New-York tribune., 1872-08-29
TIE REPORTERS STORY.

A TRIBUNE reporter arrived in this city
from NcwOreans Aug. 10, aer an extended tour in
the west and SOUTH and at once furnished with the
written instructions embodied above. 70 proceed 10 no
tel to act hurried, manner TO feign insanity
subsequently, and to cooperate with others his
mitment to the BoOmingdae Lunatic Asylum. He was
20 register his own proper name that II necessary
LEGAL proceedings could be properly instituted
on the evening OF Aug u he registered his name
the books OF the Grand Central HOTEL and assigned
to ROOM He at began to attract the attention Of
the clerk and walters by giving to all who answered the
bell orders OF less absurdity. This continued
during the first part OF the night He did not occupy his
he'd but sat at the window This was necessary to pro-
duce the haggard appearance essential the role he
was TO take He breaGasted quietly, and awaited the
coming OF friend who to make practical use of the
wild rumors which the hall-bOys had already commun-
Gated at the desk.
Alto a. m. the friend sent up his card, and
Quoted by one Of the halboys TO the apartment. The
"patient" Qor thus the reporter will be known here
af,er) was found seated the window, with his head
buried in pillow Two carpetbags were on the hOOr
and apparently had not been moved from the place in
which they had been down by the porter. The hall
bov fingered at the door until the friend rushed to the
window and grasped the patient by the hand, saying at
the time, Glad to see you, Old boy"
The old boy" evidently did not appreciate the priy
cges OF the acquaintance for in an absentminded way
he mutered that he did remember his visitors
or name The visitor attempted Obtrude his person
atty upon the patient, reminded him of incidents Of
their acquaintance mentioned the name Of the patients
uncle and strove in various ways % the young
man from his stupor and induce him to recognize a
friend The patient maintained sulen silence, shaking
his mead he plessy times, and walking up and down
the room with his hands clasped about his temples
Meanwhile the hal-boy standing in the doorway,
ttpping his head with his knuckes suggestvely and
plainly ntmatng that the patients wits were unset
tleo.
The friend hastily locked the door, and after making
induires at the Office went In search OF physician.
number Of offices were visited but owing TO the ateness
of the hour the search for long time unsuccessful
At last physician found in Amty-st who was will
ling to minister unto the patient The physician only
wished TO have outline of the before going to the
hotel
The facts were briefly recaptuated; The young man
had beep travelling South and had been sick In New
Orleans he arrived by the last steamer from New
Orleans and had registered the previous night at the
hotel instead Of going in search OF friends ne had been
found az the hotel while acting very strangely he COM
pa,ned Of pain in his head and did not recognize his
,end walked about the room excitedy, asked absurd
ouestops had evidently not laid down on the bed The
youpg man had always OF nervous temperament.
but insanity was not hereditary In his family.
From these facts the physician drew his conclusion
Dr,nk or drugged" He had had many such cases. He
knew just what 20 do. 10 sumihoh the po9s uu0'0
would be unnecessary Brandy and peppermint would
bring hlm around because he had been" dr'ht o'
dragged"
THE BRANDY TEST OF INSANITY A FAILURE
The friend and physician proceeded 70 the hae and
found the patient sitting at the window gazing yaesnty
into the court aud meditating apparently fatal leap
He sprang 70 his feet and pretended to recognize the
pnyscian calling him by the familiar name OF "Thomp-
SON. Turning aside 20 the PATIENTS friend the
doctor triumphanty remarked; "Ihats the way
tbcy oil seL" Tic physician then felt the