The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-08-22
Feigning Insanity.

feigning insanity, the Transcript says q
case of remarkable endurance occurred
recently at the Charlcs-street Jail.
Reuben w. Clapp, u native of North
bore, aged thirty years, was arrested
last May for passing counterfeit
money, and confined in the Jail to
await the coming in of the United
States Circuit Court. One night, a few
days before the session of the court, a
horrible yell from his cell reused all
the inmates Of the prison, and the Off
GERS in the neighboring buildings.
Clapp was found in nude condition,
dancing q war-dance, whooping and
yelling at the height of his power. and
he was man of tremendous voice.
With some difficulty three strong men
marched him into the insane depart
ment and placed him in a padded cell.
DIR. Mccullough, of the Jail, and DIR.
Chase, the United States physician, ex-
amined him, found his pulse regular,
and were at loss to account for such
symptoms in SO healthful q body. For
four days the man raved day and night
most violently. Now he was Sitting
Bull leading his forces with terrible
yells to battle, again he danced and
then he sang. By turns he prayed
fervently, often eloquently, represent
ing himself to be the brother of Christ.
He performed all sorts of feats which
an insane man could be supposed to
commit. In fact, he overdid himself.
His symptoms were altogether too vio-
lent, and the doctors finally gave the
opinion that the man was shamming.
Yet, how he could keep it up so many
days, and with but little rest or sleep,
was mystery.
Upon the fifth day the man purpose
ly made himself and his quarters as
filthy as possible. He still refused
clothing, wearing only his "Indian"
blanket, hut his appetite did not fail
him. He was Immediately given an
other padded cell, and the same acts
and scenes were repeated. The doc
tor still maintained that he was "play-
ing 'possum," and the Sheriff, with
much anxiety and doubt lest he should
punish a sick person, suggested a re-
duction of diet and the punishment of
allowing the man to remain in the con-
dition in which he had placed himself.
This was agreed upon. For four days
the "maniac" was allowed to revel in
his dirty surroundings, subsisting only
upon bread and water, the doctors
making thorough examination of his
physical condition each day. At the
end of this time and ten days after his
first symptoms, the prisoner gave up
the battle, and, calling the Sheriff,
said: 81 give it up; Pm hungry" He
then admitted his attempt at deceit, re-
marking, 81 tried it at Worcester and
succeeded, and l thought could do il
here easier; but I'm beaten" He prom
Used solemnly that he would behave
himself in the future, and begged that
his action might not be used against
him upon trial. The Sheriff accepted
his repentance as genuine. and COM
piled with his request, to keep the mat
ter from affecting his trial. In a few
days he was tried, and sentenced to five
years Imprisonment in the State Pris.
on. 1t was afterward learned that in
January last Clapp was committed to
the Worcester Jail for trial for horse
stealing. At the end of two months
he was sent to the Worcester State
Lunatic Hospital, and soon after was
adjudged cured and released.-B0sto.
herald.