National Republican., 1878-11-21
A DIsTTyG rIsHED GUEST.
An Order that surprised Mr.. spofrord-A
Dement.d Army Onlcer.

An Order that surprised Nr. spoHoru-A
Dement-d Army Onlcer.
"Mr. Landlord, I want the best suite OF rooms
you have In the house" This was addressed
to Mr. spofford, of the Riggs House, rs he stood
behind his counter, about ialfpast ten o'clock
yesterday morning. The gentleman who used
the words had just alighted from a carriage,
and entered the office. He was tall and dcciG-
edly military In appearance. Hc wore n fur
cap, carried heavy fur coat over bis arm, and
a Handsomely mounted pair OF field glasses IN
one hand. His moustache was gray, but his
most striking feature was his eyes, which were
restless and wild. "Mr. Landlord ! want the
best suite Of rooms you have in the house"
Noticing that tho landlord hcsitatcd, and per
haps thinking that he divined the reason, the
stranger continued: 81 don't care II 1t costs
$3.50 week. don't want any Of your servants
tJ wait uu me. Put all OF them out, and
will put IN my own help"
The hotel register was showed toward him,
and the stranger subscribed himself in u bold
hand, Henry W. James, late L. :. A." De.
string bath, Mr. James was directed TO the
barber shop. As he turned away from the
counter another gentleman came up and an.
nOunced himself as the brother Of the tall
stranger aud stated that he had just escaped
from his guard at the Baltimore aud Potomac
depot. lie further requested Mr.. Spoford to
let him have whatever he wanted, ~ he was
| perfectly harmless though thoroughly insane,
| aud Informed him that his ncwly.reGistcred
guest was the Colonel James o. whoa the
papers have spoken as having left the bsrraCk-
| In Montana Territory and roamed over the
| prairies for some days, until he was found by
4 scouting party.
The two soldiers who composed his guard
having in the meantime followed the demcntcd
| lieutenant and arrived at the hotel they re
maued there to see that he did not escape
| while Lieutenant Banarsdale repaired to th,
War Departmentto secure the necessary paper
| tor the admission of Colonel james IL
It. Eliz,beth's Asylum. When Lieuten,n
| Blnarshnle returned with the papers Coloue
James called upon the Landlord Tor protection
and retiring behind the counter. intrunchet
| himself there, armed with am iukstand in on
hand and the Riggs House ledger in the other
II. was finally OvcrpOwGrcd, aud, despite hi
many appeals to bystandcrS, was conveyed t
the ambulance In waiting at the door. an'
driven away to the asylum. Colonel Jane
was formerly Lulrtermaster on GeuerhGrl
staff. His army record Is good
| II Is stated that lie lost his mental cquili
brium through dissipation, although his fac,
does not carry any OF the marks Of dcbauchcry
One OF his halIuCiuntious il that he pOsscssc
unlimited wealth, and he desires to travel ant
live like nabob. During this struggle will
his guards In the hotel office ho offered r luai
800 II he would get policemen to arrest tn
soldiers. He exhibited marks Ou his ankle
aud wrists which he claimed were made b.
handouts aud manacles. but which were reall
caused by his struggles IN attempting to e'
| cape from the ear during his long ride fror
Montana to Washington.