Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-08-18
(Fr0m the SUNDAY JOnrnRT)
TEN YEARS A NIADMAN.
The Remarkable History OF OrIsOn
CrOss--A Man Who Ate Dogs
He Is Cured OF Rabid Insanity.

I
and interrupted by SAYING to the stranger,
"Why, Orison Cross Is that you? am
sure | am not mist aken." "Orison Cross"
was the reply, formerly of Wood county,
now OF Toledo. | have just returned from
II brief visit to Michigan"
'Orison Cross" why, the reporter thong ht
that was the name OF n mndman, who
eight or ten years ago was kept securely
locked in a strong cell in the Wood county
Jail, afterwards sent to Newburg where he
was pronounced incurable; man who
few years ago was the terror OF all who
saw him, and known and treated rs ter
rible mailman.
The gentleman who addressed him prov |
ed a former sheriff; who had had him III |
charge. The latter promptly recognized
the officer, anG on being presented to the
reporter seemed to recognize the latter.
He said:
az think remember Won, now. You
used to visit me when was unfortunately
confined in Jail on account of insanity. |
have had a wonderful experience. l was
in great trouble for several years, until
placed with your DR.. Wright here" (Dr.
Wright of the Northern Ohio Insane Asy-
lum, "and | have been away now some
time, entirely recovered" "Good day, "he
added, 81 am now going up to see the DR..
| RECOVERING FROM HIS AsToNiSHMENT
the reporter W as not long in recalling the
main points in the case which is probably
one Of the most extraordinary in medical
annals. BY the aid Of DIR. Wright and 9TH
ers, he has since been able to collect a his
| tory Of the entire case. He should add
that it is published with the agreement of
| all concerned, and that no harm can re-
suit, but possibly good done, at least to sci
ence.
oRIsoN CROSS, THE MADMAN.
Orison Cross is upwards of 40 years old
After young man grown, he received a
fall, which injured the back part of his
head, and some time after, some ten years
ago, become violently insane. lie was re-
moved to the Jail at Perrysburg, then the
county seat, and the Jail the only place
OF security in the county. His case assum-
ed great violence at once, and was pro-
nounced one of the most violent known,
He was bent on destruction of life and
property, smashing articles to pieces, and
attempting his life by all the wiles of in
sane cunning. In this condition he was
the object of terrible curiosity, people Wis
iting the Jail for miles around to get n
glimpse at him in his iron cell, through
permission of the jailor. Many awful
freaks of his are remembered. On one oc-
casion, by some unaccountable means, he
obtained razor, and when discovered had
had it concealed for some days in his bed,
pending careful
PREPARATIONS FOR HIS OWN SLAUGHTER.
When detected lie had made ready for
the deed, had turned his shirt in around
his neck to bare his throat, and was put
ting the last touches to the blade to make
it keen.
Everything with life he was rabidly anx-
ious to destroy. On one occasion some la
dies visited the jail accompanied by n
small dog. Immediately on its entering
the Jail hall the unhappy man set his trap
to catch the animal. In the lower edge Of
the cell door WAS II notch cut away in the
bars to pass articles through. In a corner
at the door he crouched, projecting his
hands with fingers open to seize the dog,
he keeping perfectly still. The dog came
up near the hand, when with lightning
move he seized it and dragged it in too
quickly for yelp even until held in a ter
rible grip. The ladies, not missing the an
imal, approached the cell door to look in
on the reputed maniac. Imagine their in
expressible horror at seeing the dogin his
hands being actually rent asunder. With
teeth and hands he tore it in pieces, and
began eating it with apparently most vo-
racious relish. The quivering flesh could
only be taken from him by sheer force.
CLOTHED IN HIS RIGHT MIND.
This was in 1867. When two years la
ter the County lnfrmary was established.
Cross was removed there. Though in no
way improved in the main, he was subject
ed to longer intervales of quiet. At a Pc
riod shortly subsequent he was sent to
Newburg, and returned from there after a
while, pronounced incurable. In 1872
several cases of the kind were transferred
from that lnhrmary to the Northern Ohio
Asylum, near this city, Dr. b. A. Wright,
Superintendent.
The case of Cross was notorious, and
when the Others came DIR. Wright expect
ed him, but ne was not among the patients
and the Doctor was told that their convey.
ance, chains, &c., were not safe to bring
him, but as soon as he quieted down a Iii.
tie he would he brought. lie was soon af-
ter, In July, 1872, and placed at once un-
der DIR. Wrights personal care. That gem
tleman knew how desperate the case was
regarded, and entered upon il, it may be
believed, with unusual energy. Cross was
pronounced entirely cured last November,
and has since been entirely at his own free
will, and remains in the condition in which
our reporter discovered him rs described
SUPERINTENDENT wRIGHrs STATEMENT.
At our request DIR. Wright has furnish
ed the following statement OF the interest
ing case;
"Orison Cross was received July 20, 1872,
At first his parOxysms, having about three
weeks OF rabid insanity, then modifying ia
a degree that he could be approached and
cared tor, for about two weeks, and then
assuming the rabid form again. Thus he
had been going on over eight years, four
years OF that time spent At Newburg, The
longest spell of being moderate in his
conduct was six weeks, lie was delivered
into our keeping Immediately after one al
his rabid attacks had 80 much moderated
a. TO make il comparatively safe to con,
vey him here, Previous to his coming j
wa" advised by physicians not TO have
anything to do with the patient Cross
! For, said they, he Will destroy property