Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-07-10

The BiRKcst Case Of Emotto Sanity
On Ml fccorss-A F.tmens County Onicer
a., M into the Utfc" Ass lum by u Crazy
correspondence Of tho Putnam County Courier
UTICA, June 5.-This morning I
noticed two of your citizens get off the
cars at this place-Abraham Miller and
Samuel Berry. Glad to see anybody
from home, I naturally fastened to
give them q 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 informed me
in o. very confidential manner that
he was taking Miller to the asylum.
Perceiving no traces of insanity IN
either, was perplcxed which to
believe, or whether to believe either.
After turning the subject over in my
mind once or twice, resolved to stay
with them and see the thing out. We
first went to the hotel, procured some
refreshments, and while there Berry
called for pen and ink, saying that he
wanted to write home to his wife.
Having prepared letter, he called a
porter. and dispatched him. to the
postofice as I then supposed, but, as
subsequently appeared, he was sent to
the asylum with letter of which the
following is verbation copy:
{ THURSDAY, June 5, 1878.
superintendent Insane Asylat,,e
DEAR SR-In about one or two
hours from this time shall bring to
your institution for treatment Young
man from Putnam county, His insan-
ity hass peculiar modes Of MAJ. ifesta-
ton, and during lucid intervals is not
perceptible ut all. While on the cars
last evening he abstracted from nv
pocket the papers given me by the au-
thorities upon which to enter him in
the asylum, and now asserts that he is
going to lodge me in the institution. I
thought 1 would write You in advance,
in order that You may be able to prop
erly estimate his talk when we arrive.
Yours truly, SAMUEL BERRY.
After dinner accompanied the bows
to the asylum, where we were met by
the polite physician in charge, and
conducted to the reception room. AL
most as soon as we were seated Miller
rose to his feet, with quite as much
dignity as any envoy extraordinary
ever presented credentials to the court
OF reigning potentate. Drawing from
his pocket Judge Wright's order and
accompanying papers, he handed them
to the Superintendent. upon whose
face gathered q pleasant but rather in.
crcdulons smile. After placing them
on the desk he glanced at Berry, who
returned it with significant wink of
the left eye. That silent but express
slve language soon I" settled the hash
OF poor .Abe, !" who was soon con
Quoted to the apartment for new pa
tients. In vain did he attempt to expos.
tulate and explain. The doctors answer
was that he understood his case. and
advised him to remain quiet-that ex-
element was injurious, and would only
delay his recovery; Having attended
to our business, Barry and started
for the depot. On the way down he
explained to me the facta Of the case,
and said he would have big thing on
the Brewster boys when he returned.
Deploring the uncomfortable position
of poor "Aby," and desiring to right
matters as far as could, l induced
Barry to return 10 the institution with
me, under pretence of saying something
to Ably " before leaving. When we
again reached the asylum explained
the true state Of affairs to the Superin-
tendent, who seemed to disbelieve all
of us. To extricate himself from the
dilemma he telegraphed to Brewsters,
and upon the receipt of the reply, inn
mediately exchanged the positions OF
the parties. 500.