Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-14
OLD CRIMES IS DEAD.
He Has Been So Long Time But His
 Memory Lives.

publisher of a history of the bench and bar of Litchfield county, ill telling of the law school which was there many years ago, reveals the origin of the song. "Old Crimes" which has been sung, with, numerous variations, for three generations in New England. MT. Kilbourn says:
 "One of the characters connected with our legal fraternity was William | Grimes, universally known as "Old Grimes" It is generally supposed that he was a mythical character, but he was not. He was a runaway slave who came to Litchfield, probably about | 1908, and was general servant to the students at the law school. He was born in Virginia and was the body servant of a man by the name of Grimes, whose name in after years he l adopted. By the fortunes of business adversities his master was obliged to dispose of him and he fell into the | hands of cruel masters, from whose barbarous treatment he ran away to the land of liberty, which at that time was Litchfeld.
 Judge Reeve had acquired quite a reputation for defending fugitive slaves, and Litchfield was thought by them to be the home of the free. Grimes was thrifty and frugal and ac- quired some property and land. on 
 Some of the southern students of the law school ascertained his status and made matters unpleasant for him by notifying his master, who took steps to recover him. Grimes disposed of his property through his friends, pr. Abel Catiin and William H. Thompson, who took the proceeds to buy his freedom. His last appearance on the Litch field land records was Aug. 6, 1924. In the latter years of the law school Grimes moved to New Haven, where had at Litchfield to the capacity as he had at Lichfeld to the students at Yale college. He published in little pamphlet a sketch of his life, contain ing a portrait. He died about 1850 in New Haven.
 Grimes great notoriety lies in the well known lines, Old Grimes Is Dead" the history of which is given to me by an old resident of Litchfield, and from other data which I have secured is as follows: Albert G. Green of Rhode Island who afterward became a distinguished man, United States senator, etc, was student of the law school in 1872 and was very fond of making rhymes about all manner of things andt upon all occasions, and Grimes importuned him to make some poetry for him, the result being the lines above referred to, a few stanzas of which are here given:"
 Old Grimes.
 old Grimes is dead-that good old man,
 We ne'er shall see him more;
 He used to wear d long black coat
 All buttoned down before.
 His heart was open as the day,
 His feelings all were true;
 His hair was some inclined to gray
 He wore it in queque.
 Whene'er he heard the voice of pain
 His breast with pity burned; The large round head upon his cane
 From ivory was turned.
 Kind words he ever had for all.
 He knew no base design;
 His eyes were dark and rather small,
 His nose was aQuiline.
 He lived in peace with all mankind,
 In friendship he was true;
 His coat had pocket holes behind,
 His pantaloons were blue.
 But good old Grimes is now at rest,
 Nor fears misfortune's frown; He wore double breasted vest,
 The stripes ran up and down. He modest merit sought to find
 And pay it it's desert:
 He had not malice in his mind,
 No ruffles on his shirt tT His neighbors he did not abuse,
 Was sociable and gay; He wore large buckles on his shoes,
 And changed them every day. Thus undisturbed by anxious cares
 His peaceful moments ran, And everybody said he was
 A fine old gentleman.