Here’s a story of a relationship gone very wrong.

“Frank Finnerty, who has been employed as a hardwood floor worker in this city for several weeks, created considerable disturbance yesterday afternoon.” This would have been May 9, 1915, when Frank showed up at the home of Miss Florence Bassett at 259 Central Ave. (a building no longer in existence), “flourishing a loaded revolver and demanding an interview with the young lady.” His means of entry, for some unknown reason, was by breaking a window in the basement, then into the cellar, and from there up the stairs to the first level. Florence’s mother, who was in the kitchen, “took in the situation at a glance,” yelled at Florence to get out of the house, then took off herself to a neighboring residence. Florence did not heed her mother’s advice, but instead went to the second floor, unobserved by Finnerty. He then went outside looking for her, at which time she was able to go to the apartment of Charles Townsend, located in the same building, and called the cops.

Inspector John Murphy responded and while taking a statement from Miss Bassett, Finnerty telephoned the Townsend residence, asking to speak with her. Murphy urged her to do so, in the hopes of identifying Finnerty’s whereabouts, but Florence simply hung up before any information could be obtained. It was somehow determined, however, that the call had come from “the establishment of James Fortunis, who resides in the Landing District,” and a search was commenced. It was learned that, as Finnerty had headed in that direction, he had thrown his revolver through the window of a house at 47 Payne St. (now Henry Law Avenue), and witnesses came forward to say he had been observed entering “Watson’s Woods,” but a search of that area produced no result.

The backstory to all of this appears to be the following: Frank and Florence had been “keeping company” for nearly two years. According to our reporter, Frank “was inspired to take the action by the refusal of the young lady to meet him at various times when he had sought an engagement, and failed to respond to a number of calls and notes.” As we shall see, however, there was a bit more to the relationship than this, as became clear during the course of later court appearances.

The next related item appears in Foster’s on May 12: “Police Want More Details.” This is somewhat of a chastisement of the local populace regarding the use of emergency calls. Whoever had made the call on the 9th — presumably it was Florence — said “Send an officer to 259 Central Avenue at once” and hung up. “The officials of the department wish to call to the attention of the citizens to the possibilities which might have materialized had the officer walked into the apartment while Finnerty was in possession of the house and the latter had blazed away with the gun.” Anyone making such calls in the future are urged to provide more details regarding the nature of the call. There is no update as to the whereabouts of Frank Finnerty.

Then, on Aug. 16, he is brought before the Dover District Court for arraignment on a charge of breaking and entering the apartment of Miss Bassett and also with “attempt to assault with an intent to commit manslaughter on the young lady.” It seems that Fred E. Goodwin of the Strafford County Sheriff’s office had received some information that led him to Old Orchard Beach where Finnerty had been located on the 15th and taken into custody. Appearing before Judge Nason, he asked for some time to obtain an attorney. The state requested additional time to prepare for a hearing, and the matter was continued to the 18th. Not being able to come up with bail, the defendant was remanded to the county jail.

(More to come …)