Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-09-15
Sf(isttuang,
(From the Chicago Times, August 2l
A MAD MINISTER IN LOVE.
TOUCHING CASE.

Yesterday an. examination took place
before Judge Manierre, at Chambers, which
revealed one Of the strangest cases of insanity
il has been our lot to witness. 1t came up
on the petition of Mr.. S. B. Cobb for q COM
mission de lunatico inquirendO, in the case of
the Rev. George d. Goss, Baptist minister
and formerly chaplain of the Second Ken
lucky Volunteers, in the campaign in Mex
leo. Mr.. Goss is fine appearing man,
about 35 years Of age. He graduated at
Georgetown, KY, after which he resided at
Paris, in the same State, and oflicated as
pastor of a church. On his return from
Mexico, he took up his residence for time
at Covington, on the Ohio river. He has
been in this city since the lst of January
last and it was since that time that his mind
began to lose its balance. No predisposing
cause of insanity is known, but it is said land
Mr.. Goss tells version of the story HIM
self that he had one or two love affairs in
Kentucky, where the course of true love, in
his case at least, did not run any smoother
than in CHICAGO.
DIR. l.. ID. Boone was sworn, and stated
that he had known Mr. Goss since some time
last winter he came to his (witness) office
on one OCCASION and desired private con-
| sultation the request being granted, Goss
proceeded TO make inquiries in regard to
Mrs. Matteson, (relict of the late Joe Mat
| teson, and proprietor Of the Matteson House, J
stating that he had partially formed an in
tention to marry her. and desired to obtain
the opinion Of third party in regard to the
matter he appeared to be perfectly sane and
| sincere, and went about the matter as any
prudent man would; the first time witness
suspected Goss to be out of his right mind
was when the latter, on one occasion, came
to witness and declared that q number Of
persons were watching him (Goss) for some
purpose which he suspected was not right
that often when he came out Of his boarding.
house, he saw persons standing on the oppo.
site side Of the street, looking at him, and
that at one time they followed him to the
Post Office; DR.. Boone told him it was mere
fancy, and that ended it for the time this
was about the first of April last; some time
subsequently, Goss called on witness, ant
showed him letter which he had received
from the brother of Mrs. Matteson, informing
him that his visits to that lady were disa
greeable to her, and desiring him to discon
tinue them.
Goss declared his belief that the letter haG
been written not by Mrs. Matteson's desire
but by her brother without her knowledge
aud contrary to her sentiments of regard 70
him. He desired DR.. Boone to see the lad,
and ascertain if such were not the case. Tw,
or three days afterwards he called again Of
DR.. b. and renewed the request with sucl
pertinacity that the latter went to see Mrs
Nj about il. She informed him that Cos
had become excessively annoying by hi
persistent visits to her house; that he ha
made proposal of marriage, which she ha
rejected, and told him that his visits were no
agreeable but continuing to call she ha
desired her brother to write the letter i
question. During the Baptist anniversarie
in May, several ladies, strangers to Nj
Goss, complained that he came into the PEI
with them, and was guilty of ungentlemanl
: conduct in putting his limbs against them
his feet upon theirs, and using other rud
, familiarities.
Mr.. Goss who occupied seat at the en-
Of the judges table, here interrupted the wi
ness, and said the ladies were mistaken.
The witness proceeded. Some ofthe ladie
; complained that Mr.. Goss stared them in
; prudently in the face, and put his arm benin
them on the back Of the pew. letting his han
rest over their shoulders.
Mr.. Goss contradicted this also, and sal
his hand was only placed on the back of Il
pew, and when the ladies leaned back.
came in contact with them.S
! Question by juror-Doctor, as q medie
man, is il your opinion that MI Goss
insane