The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1877-11-13

A wonderful thing is the human braiI
that mysterious organ which generates on
thoughts, controls our actions, and shaps
the destinies alike Of individuals an
nations. In health it works in harmon,
the source OF human prosperity and happi
uess; but when disordered and diseased, n
human power can describe the horrors i
creates, the torture it produces. and III
sutierings il entails upon its unhapp
possessor.
DEATH, ITSELF,
has no terror in cOmparison-no pangs 81
bitter, Is those produced by a craze,
imagination.
Yesterday morning, Mr.. VIM. Sterns
who lives in East Sedalia, and Who 70
some time has been bereft OF his reason
returned tn consciousness, and is in fai
way of recovery. The causes connected
relates in substance rs follows:
He is, or was, employed in the Genera
Offices Of the NJ, X. Il +. Some time az,
he became indebted to a saloon keeper il
East SedaIia for small sum, Tor the pay
ment OF which he Was importuned by hi
creditor, who finally threatened to presen
the account to Superintendent Garner
Stems then promised the man that he would
settle the debt upon the next pay day
When il came he returned home with his
money, aud telling his wife that he fel,
nnwell, said that he was going ont to get a
drink, taking with him about
NINETY DOLLARS.
He then remembered the bill he owed, and
went To- the saloon to settle il. He paid
his bill, and in doing so exposed his
money. The saloon keeper then asked him
ii he would have drink, to which Stems
replied that was his object in coming there
The former then stopped down behind the
and poured him out drink, W hich
S,erns swallowed. After that he remembers
nothing.
Between six and seven o'clock in the eve.
ming his wife became alarmed at his pro-
tracted absence, and some friends went in
search Of him. He was found in the
saloon i'm
A STATE OF INsENSIBILIrY,
and upon searching his pockets, but enc
nickel and two buttons were found in them
his money having disappeared in the few
hours he had been absent from his home.
He was taken to his residence, and upon
to consciousness was very sick.
Tie found il impossible to sleep, and passed
me hundred and twenty hours, or five
lays and nights, without slumber. \
physician prescribed hydrate Of choral,
which had the desired effect OF quoting
his nerves and inducing sleep. Stems
liked the effect of the drug so we'll that he
exceeded the doses prescribed, and in some
secretly procured larger supplies.
Being very powerful preparation, the
choral made him crazy, and he had to be
watched to prevent him from doing injury
to himself or to others,
HIS RULING PHANrAsY
was that his wife and those around him
were going to kill him, and every act Of
kindness and attention on their part, to
him Was conclusive evidence that il war
assumed only to lull him into a sense OF
security, that they might better accomplish
their object. oh, yes, he knew what they
were up to! To make his condition more
in,olerable, his physician had discovered
his secret Of clandestinely obtaining the
choral s,imulant, and had effsctually Gu,
of his supply. So he raved in his delirium
and gabbled incoLerent jargon to the "gob-
Inns damned" that arose before his dis
torted vision, and day succeeded day with
new decisions and new horrors.
CRAFT AND CUNNING
are often manifested by those laboring un-
der mental alteration, and they frequently
display an ingenuity in accomplishing
their purposes that would do credit to the
originality and invention of a we'll bal.
anced brain. And Stems, also, displayed
"a method in his madness" A few nights
ago he rose from his bed and
proceeded to dress himself, tying his necktis
with nicely and donning his hat and over
coat As the door vas locked, his watchers
allowed him to thus smuse himself, but
they did not know that in the bureau there
was duplicate key OF the door. Stems
however, knew ii, and edging NJ gradually
he suddenly opened the bureau drawer,
snatched the key, bounded to the door, ant
in moment was out in the dark nigh
running toward the General Office like /:
deer.
He was pursued and overtaken, and Mr.
Cousely suggested to him that ii he woul,
go back to the house, he (Cousley) would &c
his overcoat and 60 with him. To thi
Stems readily consented, and they turne,
back, when Mr.. Cousely placed his han'
upon Sterns' arm to prevent him from agsiI
escaping. This alarmed Stems, who in
sisted upon being freed. Seeing . darke.
passing, he called upon him for help, ex
claiming that his captors had no right t
restrain him from his liberty. The darke
gave one look, and seeing tina
Stsrns wac crazy, he took to hi
heels and disappeared in tn
gloom like thoroughbred at the wor
"go.r This sudden action OF the
BADLY SCARED DARKEY
excited the disabilities OF the entire party
and Stems laughed until the tears raj
down his cheeks. This diversion tire,
his mind into another channel, and h