Litchfield enquirer., 1850-05-02
MISCELLANY Y.
IA Lnnatic's Cunnlne.

4 II y
From tie Aanehestsr { EAg.) Gsard;an.
A very langhable incident occurred =
the Lunatic Asylum At Lancaster. abouS
ten days ago. A parish officer from ths
neighborhood Of Middleton took luna
tic 70 tlle asyldm pursuant TO an order
signed by two magistrates. As Che mnn
was respectfully connected, q pig was
hired for the purpose, and be was per-
suaded that it was merely "a exeursian
of pleasure on which he was going. II
the course Of the journey, hoWeveF,
something occurred to arouse o. xuspi.
ciOns Of the lunatie with rcspect 10 bis
real destination: but he said nothing 81
the subject, made no resistance, and
seemed TO enjoy his jaunt. When they
arrived at Lancaster, il was too late II
the evening TO proceed 70 the asylum,
and they took up their QuafseFS Tor ssiisa
night alta inn, Very early in the morn
ing the lunatic got up and searched the
pockets Of the officer. where he found the
magistrates order for his own detention.
which Of course let him completely into
the secret. With that cunning which
madmen not unfrequcntly display, he
made the best Of his way TO the asylum.
saw one Of the keepers, and told him that
he had got sad mad fellow down at
Lancaster. whom he should bring NO IN
the course Of the day; adding, He's q
very queer fellow, and he has got very
odd ways. For instance, should not
wonder If he was to say / was the mad
man, and that he was bringing me; but
you must take good care Of him, and not
believe word that lie says"
The keeper Of course promised CEN
pliance, and the lunatic walked back to
the inn. where he found the overseer still
fast asleep. He awoke him, and they
sat down 70 breakfast together.
You re a lazy fellow to be sleeping
all day; have had a long walk this
morning. said the lunatic.
Indeed saidthe officer, 4 should Ike
to have walk myself after breakfast !;
perhaps you will 60 with me.'
The lunatic assented and after break
fast they set out, the officer leading the
way toward the asylum, intending 70 de-
Iiver his charge: but it never occurred
to him to examine whether his order was
safe. When they got within sight Of
the asylum, the lunatic exclaimed,
What q fne house that is!'
'Yes,' said the officer, II should like
to see the inside Of it.'
So should T. observed the lunatic.
well. | dare say they will let us look
through 1 VIII ask was tho response. :
They went to the door; the officer
rang the bell; and the keeper, whom the
lunatic had previously seen, made his APP
pearance with two or three assistants.
The officer then began to fumble in his
pockets for the order, when the lunstic
produced it. and gave it to the keeper,
saying.
This is the man I spoke to you about
you will take care Of him shave his
head, and put straight waistcoat on
him.'
The men Immediately laid hands on
the poor officer, whe yociferated loudly
that the other was the mailman. and he
the officer; but as this only confirmed
the story previously told by the lunatic.
it did not at all tend 70 procure his lib,
Grafton. He was taken away, and be-
came so indignantly furious, that the
straight waistcoat was speedily put upon
him, and his head was shaved ssewndup,
aytem. Meanwhile the lunatic walked
deliberately back to the inn. paid The
reckoning. and set out on his journey
homeward. The good people in The
country were Of course not little sur
priced on seeing the wrong man return
they were afraid that the lunatic in a 81
| Of frenzy had murdered the overseer :
and they asked him, with much trepida.
ton, what he had done with Mr.. Steph.
enson. Done with him 2 said the mad.
man. why ! left him at The Lancaster
Asylum as mad a. h. which, indeed.
was not very far from truth, for the wits
Of the overseer were well nigh upset by
his unexpected detention and subsequent
treatment. Further inquiry was forth.
with made by his ncighbors. and it was
ascertained that the man was actually IN
the asylum. A magistrates order was
procured for his liberation; and he re-
turned home on Wednesday last. with i
handkerchief tied round his head in lien
Of the converting which nature had be-
slowed upon il.
TRAcEDY AT raE FALLS or ST.. CRoIx.-
A correspondent Of The Prairie da Chien