The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-02-01
IES0lSIhTlA Vl8OU'Sa
"A LUNATIC'S CUNNING,

very laughabls incident occurred q
the Lunaic Asylum al Lancaster a numbe
oi years ago A parish officer from the neigh
borhood of MiddIe!own took lunalic t,
the Asylum pursuant 10 an order signed bv
TWO magistrates. As the man was respect.
ably connected, gig was hired for the pur
pose, and he was persuaded lha, i, was
merely an excursion of pleasure on which
he was going In the course rf the Journey
however, something occurred to arouse
the suspicious Of the Iuuallc with respec
to his real destination; but he said nolhn,
on the subject, made no resistance, and
seemed to ENJOY his jun, When,they arr
we'd at Lancaster it was too late in the even
ing TO proceed TO The Asy ylum, and they took
dp their quarters for The nighs at an inn
Very early in the morning the lunalic 90,
nP. aud searched the pockets of The officer
we're he found The magistrates order io,
his own detention which # course let hu
completely into the secret - Wih that Gun
n'ng which madmen not unfrequeu,y dis
'Iay, made The best Of his way TO the Asv.
'Hm, saw one of The keepers, told him lha.
he had got a sad mad fellow down at Lam
'asset, whom he shocld bring up in lhr
course of the day, adding Hes very
queer fellow, and has got very odd ways
For instance, | should not wonder if he
was to say was the madman, and lha,
he was bringing ne; but you must lake
care of him and not believe word he saws
The keeper of couse promised compliance,
aud the lunalic, walked back to the inn
where he found the oversee -.'''.
lie awoke him, aud lhey '' "'"" t"
,ne eanlas. together. You're verv lazy
fellow to be laying in bed all day. pave
rad good long walk this morning. Ia.
leed,' said the overseer. 4 should like 10
have a walk aller breakfast; perhaps ynu
will 90 with me- The lunalic consented
md after breakfast, ihev set out, the over
seer leading the way towards the Asylum
attending to his charge; but it never occurred
10 him to examine whether his order was
safe. When they got within sight Of the
Asylum, the lunalic exclaimed, What al
ine house this s!' Yea said the over.
seer, Il should like to sac the inside of it,
We'll said the other, Il dare say lhcy will
lrt us look through; however, I'll ak
They went to the door: the ovprspet rang
me ocll and The keeper, whom the Iuonir'
lad previously Y seen, mGde his appearance
with two or Ihree assistants.
The ovelserr'heC began to tumble in nis
pockets for the order, when the lunnic
produced i, ant gave ii 10 the keeper say
ing This is the man spoke to you about
you will take care OF him, shave his head,
and ruI straight wastcoat upon him
The man Immediately laid hand upon The
poor Overseer, who v0ciferaled loudly that
the other was a madman, and he the keep.
rr; but as this only seemed 10 confirm the
story previously told by the lunaic it did
mot at all procure his Liberation. lie was
Iakeu away, aud became SO very obsirepre-
Ius, that straight wais,roal was speedily
put upon him, and his mead shaved Secun
ium dricm Meanwhile the lunalic walk
led deliberately back to The inn, paid the
reckoning, and set out on his Journey home
warh. TIE good people were Of cOurst
rot little surprised on finding the wrong
nan return; they were afraid that the lu
latic in fit of ficuzy had murdered lhC
,verseer; e they asked him with great ,rep
la,i1r. what he had done wlh--!'DonI
with hlr, said the ma oman, 'Why ] lief
lin al Lancaster Asylum, ravirg mad,
which indeed, was not very far from TIT
ruth; for the wis Of The poor ovrrseer wer
we'll nigh oversel by his unexpected deten
: ion and subsequent treatment. further lnquj
ry was forthwith made, aud it was ascel
aimed That the mah WAS actually in lh
II Asylum A magistrates order was lrocu
II ed Gol his lberatiOu: and he re urned hon
N with a handkerchief tIed round his head,
Il lieu Of the covering which nature had be
d slowed upon it.
/, He that's tullelh reveng', keepelh hi
l)wn wuuaI. gTror.