Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-25
VERY MYSTERIOUS
From the indianapolis Sentinel ]

few days before the adjournment of the
LegisIature two members from the south
western part of the State, loo miles distant
from indianapolis, inquired of the Superin.
tendent of the Insane Hospital his reasons for
the discharge of Alexander F., patient from
p county.
DR.. Athon assured them that Mr.. F. was
still at the Hospital, and had not been sent
home nor was his early discharge probable
They stated that they had received letters
from different persons, mentioning the fact
that Mr.. Alex. +. was wandering at large in
neghbOrhOods near his old home; that the cIti-
zens were afraid of him, and were anxious that
he should be returned to the institution with
out delay.
The next day DR.. Athon received letter
from the guardian Of Alexander making in
curry with regard 10 his escape-how long
since he left the hospital, and what was his
mental condition when he elOped-if elOpe-
Inent twas. am allowed to copy DR.. Athon':
reply:
INDIANA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE
lNDIANAPoLIs, March ?, 1855. {
ii. {. C, Esq-,-Dear Sir: / am just in
receipt OF your letter of the 2Stn ult., and am
somewhat surprised to learn that Alex. +. is
now to be seen In your region. 1 am not be-
hever in modern spiritualism, but if Alex. j.
there, his spirit Is here; if his spirit is there
his cOrpOresl substance is here, and if both
positions can be Substantiated, then there is
have the veritable, laughing Alex here. so
that the people need not be alarmed at his
elongated shadow. Very respectfully, ETC.
\ few days afterward the following letter, in
answer to the above, arrived. / give it ver-
batm with the omission Of names of persons
and places. 1t is from gentleman who is en-
titled to the fullest confidence
MI, Indiana, March 19, 1855.
DEAR SIR Yours Of the I'd inst, in regard
70 Alex F., came to hand. There is some
thius very mysterious about this affair of said
Alex being here and at the Insane Hospital,
both at one and the same time. have de-
layed answering on account of taking time to
investigate the mystery. These are the facts,
which eight or ten persons, who are well ac-
qaainted with Alex. will swear to- About
tuesday, the 9th Of February last, Alex. f.
was seen approaching the o Mills and Dis
tillery. lie stopped at the house of a woman
named Mrs. W, and asked for water and a
basin TO wash MS hands, and it was given him
and be washed lie then approached the o.
Mills with staff in his hand, but halted for a
mort time ST another place or two One of the
hands at the mill by the name of Russell j.,
him coming, and knowing that he had
better be watched, met him and went with
him il all his Journey through the mills and
hns-pens. Alex. went up to the garret-loft of
the mill, observing to Russell j. that he wanted
IT, see the machinery.
the diStiiler, j. b., said 10 him. You must not
do that, Alexsnder?'' at which Alexander
turned round and said, 'What?'' He then
passed down into the hog house, followed by
X Y, Zone of the owners of the milN and Rus
sell J., who watched him. He came out of the
hOg-hOuSe. and they said to him, Alexander,
Your brother A. and the s are after you"
on which Alexander said, They have no bus
inesS with me- He then passed on out of the
gate, and picked up his walking stick, which
he had left on coming in. He then went on
west toward N H, about one fourth of
mile distant, with quick walk ard that is
the las: time that has been or heard of him
They all agreed that be locked bad and thin:
viSage rather pale and Sickly. He was not in
clined to talk, and said hut little.
Old ana young saw him. ard he was now here
else but a. the o. Mills Those that saw
him have been well acquainted with him for
years and they are willing to swear that it
saw, heard, and, believe. felt him. and eX
aiuined his looks closely. He warmed by the
fire during the time. The names of n part of
the persons who SAW Hmm and are " wiIiinp TO
give their attiisvits to that effect, are J B..
Il. j., X. V, q. B., J. T.. and others. Are
you certain be was at the hospital the 29th Of
February
Very respectfully, He. c.
The answer of Alex. on being asked when
he was home last. makes the
"-COnfusion worse Confounded
and the mystery more inexplicable. He at
once said: About three weeks ago I flew
down there TO whip Russell J AMI made hon
orsbIe proposals to widow -' He yssre
minded that he had not been absen, from the
hospital since his admission Oh the I9ih Of
June. " "a
l II bite your ear off. he repliel !, with
some indignation. II tell YOU that | did 90
Ny spirit flew down there quick. and left this
Pair Oh co hes, and the rest of me that You see
mere III the ward, To take care Of anti Christ
and keep the devil out of the bathroom.
saw Russell j., and threw eff nv coat tn aog
him, when he wanted to treat So I thought
L would wait; went with him Into the distille1v
saw II standing there, and asked Is this
Poiscn and drank jug of whisky: blowed
up H. v Tor following me round; didn' I bsye
tine TO marry the widow or wiring brother
A nose; they wouldn't let me alone enouob.
went dowr to the village, got some ale. and
Iaeh cahle riSht home did not see any body
on me road-I was 50 high up; came with the
pigeons; they were a cheering me-ba ba :
ma and didn't make no time at all: got
home hrst; I'm going back tomorrow. The
whisky was rotgut; will knock that distiller:s :
face all to blsles lit made my head swim
run against the lightning, which sinsed NV
whiskers-colored EN- red. The truth ;s
Docs, they are all crazy"
To sum up, We have the positive testimony
of ten OF more reliable men, who had known
him for years, that Alex. was in p county
on or about the eth February, and the slightly
unconnec;ed, but corroborating narrative o,
Alex himself, who is yearning to substantial,
1t at any time, by an unlimited number Of
oaths, some Of them not altogether free from
profanity.
On the other hand, the officers of the hos
pital, and at least twenty others connected
with the institution, will solemnly affirm thai
they have seen and conversed with Alex. two
or three times every day for nine months II
this j. q case of mistaken identity il is sin
gular that 50 many persons should be deceiv ed
and at the same time have such an entire con.
viction that they are not mistaken Many 8
man has been hung on evidence as to his per.
son much less conclusive If i, is case o,
spirituslism, il is somewhat in advance Of ever
modern psychology. IT it is an instance Of
rapid locomotion, the last improvement in
transit passengers has not got round much
Drawing the hint from Alexis closing re-
marks, as quoted above, would suggest thai
II is case Of morbid mental IN manifestation
that there is floating delusion contagious in
its nature. which affects one and the Other
OF the parties alternatively, flying from Alex
to his county. and from the coGn TO Alex il