Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-25
NUMBER 24l.
From the Chicago Times.

Of the strangest cases of insanity II has been onr
lot to witness, II came up on the petition of Mr.
> y. Cobb Tor commission de hodtico inQAi-
reado, in the case Of the Rev. George n. 6osa,
Baptist minister, and formerly chaplain of the Sec.
ond Kentucky Volunteers in the campaign in Mex
ico. Mr.. Goss ls fine appearing man, about 80
years OF age. lie graduated at Georgetown, Ken.
lucky, after which he resided ut Paris In the same
State and oficiated 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 1st of January ast
and il was since that time that his mind began to
lose its balance. No predisposing cause Of insan-
" IS known, but it is said (and Mr. Goss tells 4
version of the story himselO that he had one or
two love affairs in Kentucky where the course Of
true love, in his case at least did not run smooth
| er than in Chicago
DR. l.. d. Boone was sworn and stated that h.
| had known Mr.. Goss since some time last winter
when be came to his (witnesss) Office on one oecs
sion, and desired private consultation the re.
quest being granted, Goss proceeded to make In.
quries about Mrs. Matteson (relict of the late Joel
Matteson, and proprietor of the Matteson House,)
stating that he had partially formed an intention
10 marry her, and desired to obtain the opinion OF
4 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 frtt
time witness suspected Goss to be out Of hs right
mind, was when the latter on one OCCASION came
to witness and declared that n 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-bouse he saw persons
standing on the opposite side of the street looking
at him, and that at one time they followed him TO
the post office Dr. Boone told him ID was mere
fancy, and that ended 1t for the time this was
about the first of April last some time subsc-
| quently, Goss called on witness, and showed him
a letter which he had received from the brother
| OF Mrs. Matteson informing him that his visits TO
that lady were disagreeable to her, and desiring
| him to discontinue them
Goss declared In his behalf that the letter had
been written, not by Mrs. Matteson's desire, bu.
by her brother, without her knowledge, and conf
trary to her sentiments of regard for him lie det
sired Dr. Boone TO see the lady, and ascertain l.
| such were not the case. Two or three days after.
wards, he called again on DR.. b., and renewed the
request with snch pernacty that the latter went
to see Mrs. NJ about it. She informed him that
Goss had become excessively annoying BY his per.
| Sistent visits to her house that he had made a
proposltionfor marriage, which she had rejected.
and told him that his visits were not agreeable,
but, continuing to call she had desired her brothe
TO write the letter in question. During the hap.
tis anniversaries in May several ladies' strangers
to Mr.. Goss, complained that he had been guilty
OF ungentlemanly conduct in putting his limbs
against them, his feet upon theirs and using other
rude iamiliarities.
Mr.. Goss, who occupied seat at the end of the
judges table, here interrupted the witness, and
said the ladies were mistaken
The witness proceeded. Some of the i-.ii's roiii-
planned that Mr.. Goas -tared Them impudently ia
the face and put his arm around them on the
back Of the pew, letting his hand rest over their
shoulders.
Mr. Goss contradiced this also, and said his
hand was only placed on the back Of the pew, and
when the ladies leaned back it came in contact
with them.
| Question by juror. Doctor, "a a medical man,
is il your opinion that Mr. Goss il insane9
Witness replied he had not the least doubt Of
his insanity.
Mr.. Goss asked the witness, "as a medical
man." to explain what crazy man was. The doc
tor, he said, might be a medical man, and mayor
but Know Nothings got TO be mayors aud legisa.
tors sometimes; and unless the doctor would tell
the jury what crazy was, he thought his
testimony not good for much.
Witness. Well, Mr. Goss, will explain by Civ.
| ing an illustration When man tells me he is
about TO be married. and goes so far as to purchase
wedding clothes white gloves, and all the other
etceteras usual for such occasion, when the lady
he declares is to be his wife has forbidden him her
house only day or two before, / think il somr
evidence that he is insane.
Mr.. Goss denied that such was the case and
made very ingenious and amusing explanation Of
his object in purchasing the clothes.
| Mr.. $. II. Cobb was sworn. lie said the first
| time he heard about Mr.. Goss's insanity he wts
| spoken TO by Mrs. Matteson in regard to it. She
said when Mr. Goss first called on her she thought
| he a gentleman, and received him as such
| When he made proposition Of marriage she be.
gan TO think he deranged. She told him sha
woud not marry him nor any one else, and desire d
| him 10 discontinue his visit. He replied he could
not keep away from her--he must visit hnr--and
begged her to receive him. lie persisted in going
to her house-staid there till late OF nights, and
at length became 80 annoying by his behavior that
the police were called in, and he was elected from
| the house. The witness detailed some Of bis sin
gular behavior. The most peculiar and striking
| indication Of insanity that OF touching every.
thing with his hand. He would walk about lie
room, and touch with his hand or feet every object
al pats Of the WALL &c., and could not be induc,
to leave tho house so long as anything remained
| untouched.
| Mr.. Goss contradicted several statements Of tie
witness particularly in regard to his STAYING late
at night. Tie said he never stayed later than ten
o'clock but once, and then Mrs. NJ. urged him 10
remain lor ger.
Mr.. Cobb. Mr.. Goss, don't you think yourself
| you are insaucf
! Mr. Goss ACKNOWLEDGED he might be eccentric
Mr. Cobb Do you know how Car these eccen-
| tricities may lead you2
Mr. Goss ! cannot tell any more than you car,
whether you will be crazy at FIVE o'clock tonight
God only Knows.
| In regard to another question touching his
insanity, Mr.. Goss said Poets and enthusiasts
are thought by some TO be lunatics; so is any man
who bends his mind wholly to one idea under
stand something Of the theology, law, and physic;
| lot Of the jury put question to me ia any Of
these sciences, and if don't answer him correctly
he may pronounce me insane.
Mr.. Boone. Mr. Goss don't you believe all the
men in this room are insanep
Mr. (oaa 4 did thinls rnv H.
was little insane on the temperance question: but
| find he Is hardly insane enough.
Mr. Goss acknowledged that he might be insane
in love, for, said he, - love that woman (Nrs.
hattesonJ more than any other on earth. III mar
ry her yet"
The jury retired to make up their verdict AZ
soon as they bad left the room, Mr. Goss rose, and
| commenced touching" commencing with the
books and papers on the Judges table, and going
to every object in the room-toucbing the hands,
arms and limbs OF each one Of the spectators, and
even to the buttons on their garments lie con-