Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-10
SPENCER Girl is ORDERED
Committed TO STATE school.
FOLLOW|N G DEATH OF BABY

Opal Pearline Spencer, l. years Of
age, of Oakland. was committed to
.. the State School for Girls at Halo
we'll during her minority, on Monday
afternoon by Judge. Charles w. Atch-
ley. This action was taken following
a trial in the court in the forenoon,
where Miss Spencer was charged
with abuse and wilful neglect of her
baby; William James Spencer. who
died Sunday forenoon at the age Of
three weeks. The girl was given into
. the custody of Miss Julia Lakin. OF
the Red Cross, until today when she
will accompany her to Hallowell to
begin her life at the SCHOOL.
Miss Spencer, before the trial talk
ed very freely with the Journal re-
porter Despite her few Years. she
has seen much Of the sordid side Of
life and her experiences have been
far from pleasant. She appeared
glad to go to the refuge of Il home
where she would have some care and
a chance to lead a regular life. She
wept for her baby and her sins seem
ed more from ignorance and lack OF
proper conditions than from wilful-
ness.
The Witnesses in the case were
DIR. &. \. Simmons of Oakland. the
attending physician at the birth of
the baby, John S. Gleason. acting
first selectman of the town Of Oak
land, DR.. John G. ToWne of this
city. medical examiner. Ms. Georgia
Sawtelle and Mrs. Retta Trask, both
neighbors of Miss Spenccr's in Oak
land.
Mr.. Gleason was first called and
said that three weeks ago last sun
day he met DR.. {. K. Simmons in
Oakland and the doctor said that he
had been called up on the fiat where
a child had been born and wanted
assurance that the town would pay
the bill for his services. Mr.. Gleason
said that he told the doctor TO look
after the case and that he would get
his pay He said also that Miss
city, Mss Bailey of the State Board
OF Charities and Corrections and
Mrs. James Stevens of Oakland Wis
tied the Trask place, where Miss
Spencer lives and told him that the
child war not getting sufficient care.
He said that he went to see Miss
Spencer and she said that she was
giving the child sufficient care. He
went again to the house last Friday
but did not see the child. He de-
scribed the house as being small
with two by 10 rooms on the lower
floor and chamber. In the house
were the girl, Miss Spencer, her
father, Adelbert Spencer. of Argyle.
who was staying there for time.
Elmer Trask. for whom she works
and the latter's little daughter.
girl five years old.
The house he said was "cluttered
up" and would be comfortable II
heated. AS he was coming out of the
door, Mrs. Retta Trask, a neighbor.
went in. He said he had also been
TO the door a week ago last Thursday
when he talked of the case with
Mrs. Trask, but he did not go in.
Mrs. Retta Trask. a neighbor, was
the next witness. She said that she
was no relation of Elmer Trask. in
whose house the girl lived. She said
she went there to call when Opal
went to work there several weeks
ago. but did not notice her condition.
She stated that Elmer Trask had lost
his wife and that he has three chill
dren, one a little girl who lives with
her father, and Opal was there to
take care of the little girl. There
we're two large beds in the house.
she said. one up stairs and one down.
Mrs. Trask said that she was
there when the baby was born and
also went every day for seven or
eight days. She bathed the baby