Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-12-25
Walled-up Alive.

THE Allentown Pa.) Herald of re-
cent date tells strange and horrible
story of a man imprisoned on the Blue
Mountain, in that section, within four
brick walls about seven or eight feet
high, bricked over the top and inclosing
a space of six feet square, without either
door or window. The discovery of his
whereabouts was accidentally made by
a Mr. Edward Powell, while out hunting.
He says the man bricked up in that mon
umental coffin, and who suffers death in
life, is named Levi Handwerk, and that
he had been imprisoned at that place for
twelve years. 1t seems the father of
Handwerk died and left his son $4,000
He was lunatic, subject to fits of un-
governable rage, thereby endangering
the lives of those about him. The
mother of Handwerk married second
time, and it was then that Levi was con-
signed to his dungeon-a violent, raving
madman. Here, if the details of this
horrible story be true, he has wallowed
in filth, his food passed through the
small aperture made by leaving out a
brick in the wall, exposed to the sever
ity of the winter weather, crying shrek.
ing and yelling, when the storms have
swept over the mountain, and making
night hideous with his frantic cries.
The motive for his confinement was
that he was not safe to be at large, and
If he had been sent to lunatic asylum
the $4 600 would have been appropriated
by the State to keep him"
The Herdld's revelation of this abomi-
nable horror at once aroused the good
people of Allentown, and party, con-
sisting of Coroner Moser, George Herch,
Edward Powell and D. H. Nothstein,
proceeded to the place under the leader
ship of Mr.. Powell. The building is
situated, it is said, about 100 yards
from where his parents reside, and when
the Allentown party arrived there the
Constable of Sl8tington and another gen.
tleman who had preceded them were al
ready making arrangements for the de-
ranged mans removal. The strong iron
bars guarding the entrance were taken
down by the constable, when the party
entered. The sight that met their eyes
is simply indescribable. Lying on a
patch of fine straw in nude state, COW
cred with thick crust of dirt from head
to feet, was human being, the stencil
arising from the bed of filth being almost
intolerahle. The pen in which he was
confined is four feet square, of brick,
lined with rough pine boards. When the
SShticuicH outeIcu tuty lOunu llln lying
in II crouched position, AID it was only
by assistance that he could stand on his
feet, his limbs being paralyzed and una
BILE to bear the emaciated form. To-
gether they carried him to his mothers
house, and applied soap and water, after
which he was clothed, and in charge of
the officer taken to Slatington. A per-
nit was procured for his admission into
the Lehigh County Alms-house, in which
institution he will receive better and
more humane treatment than hereto
fore.
When brought to the light of day he
looked wistfully around and occasionally
muttered incOherently. He rubbed his
eyes vigorously, which were almost con-
cealed by dirt, and, although his sayings
were -unintelligible, il was noticed that
his countenance beamed with Joy at hav-
ing secured liberty after so long contine-
ment. 1t is alleged that years ago he was
in his right mind, as records kept where
he sold game to other parties testify of
business transactions which were by no
means conducted by an insane person.