The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-08-31
CUNNING OF A LUNATIC.

| CUNNING OF A LUNATICs
A very laughabe incident occurred a
lunalic asylum at Lancaster, England,
some time ago. A parish officer from
the neighborhood of Middleton took lu
naiic 10 the asylum, pursuant to an orde
signed by two magistrates. AS the maj
was respectfully connected, a gig wa
hired for the purpose, and be was persuad
ed tina, it was merely an excursion o
pleasure on which he was going. In thu
course of the journey, however, something
occurred TO arouse the suspicious of TIT
lunatic with respect to his real destination
but he said nothing on the subject, made
no resistance, and seemed TO enjoy hi!
jaunt. When they arrived at Lancaster
it was too late in the evening 10 proceed
TO the asylum. and they took up theil
quarters for the night at an inn. Very
early in the morning the lunatlc got up
and searched the pockets of tie officer
where he found the agistrate's order fJl
his own detention, which of course LED
him completely into the secret. With
that cunning which mad-men not uufre-
quently display, he made the best of his
way 10 the asylum, saw one of the keep.
ers, G. told him that he had got sad mad
fellow down 10 Lancaster, whom he should
bring up in the course of the day, adding,
I" He's very queer fellow, and has got
very odd ways. For instance: | should
not wonder if he was TO say | was the
mailman, and that he was bringing me
but you must take care of him, and moi
believe word he says" The keeper OF
course promised compliance, and the Ia.
natic walked back 10 the inn, where he
found the overseer still fast sleep. He
awoke him, and they sat down to break
fast together. You're a very lazy fe-
low TO be lying in bed all day. l have
had a good long walk this morning.
Indeed, said the overseer. l should like
to have a walk myself after breakfast ;
perhaps you will go with me- The lu'
matte assented and after breakfast they
set out, the overseer 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 this is2' Yes said the overseer !;
: should like 10 see The inside of it, so
should H. observed the lunatic. Well
said the other, Il dare say they will let
US look through, however, III ask. They
went TO the door; the overseer rang the
bell, and the keeper, whom the lunatic
had previous y seen, made his appearance
with two or three assistants. The over
seer thin began 10 tumble in his pocket
for the order, when the lunatic produced
it, and gave ito the keeper, saying, This
is the man | spoke TO you about; you
will take care Of him, shave hi. head, and
put straight waistcoat upon him. The
man Immediately laid hands upon the
poor overseer, who vociferaled loudly that
The other was the mad man, and he the
keeper; but as this only seemed to con-
firm the story previously told by the luna
tic, it did not at all tend to procure his
Liberation. He was taken away and be-
came so very obstreperous, that a straight
waistcoat was speedily put upon him, and
his head was shaved 'secundum artem.'
Meanwhile the lunatic walked deliberateIy
back to The inn, paid the reckoning, and
set out on his journey homeward. The
good people were, of course, not little
surprised on finding the wrong man re.
turn; they were afraid that the luna.ic,
in fit of frenzy, had murdered the over
seer, and they asked him with great trepi.
dation what he had done with -
Done with him., said the mad man,
why, l left him at Lancaster Asylum.
ravlng mad; which indeed was not very
far from truth, for the wits of the poor
overseer were we'll nigh overset BY his
unexpected detention & subsequent treat
ment. Further inquiry was forthwith
made, and it was ascertained that the man
was actually in the asylum. A magis.
rates order was procured for his liberia.
ion, and he returned home with hand
kerchief tied round his head, in lieu of
he covering which nature had bestowed
upon it.