Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1870-07-01
HORRIBLE DISCOVERY.
An Imbecile Imprisoned 20
Years.

HIS BROTHER HIS PROSECUTOR.
A case was brought to light yes
terday, which, for inhumanity on
tho part of q mother and brother.
we doubt was ever excelled in this
Christian land. For twenty two
years they have inca,cerated in q
filthy apartment, little better than
the West dungeon, an imbecile be-
ing. They placed him there when
but eight years old, and he has
grown into manhood most pite-
Gus being.
THE VICTIM
of this horrible outrage is John
Herriges, and his principal tormen-
tor his brother Joseph. who is ver-
ging on fifty years. Their abiding
place is at the Northeast corner Of
Fourth and Lombard streets. The
apartments occupied by John were
two back rooms, one above the
other, about eight feet by ten. They
were walled in on three sides, air
entering on the fourth, between
rough boards, nailed about an inch
apart. The tloorings were rough
boards,
FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT
From an inch to two inches deep,
the accumulation of years. The
furniture consisted Of two pieces of
muslin, once white, but now thick
with filth. The lower one Of the
prison-pens was used for eating
purposes by the prisoner, and the
upper as a sleeping room. In one
of these coops was found the imbe-
cile John Herriges. Covering his
body was coarse bag, the mate
rial Of which could not be deter,
mined for dirt. On his face
WAS A MATTED GRoTH OF HAIR.
His color could scarce be discov-
cred. An attempt has been made
to cleanse him, but his bodily ex.
cretions had so grown into his skin
that the liscoloration was so ineffa-
ceable.
About one month ago a young
man named Gibson, rented the
house No 337 Lombard street, but
soon found that the locality was
anything but an enviable one
Nightly he was aroused by some
unaccountable noise which puzzled
him greatly. At length, having no
belief in ghosts, he came to the
conclusion that an insane man was
lodged near by.
| ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON
his attention was attracted to the
end of u human nose sticking out
OF a hole in boarded up little win
dow Of the old frame house. Think
ing that there was something wrong
he intimated his suspicious to the
city authorities, and yesterday af
ternoon officers proceeded to the
house, and there discovered poor
demented and helpless wreck.
Joseph Herriges, the brother was
arrested on the charge of false i'm
prisonment, aggravated assault and
maintaining a nuisance prejudicial
to the public health. In his own
defence he detailed nothing that ten
ded to throw any great light upon
upon the mystery. Alderman Kerr
said he had known the prisoner fol
a number of years to be an active
business man Of more than ordinary
intelligence, who knew the law toe
well to thus allow it to be daily
violated. He therefore would re.
quire the sum of $4,000 bail.
The poor imbecile was sent to the
Insane Department of the Aims
house. DR.. Belts, who made a
thorough examination Of the man
declarek him hopelessly insane, and
further declared that no human be
ing other than he could have exis-
ted in the noisome dens mentioned
The Herriges are of French descent
and fell heir to fortune of about
$4,000 by the death of their father
The supposition is that John was
incarcerated by the brother that he
might obtain the entire legacy.
WHAT A NEIGHBoR.
One Of our reporters visited the
neighborhood this morning and
bad an interview with the mother OF