairfield was retained by
Mrs. Guilford.
Miss Locke was the first witness
and testified that Mrs. Guilford seem
ed to have an influence over her that
she could not overcome. During
Miss Looke's stay al the home of Mrs.
Guilford, which was from March 10
July 5, 1906, she was kept under very
close surveillance, not being allowed
any freedom to speak of. Mrs. Gull
ford, although an invalid for years,
was able to pull her hair so hard as TO
remove it from her head. At other
times nail file played an important
part in the infection of cruelty OF her
victim, under hypnotic power.
Dr. McCurdy of Boston testified TO
the condition of the plaintiff as to the
bruises on her person. A. w Robin
son, drug clerk, also testified to her
condition.
Attorney George Weeks of Fairfield
for the defendant did not introduce
any evidence but in an eloquent ar
gument he reviewed the case.
After being out for about an hour,
the jury brought in verdict against
Mrs. Guilford in the sum of S404.5S.
| AS soon as a mans relatives begin
sending him money he becomes
uOrt hlaSa