Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-09-25
ALuNATIC,s CUNNING.

A very laughable incident lately oc-
cured at the Lunatic Asylum at Lam
caster, England. A parish officer from
The neighborhood of Middleton, took
. lunatic to the Asylum, pursuant to an
order signed by two magistrates Asthe
man was respectfully connected, gig
was hired for the purpose, and he was
persuaded that it was merely an excur-
sion of pleasure on which he was going.
On the journey, something occurred to
arouse the suspicious of the lunatic with
respect to his real destination; but he
said nothing on the subject, made no re-
sistance, and seemed to enjoy his jaunt.
When they arrived at Lancaster, it was
too late in the evening to proceed to the
asylum, and they took up their quarters
for the night at an inn Very early in
the morning, the lunahc gotup s. search
ed the pockets of the officer, where he
found the magistrates order for his own
detention, which Of course let him into
the secret With that cunning which
madmen not unfrequently display, he
made the best Of his way to the asylum,
saw one of the keepers, and told him
that he had got a sad mad fellow down
at Lancaster, whom he should bring up
in the course of the day, adding, "he's a
very queer fellow, and has got very odd
ways. For instance, ] should not won
derif he was to say was the madman,
and that he was bringing me; but you
must take care of him, and not believe
a word that he says" The keeper, of
course, promised compliance, and the
lunatic walked back to the inn, where he
found the overseer still fast asleep. He
awoke him, and they sat down to break
fast together. ''You're a very lazy fell
low to be lying all day. l have had a
good long walk this morning" Indeed"
said the overseer, II should like to have
walk myself after breakfast; perhaps
you will go with me-" The lunatic as
scented; and after breakfast, they set
out, the overseer leading the way to-
wards the asylum, intending to deliver
his charge; but it never occurred to him
to examine whether his order was safe.
When they got within sight Of the asy-
lum, the lunatic exclaimed, what fine
house that lisp 'Yesp said the overseer,
4 should like to see the inside of it so
should L. observed the lunatic. WELL
said the other, Il dare say they will let us
look through-however, I'll ask They
went to the door; the overseer rang the
bell, and the keeper, whom the lunatic
had previously seen, made his appear
ance with two or three assistants. The
overseer then began to tumble in his
pockets for the order, when the lunatic
produced and gave it to the keeper, say
ing: This is the man | spoke to you a
bout; you will take care of him; shave
his head, and put straight waistcoat
on him. The men Immediately laid
hands on the poor overseer, who voci-
ferated loudly that the other was the
mailman, and he the keeper; but as this
only seemed to confirm the story previ-
ously told by the lunatc, it did not at all
tend to procure his liberation. He was
taken away, and became SO obstrepe-
rous, that straigh waistcoat was speed
lily put upon him, and his head was sha-
we'd secundum artsm. Meanwhile the
lunatic walked deliberately back to the
inn, paid the reckoning, and set out on
his Journey homeward. The good peo-
pie in the country, were, OF course, not
a little surprised on finding the wrong
man return; they were afraid that the
lunatic, in fit of frenzy, had murdered
the overseer; and they asked with great
trepidation, what he had done with him.
Done with him. said the mailman, why
left him at the Lancaster Asylum as
mad as hill; which, indeed, was not very
far from truth; for the wits of the man
were well nigh overset by his unexpect-
ed detention, and subsequent treatment.
Further inquiry was forthwith made; it
was ascertained that the man was actu-
ally in the asylum. A magistrates or
der was procured for his liberation; and
ne returned home with handkerchief
tied round his head, in lieu of the cover
ing which nature had bestowed upon it.
Irish Time.-A Dandy seeing a
newly arrived Irishman passing the
gates of the Princes dock, at Liver
pool, cried out, "Arrah, Pat, what's
o'clock by your red stockings" "Just
striking me" said Paddy, at the same
moment flooring the Exquisite with
his shillelah.
A writer in the american Farmer, re-
commends SAssArRAs-TEA as a reiet
for thatunpleasant compiaint Dyspepsia