Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-24
POLICE WATCH
CRONDIN after
SUICIDE threat
Sentinel Always in Front Of
Cell of Waterville Druggist
Pending His Departure for
State Prison

Portland, Me, July 23.-with his
jaurty air gone, nervous and utterly
depressed. John H. Grondin Of Water
vile. formerly Of Lewiston, was Fri
day forenoon taken from the Portland
police station to the county Jail pend
ing his departure for the State prison
at Thomaston, where he will serve
sentence Of 10 years.
This is the maximum penalty for an
assault with intent to murder the
charge upon which Grondin was con-
victed at the September term Of the
superior court of Cumberland county.
Grondin's alleged victim was Celia
Grondin, who died in California, Octo-
Der, 1913, 10 months after his attempt
to asphyxiate her in Portland, which
was on New Years morning, 1918.
The sentence against Grondin was
reaff1rmed late Thursday afternoon by
| the law court and he was brought back
to Portland on the Pullman early Fri
day morning. Up to 1890 o'clock he
was confined at the police station.
chief Bowen then received instruc-
tons from County Attorney Berman
to have the man taken to the jail to
await the return Of Judge Connolly Of
the superior court who Is at his sum-
mer home at Ossipee lake Judge Con-
molly is expected back the first OF next
week, when papers will be issued for
the commitment of Grondin.
| Threatens Suicide
During his confinement to date
Grondin has been under close watch
| according . to police officials he has
| threatened that he will take his own
life at the first opportunity. From the
time of his Incarceration Friday
morning a lone sentinel watched him
through the bars of his CELL Crondin
slept but little and continually paced
the floor He refused all food when
breakfast was offered him and con-
tented himself with a cup of coffee
This was followed by a nervous puff1ne
Of cigarette which he had insistentlv
demanded. To all inquiries as to how
| ne 1eels, Grondin says in sullen tone:
| Pretty fair" Beyond that he will
make no statement.
AT the jail he is being kept under Al.
careful watch as he was at the notice
station and this guard will be maintain
ed until he is taken to Thomaston.
The Reseript
The rescript handed down by Justice
hins dealt briefly with the two excep-
tons noted by counsel for the defendant.
The first of these concerned the testi-
mony OF Mrs Haas. She had testified
Grondin had improper relations with a
Mrs. Derocher and that Mrs Derocher
had joined him later in California. The
/ defence commended that Mrs. Haas had
no positive testimony Of this and that
! her evidence should have been excluded
The law court held, however, that her
knowledge of the relations was sufficient
/ ~ first hand 10 warrant the admission of
this evidence
The second exception concerned the
lack of a motive for getting rid Of Mrs.
! Grondin, and the certainty that Grondin
intended to asphyxiate his wife. On this
point the rescript says:
What Rescript Says
The fact was unquestioned that a gas
jet in the room where the respondents
wife and child were sleeping, and also
another gas Jet in the adjoining room,
were. opened by someone and both Mrs.
Grondin and the child were rendered un-
conscious by the escaping gas. There
can be no doubt from the evidence that
the respondent opened these gat jets In
deed, the learned counsel for the re-
spondent so states in his brief, say
ing; We do not deny for moment that
the jury might have been warranted in
finding, even beyond a reasonable doubt,
that the respondent was responsible for
the escaping gas. that he did turn on
those two jets. But It is coatendei shat
the evidence was not sufficient 70 war
rant the jury in finding that the respon-
dent opened the gas Jets with intent to
take the life Of his wife. We think this
contention is not sustainable. 10 explA-
nation. by or in behalf Of the respondent,
was made Of the indisputable fac- that
he opened the gas Jets: on the othcr
hand, the State showed that he made
absurd suggestions IS to how the jets
might have become opened. and told un-
reasonable and contra di.tory stories as
to where he was in the house and what
he was doing during The time mis- wife
and child were being suit seated to uE-
consciousness by the escaping gas More
over, it was shown that previous to the
time in question he had made .ager ef-
forts to discover If possible some evil
dence Of misconduct ON the Fart Of ris
wife, resorting In the last extremity 10
the carrying out of diaboiical scheme
whereby he had a so-cal;ed detective in
the guise of priest visit and question
his wife as her confessor while she was
desperately i'll from drugs he mad ..d,nin-
istered to her for the purpose. 1t will
serve no useful purpose 20 recite or sum
Marie the evidence presented against
the respondent. Sufice It to say. that
after a careful examination Ind consider
alton Of all the evidence. the court is Of
the opinion that it was amply sufficient
to warrant the jury m finding the le-
spondent guilty as charged in the indict-