The Washington times., 1922-11-22
DECLARES
SHE WILL
DIE To
WIN
Temperature Near Freezing in
Room Where She Tells
Story to Reporter.

SKOWHEGAN, Maine, Nov.
Predetermined to melt the heart
of her husband, who has filed suit
for divorce, charging extreme
cruelty and abuse, Mrs. Bertha
Cole Britton, of this town, is on
the eighth day of a unique love-
fast.
The husband so far is unmoved
by the hunger-strike, and through
his attorney, W. Fulson Merrill,
today announced that his wife
could 60, OF. starving as far as he
Desire for Food Is Gone.
II have lost all my desire for
food, and within a few hours |
know that I will be so weak that 7
will not be able to get out of bed
to open the doors for visitors" said
Mrs. Britton today. II am taking
nothing but water inside of my
mouth. Nothing that anyone can
say will make me change my mimi
about it until Louis comes to m"
and talks things over. Just what
will be done after that. should he
come here, is thing ! cannot fore
telk"
A reporter visited her at the Brit
ton farmhouse. four miles out on
the Waterville road. this morning.
He found II considerably colder in
side of the house than outside.
40 hxsit
wall registered 35 degrees, just thrc"
points above freezing. The path Of
ones breath could be traced for five
or six feet as the chill air con.
densed it,.
Mrs. Britton had evidently arisen
from her bed to greet the visitor.
and sat down in a big easy chair I'm
the living room, after wrapping nu-
merous shawls and blankets about
her head and shoulders and tuckinG
her feet inside of a fur coat and
rag rug. The newspaperman kept
his overcoat on, but, upon the invi-
tation of Mrs. Britton. did not re-
move his hat. and breathed a pri.
vate wish for earlaps.
CObwebs I'm Fireplace.
In the living room fireplace rested
four or five pieces of wood, placed On
the andirons. They were covered
with cobwebs. After telling Mrs.
Britton of her neighbors' suspicious
that she was secretly partaking Of
nourishment. the reporter was in.
vited to make an inspection of the
kitchen. There were no traces of
preparation of food in the room,
while the coal range had evidently
not been ignited for hours.
II expect that l will continue on
my strike against food until I die.
unless Louis comes to see me-" she
said. Just to think he is not an
eighth of a mile away, working for
the family next door, and he will
not even come in sight of the
here, slowly killing myself by inches
for love of him. i mean every
word I say. Even IL I collapse en-
tirely, or am taken down with pneu-
monia and someone sends a nurse
here to take care of me, will not
eat, although perhaps l will relax
a bit and allow the nurse to build
a fire and keep warm"
Mrs. Brftton In aroused by the
belief of her neighbors that she is
taking food, and offered TO undergo
any watching which may be de-
termined upon, to prove that she
is not taking food Of any kind.
Notifies Blood Relation.
Neighbors Of the woman appealed
to the town authorities to take
action to prevent her from starving
herself. Selectman Smith then took
the only step which he says is
legal--to notify a blood relative.
"The laws OF this State are such
that they require blood relative
or a trial Justice to sign a complaint
to commit anyone, even for obser.
yation as to his sanity, which seems
to be the only way to have Mrs.
Britton taken care of as she should.
IL Mrs. Britton In adjudged insane
and sent to an asylum, her husband
cannot divorce her." Selectman
Smith said.
SO with the law OF the state pre-.
venting the carrying out OF his
divorce action II his wife In declared
incompetent, Mr.. Britton would he
placed IN the position OF having to
withdraw his suit IL he should peti.
tion town authorities to care for his