Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1910 — BUT WHO IS HE? [ARTICLE]

BUT WHO IS HE?

Peculiar Crazy Man Brought Here From Newton County —Refuses to Eat Anything. Sheriff S'hirer has a crazy man in charge from Newton county who was brought over by the sheriff of that county Saturday who is proving thus far a cheap boardef. The man was taken in charge at Rufus Jay’s southeast of Goodland, a week ago yesterday, and up to date has not eaten a morsel of food nor talked to any extent. He is supposed to help himself to a drink of water occasionally in the jail, but : he will not touch any food at all. He lays on the cot in his cell most of the time and says not a word.

Sunday he talked to the sheriff a little but nothing was learned as to his identity. He told the sheriff that he had been a bad man but was naw a good man, and he seems to be wrought up over religion. He said that he had worked Tor a farmer near Goodland a few days and on the 4th started with him to Kankakee in a buggy; that he asked the farmer if he had anything coming to him more than the board he had received, and the latter gave him 50 cents, and he got out of the buggy and left him. Owing to the crowded Condi tion of the Longcliff asylum his admission thereto is being held up. Just hc-w long the man can live without nourishment is a question/

Regarding the man’s actions and apprehension by the officers the Goodland Herald says: Tuesday afternoon quite a good deal of excitement was caused when the word was phoned in from Rufus Jay’s home southeast of town that a crazy man had put in his appearance and for the marshal to come out after him. The marshal sectored the services of Dr. B. W. Pratt’s auto and with several ,good deputies started out for the'man. They ram; up to him just north of C. M. Peckham’s 1 '- farm, walking north. They stopped the machine about fifty feet in front of him and Mr. Morin walked up to him taking hold of hi® two arms and asked him where he was going and received no reply, he then asked him if no wanted to take a ride and again received no reply, the marshal believing that silence gave consent, put

him in the auto and brought him to town and placed him in the lockup. A physician was summoned who examined him. He hid a bad scar over his right eye. the nose is stink in the middle and under his left jaw there was another scar, this one seemed to be giving him much path, but were all old scars. Efforts to get him to speak were in vain, a question as to his nationality was disbused, several languages were spoken to him without avail, all he would do was to make signs, he would point to the scar over his right eye. then to his right ear, rub his hand over the back ot his head, point to his left jaw, then to his heart and then at his feet. Then he would place his hands together bringing the tips of his fingers to his lips, then bend his head down low and hold out his hanfl pleading for something. This he kept up continually and could not be understood at all.

After supper another attempt was made to get him to talk, in tue meantime a striking resemblance between him and a picture sent up from Decatur, Adams county, offering a reward of $25 for an escaped convict by the name of Gray, who had been sent Up from Muncie for grand larceny ten years ago, an? who, while on parole stole a team of horses and was serving sentence in the Adams county jail, but escaped a few weeks ago. This pic lure was brought back to the cell and die broke down and began to cry, shortly afterwards he made a sign for writing material, he was handed a pencil and paper and he wrote “That was my picture,” more attempts to get him to write were made but there was nothing doing. The f act that he could write English was proof that he could speak it, but did not wish to do so. Out at Jays he asked the lady of the house for a drink and told Mr., Jay that he was from Chicago going east to pray, and when Dr. Bassett removed his shoes to see why he pointed at his feet he was understood to say “Don’t hurt me” but other efforts to get him to speak were useless. The writer has seen crazy people and he showed every evidence of the fact that he is off mentally, or he is doing a good job putting it on. Hhte perfect otherwise, seems-to be about 35 years old, height 5% feet and weighs about 160, dark hair and mustache. The only time he showed violence was when the doctor handed him a glass half filled with water, he took the glass and looked at the contents and dashed the glass to the cell floor and raised as if to strike the doctor, who hustled out and closed the door, and ordered him to lie down, the fellow caught the top of the cell, pulled himself up and let out one or two angry snorts and strick him hands together and picked up a pail of water beside him and made as though he was going to drow the contents on the doctor just outside the cell. After a few more attempts were made about 8 o’clock to get him to talk .but resulted the same as the others, he was let alone for the night.

However,- Wednesday morning while Marshall Morin was sprinkling the floor of the city hall next to the cells he was surprised to hear the fellow say “You are using a good deal of water,” but that ended the conversation, the fellow had had his say and was satisfied. Shortly after the noon . hour Tuesday he was seen by John Cochrane, Jr., walking north carrying a coat. As there was nothing on his clothes to identify him Wednesday morning a search was made for his coat with the expectation of getting something from it that would lead to his identification. He spent a good njght in his cell and slept most of Wednesday morning. It is the general opinion that he has gone batty over some religion as he is continually going through some religious signs and repeats identically the same one each time.

His worldy possessions amounted to the clothes he had on tits back and 27c, he had been recently shaved, but his shoes were bad. one probably because of a very sore foot. The poor fellow in his condition is to be pitied. Everything possible has been done to help him but. without avail. ■ ,- * Three doctors who examined him pronounced it a very remarkable case, they pronounced him to have good health and alright with the exception of his marked signs of insanity. Tatooed on his arm are the initials “W. H. K.” and Wednesday afternoon while the doctors were examining him on his shirt was found" the name “Kirkhow” Which corresponds with the last initial on his arm. His <hat has the marks which represent a dealer in Ft. Wayne, Ind., and his clothes were of good material. 1 . After proper papers were filled put by Judge J. W. Baer, he was taken to Kentland by Sheriff Moses Sawyer, who came over in; an automobile. ’