Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-10-01
From the Worcester, Ms Egis.
DEATH OF A IUNATIC.


Capt Seth Bradley, OF Fsirhsven, died a, the lu-
matte hospital IN Worcester, the lth of August
1897 aged "a years.
The life of this man has been ore Of singular de-
fusion and suffering. Early IN life he enter
prising ship master, and accumulated a comfortable
estate, with which he purchased farm, having de-
ermined to change his business. lie found great
difficulty IN establishing the boundaries of his farm,
which led 10 alterations and resulted in Insanity in
1904.
The first indication of ALTERATION OF mind was in
September OF that year, when he was drawn
juror, and went to the county court to do his duty in
this new appointment. This a day of great
fusion to him every thing appeared Strange to him.
and every body acted strange lie repeatedly be-
came blind in the course of the day, and the men
about him appeared to be DEVILS, twice he rushed
from the court in great agitation, and the last
time made directly for his home-a distance of 10
or a miles. According TO his own account he was
IN state of the utmost confusion, and proceeded at
a rapid rate, till he became completely exhausted,
when he lay down on the ground and had trance
or fell asleep; when he awoke he found himself in
| a burying ground with a young man well dressed
by his side they proceeded on miles together,
talking by the way, when suddenly the young man
vanished and was no more
| On arriving home, he appeared greatly agitated,
and went early to bed the night was one of great
confusion, suffering and watchulness. In themor-
ming he committed the fatal homicide, which depriv-
ed HIM OF kind and afeciionate wife, and his chill
}
Till his removal to the State lunatc asylum in 1888
he was in close confinement in the Jail of the county
( OF Bristol, period OF more than 90 years. From
this time to the day of his death he believed himse
10 be the true God, and the owner and maker o.
I all things
At his trial, insanity was fully proved 1t ha,
probably fallen 10 the lot Of few individuals TO suffe
as this man suffered during his long confinement
To the idle and vicious, he the object of grea
curiosity, and they frequented the window of h
.lf
OF his rage.
In this solitary and miserable abode according t.
his own representation, he suffered every thing hu
manity can bear, and that, too, without breaking
down the energies of his mind, destroying his mem
ory Obliteratlng the feelings of kindness and sym
patty from his heart. He frequently stated that 70
many winters he did not feel the influence of fire
and that for many nights, and sometimes three U
four in succession, he walked the whole night I
keep himself from freezing.
lie used TO say that in summer, he suffered hard
y less from the damp and yitiated atmosphere Of Ii
cell. and the herd of vermin that infested his roor
and bunk of straw, which prevented bis sleep, an
kept HIM IN busy employment night and day Du
ring his long confinement he was rarely ever sllay
ed, or had change OF apparel.
a year or two before he came TO the hospital b
formed an attachment 10 a cat which OCCASIONAL
visited his cell he fed and caressed it so success
fully, that he won It's confidence, and it became ia
constant companion OF his solitude this cat ateuf
ed him 10 the hospital, and always received its mel
Of the dainty bits of his food before he would pa
take himself
When he came TO the hospital, he was comforabl
! dressed, shaved and made clean lac was nlrodut
ed INTO his neat little with comfortable be-
! which he ever after kept in the neaest manner POI
sible
His appearance and conduct were truly strang,
Al first lac seemed like a wild man, who had know
nothing of associates or the comforts of cviliZe
e life; he had neither sat a, table Ia take his mea
y nor used knle and fork for the twenty-eght yea
of his Imprisonment; he soon, however learned II
use Of these implements, and ever after took b
meals at the table with his associates, in quiet
regular manner.
l. Since he came to the hospital lac has been ALLOW
: ed many indugences--has been permitted To wa
. upon the ground and about the village-to look aft
c and feed the poultry, which became quite favori
o employment. He uniformly attended chapel on Il
Sabbath, carrying his char for a seat, the boito
4 Of which he had written with chalk, True Go
l. owner
! To the officers Of the hospital and To stranger
who visited him and inquired after his welfare, h
n hrst reply was, True God'-this being acquesc,
l. IN, he would Converse raionally and nteliglbly
: showed an extraordinary knowledge and memory
persons aud families, and events which occurred pr
: yious 10 has INSANITY, while he IN prso
Z u bis claims 10 be the true God were quesiio
he would become greatly excited and violent, al
would have no communion with any who did "a
d acknowledge his dignity and power
l. lie often alluded 20 the muricr-called his wi
The mother aud expressed an opinion that she vi
( IN heaven. lie often spoke OF her by the famiil
g uile gTl, or my gIS, and said, she is Ia heave
y where ] shall soon meet her lie retained II
kiGdesi feelings towards her, and SAID they iys
!. 80 love, and never differed.
p lie frequently spoke OF the confusion Of his mir
3 on TIE day OF the murder and said that men acis
- strangely, and appeared 10 he devils A. the IA
= neui Of the fatal act, when ms wife offered hi
something % drink 10 q punch-bOwl, which tia
@ both tasted, she appeared very strange, and all
D IN moment hurry bury
q As evidence IL his tender regard for has wie al
the foDdness with which ne cherished her u1efnor
he preserved through an his e1citemsnis and ia
n prisonmeni relirs Of her, Of intrinsic Fsl
which be kept aboai his person day sad ngia