New Orleans daily crescent., 1854-12-25
a LUNATIcs CUMMING.

| very laughable incident occurred ut lu-
natic asylum at Lancaster about ten days ago.
parish officer from the neighborbood Of Mid
ileton took lunatic to the asylum, pursuant
| to an order signed by two magistrates. AS the
man was respectfully connected, 0 gig was hired
for the purpose, and he was persuaded that it
WAS merely an excursion Of pleasure OH which
be was going In the course of the journey,
however, something occurred to arouse the sus-
picisns of the lunatic with respect to his real
destination; but he said nothing on the subject,
made no resistance, and seemed to enjoy his
iaunt When they arrived at Lancaster it was
too late i'd the evening to proceed to the asylum,
and they took up their quarters for the night
at an inn Very early in the morning the
lunatio 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 infrequently 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 up In the course of the day,
adding Z He's very queer fellow, and he has
rot 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 he says.
phe keeper, of course, promised compliance,
and the lunatic walked back to the inn, whore
he found the officer still fast asleep. He awoke
him, and they sat down to breakfast together.
G You're lazy fellow to be sleeping all day;
have had long walk this morning, said the
Innatic
& Indeed said the officer, g should like to
have walk myself after breakfast; perhaps
20 will 90 with me p
The lunatic assented, and after breakfast they
sat out, the officer leading the way toward the
asylum, intending to deliver 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 fine house
that is!'s
Yes,'' said the officer, g I should like to see
the inside of it."
$50 should t. observed the lunatie
ss Well, dare say they will let us through:
will ask was the response.
They went to the door; the officer rang the
bell, and the keeper whom the lunatie had pre-
viously ssan made his appearance with two or
three assistants. The officer then began to
tumble in his pockets for the order, when the
iunatic produced it, and gave it to the keeper,
saying g This is the man spoke to you about.
You will take care Of him; shave his head, and
put d straight waistcoat on him.
The men Immediately laid hands on the poor
VAilVGl3 Wuu lfUClleEdtSu luNuly tnHt tile UtllSI
was the mailman, and he the officer; but, as
this only confirmed the story previously told by
the lunatIc, IT uid not at an tend To procure his
liberation. He was taken away, and became
so Indignantly furious that the straight waist
coat was speedily put upon him, and his head
was shaved secuad,3n arten.
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, surprised on seeing
the wrong man return; they were afraid that
the lunatic in fit Of frenzy had murdered the
officer, and they asked him, with much trepida-
ton, what he had done with Mr.. Stevenson.
Done with himi y said the madman, g why,
] left him at the Lancaster Asylum as mad as
helli" which, indeed, was not very far from the
truth; for the wits of officer were well nigh
upset by his unexpected detention and subse-
quent treatment.
Further inquiry was forthwith made BY his
neighbors, and it was ascertained that the man
was actually in the asylum. A magistrates
order was produced for his liberation; and he
returned home with q handkerchief tied round
his. head in lieu of the covering which nature
had bestowed upon it. Manchester England,
Guardian.