Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-07-02
TAKEN IN BY A LUNATIC.
On. " Courier,
UTICA, June 5.


UTICA, June 5.
This morning I noticed two OF
three citizens get of the cars at this
place-Abraham J. Miller and Samuel
Berry. Glad to see anybody from
home, / naturally hastened to give
them a cordial greeting, after which
Mr.. Miller took me aside, and said he
was taking Berry to the asylum.
Imagine my astonishment when
Berry also took me aside and inform
ed me in a very confidential manner
that he was taking Miller to the Asy-
Ium. .Perceiving no marked traces Of
insanity in either, ! was perplexed
which to believe, or whether to
believe either. After turning the
subject over in my mind once or
twice, l resolved to stay with them
and see the thing out. We first went
to the hotel, procured some refresh
ments, and while there Berry called
for pen and ink, saying that he want
ed to write. home to his wife. Hav-
ing prepared letter, he called a por-
ter, and dispatched him to the Post
office as I then supposed, but as sub
sequently appeared, he was sent TO
the Asylum with q letter, Of which
the following is a verbatim copy:
THURSDAY, June 5, 1873.
n9tPGfateHdent o( ne Insane Asylssns:"
DEAR SIR-In about one or two
hours from this time I shall bring to
your institution for treatment q
young man from Putnam County.
His insanity has peculiar mode Of
manifestation, and during lucid in
tervals is not perceptible at all.
While on the cars last evening he
distracted from my pocket the papers
given by the authorizes upon which
to enter him in the asylum, and now
asserts that he Is going to lodge in
the institution. I thought I would
write you inadvanee, in order that you
may be able to properly estimate his
talk when we arrive. Yours truly,
SAMUEL BERRY.n
After dinner accompanied the
boys to the asylum, where we were
met by the polite physician in charge,
and conducted to the reception room.
Almost as soon as we were seated
Miller rose to his feet, with quite as
much dignity as any envoy extraor-
dinary ever presented credentials to
the court Of a reigning potentate.
Drawing from his pocket Judge
Wright's order and accompanying
papers, he handed them to the Super
intendent, upon whose face gathered,
a pleasant but rather ineredulOus
smile. After placing them on the
desk he glanced at Berry, who return
ed it with q significant wink Of his
left eye. That silent but expressive
poor "Aby," who was soon conducted |
to the apartment for new patients. |
In vain did he attempt to exposta- |
Lutte and explain. The Doctors only |
answer was that he understood hfs 1
case, and advised him to remain quiet 4
that excitement was injurious, and |
would only delay his recovery.
Having attended to our business,
Berry and I started fer the depot. |
On the way down he explained to me
the facts Of the case, and said he
would have big time with the Brew
ster boys when he returned. Deplor-
ing the uncomfortable position Of poor
'Aby," and desiring to right matters
as far as could, induced Berry to
return to the institution with me,
under pretense Of saying something
10 "Aby," before leaving. When we
lgain reached the asylum, explain
ID the true state Of affairs to the su-
who seemed to disbe-
lev all Of US. To extricate himself
rom the dilemma he telegraphed to
3reWsters, and upon the receipt Of the
'eply Immediately changed the posi-
ion of the parties. AS "Aby" emerged
rom his gloomy abode he looked very L
much like some individual returning
rom the funeral of his last earthly
fiend. SHe said the next time they
want to send lunaties to the asylum
hey must get Fred KnOx to take
hem. He also informed me that he
would not have undertaken the job, / /
My for the expectation that he was
.oing to have a pleasure trip without
osting him anything. II