Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1838-10-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE CUNNING LuNATIC.

THE CUNNING LUNATIC.
In many cases lunatics are exceedingly cum
ming, and display remarkable readiness of re-
source in unexpected emergencies. could
mention many instances of this, but will con-
tent myself with one. There was lately, and
l am pot sure whether there be not now, in
one Of our asylums, a unatic, who on the loss
Of his reason, in the first instance--ior he was
repeatedly cured, though he always relapsed
again-lived in an neighboring county. Be-
longing as he did to a family Of wealth and re-
spectability, he was provided with a keeper as
soon as the first symptoms of the disease APP
peured. It was hoped that the unfortunate
mans lunacy would be of temporary duration;
and that by committing him 10 the care of a
keeper, his friends would be spared the pains
OF sending him to an asylum. His insanity,
however, lasted much longer than his friends
had fondly hoped it would; and it was there
tore eventually determined to send HIM to an in
ktituton for the reception of persons laboring
under mental alteration, in the hope that
through the superior treatment he would there
receive, an additional chance of recovery
might be afforded him. On the day previous
to that appointed for his being sent to the
yluiHS llC OfCiHCdlu giving liSluC
tions to his keeper on the subject. He took
no notice of the circumstances that night, nor
next morning; but when told that he, accompa-
MED by his companion--then name by which his
keeper was always caled--was to have long
drive that day, he expressed himself as quite
delighted with the idea, and displayed a will
lingness to take an airing, which strongly con-
trusted with the reluctance he had before
shown to leave the house. After breakfast the
gig was ready, and both started for the coun-
ty town-about twelve miles distant-in the
suburbs of which the asylum was situated
The lunatic was unusually cheerful and docile
all the way.--And here l should remark, thai
his manner was sometimes SO collected and ra
tional, that it would have been difficult to cor
vince stranger, that his ntellects were in the
slightest degree affected.
| OnreachlDg the principal hotel, both parties
came out, of the gig with view to get some
refreshnent, and to enable the keeper to make
some necessary preliminary arrangements for
the reception of his charge into the asylum.-
The former, after being some time in the house,
quilted The apartment into which they were
shown, for few seconds, not deelnng it nc.
cessary either to take the lunatc with him or
to turn the key of the door. The latter,
watching the opportunity, agreeably to pre-
vious determination to that effect. stole out of
the house the moment the other had quilted
the apartment. The keeper missing the lu-
natlc on his return, an alarm was given, and in
less than five minutes, at least dozen persons
were engaged in active search for the unfortu-
nate man, the suddenness of whose disappear
ance was quite unaccountable to his keeper.
No trace Of him was to be found for two hours,
and the impression began to become general
among all acquainted with the circumstance,
that lie had by some means or other DESTROYED
himself. Just us all hopes of ever seeing him
alive again were on the eve of expiration, the
lunatc appeared, to the infinite astonisnment
and JOY Of the person entrusted with his safe
keeping. But where lie had been during his
absence was point which, notwithstanding all
the efforts that were made with that view,
could not be elected from him. Where does
the reader suppose lie was, or in what way en-
poyed! That was piece of information
which his keeper learned to his cost few
hours after the lunatic's return. The latter
had been to the asylum for which his friends
had destined himself, and having procured ac-
cess 10 the proper party, gave his keepers
name us his own, nnd represented him as be-
ing MIR. So-and-so, the brother of Mr..
AS it was not only well knowna at the asylum
that the latter gentleman had brother, who
was at the time laboring under insanity, but SO,
on the previous day, notice had been sent to
the asylum, the remainder ofhi story was the
more readily believed. Now says he, ad-
dressing himself to the manager ofthe institu-
ton, the lunatic is remarkably clever, singn-
larly cumming; and---' s5t Ia