Squatter sovereign., 1855-04-03
a Lunatic,s Cunning.


A very laughable incident occurred at
lunatie asylum at Lancaster about ten
aaysago. A parish officer from the neigh
borhocd of Middleton took a lunatie to the
asylum, pursuant to an order signed by
two magistrates. As the man was respee-
tably connected, gig was hired for the
purpose. and he was persuaded that ii
was merely an excursion of pleasure on
which he was going. Ia the course of the
journey, however, something occurred to
arouse the suspicious of the luna,ic with
respect to his real destination; but he said
nothing on the subject, made no resistance,
and seemed to enjoy his jaunt. When
they arrived at Lancaster it was too late
in the evening to proceed TO the asylum,
and they took up quarters for the night at
an inn. Very early in the morning, the
lunatie got up and searched the pocket 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 mad men not
unlrequently display, he made the best of
his way to the asylum, saw one of the
keepers, and told him that he had got a sad
mad fellow down at Lancaster, whom he
should bring up in the course of the day,
adding: He's very queer fellow and
has got very odd ways. For instance, /
should not wonder if he was to say was
the madman, and that he was bringing me;
but you must take good care of him, and
not believe word he says.
The keeper, of course, promised COM
pliance. and the lunatic walked back to the
inn, where he found the officer fast asleep.
He awolSe him. and they sat down to
breakfast together.
You're lazy fellow to be sleeping all
day; have had long walk this morn
ing" said the lunatic.
Indeed said the officer, at should
like to have awalk myself after breakfast;
perhaps you will go with me-"
The lunatic assented, and after break.
| fast they set out, the officer leading the
way toward the asylum, intending to de.
liver his charge; but it never occurred te
| him to examine whether his order was
safe.
When they got within sight of the asy.
| lum, the lunatic exclaimed: "What q fine
house that is!"
eyes" said the officer, Z" I should like
to see the inside of it,
So should To- observed the lunatic.
Well, dare say they will let u:
through; I will ask" was the response.
They went to the door; the officer rang
the bell, and the keeper whom the lunatit
had previously seen made his appearance
with two or three assistants. The Officer
then began to tumble in his pockets fol
the order, when the lunatic produced it
and gave it to the keeper, saying: +" Thi.
is the man spoke to you about. Yo,
will take care of him; shave his head
and put straight waistcoat on him.
The men Immediately laid hands upoi
the poor officer, who vociferated louldl,
that the other was the madman, and he ths
officer, but, as this only confirmed the stor,
previously told by the lunatic, it did not a
all tend to procure his liberation. He wa
taken away, and became so indignantl'
furious that the straight waistcoat wa
speedily put upon him, and his was shaye
secundum arfem.
| Meanwhile, the lunatic walked delibe
rately back to the inn, paid the reckoning
and set out on his journey homeward. Th
good people in the country were, of course
surprised on seeing the wrong man return
they were afraid that the lunatic. in a
Of frenzy, had murdered the officer, an
they asked him, with much trepidatior
what he had done with Mr.. Stevenson.
i "Done with him." said the madmar
" why left him at the Lancaster Asylur
as mad as h-l." which, indeed, was nc
very far from the truth; for the wits of th
officer were we'll nigh upset by his unez
pected detention and his subsequent trea'
ment.
1 Farther inquiry was forthwith made b
his neighbors, and it was ascertained ths
1.-THE man was actually in the asylum.
magistrates order was produced for his Lii
Grafton, and he returned home with hand
kerchief tied around his head in lieu of tn
covering which nature had bestowed upo
lit-Lancaster (EHgiond) Guardian.
/ 20 There is maiden lady In Il
suburbs, who is so extremely nice In hs
notions of female modesty, that she turne