The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-09-16
A Tale Of Horror.


A Reading (Pa.) special to the Phila-
delphia Times says: One of the saddest
sights ever witnessed in this section of
the State was the taking of man aged
fifty-five, named Benjamin Sechler, to
the County Aims House yesterday. He
was dressed in a simple petticoat, and
from his right leg dangled rusty chain.
This man had been chained and con-
fined in log dungeon for twenty-seven
years. The truthful story of this mans
misfortunes far exceeds anything of the
kind published in Eastern Pennsylvania
for many years. A few days ago the
Directors of the Poor of Berks County
were informed of the fact that a man
named Sechler, lunatic, was confined
by his brother in filthy cabin and that
the poor unfortunate was being brutally
treated. Accordingly. Mr.. John II.
Bower, of the Board of Poor Directors,
accompanied by Jas. w. Sallade and
John b. Knorr, of the Aims House, and
David Heisly, Justice of the Peace of
that section, proceeded to the upper
end of Berks County for the purpose of
making a thorough investigation. They
were directed to a wild and desolate
region of sparsely settled country along
the Blue Mountains, in Albany Town
ship. On the premises of Joseph Sech-
Ter, brother of the lunatic, was found
a small wooden building, very strongly
built, of heavy logs. 1t contained but
one room. A small door or entrance to
the dungeon was bolted on the outside
by heavy oaken bar. The low roof
was covered by thatch and brush. I'm
der the den was a roughly built fire.
place, constructed of rocks. Here fire
was occasionally kindled, so that the
heat could ascend through the cracks of
the floor to give warmth to the impris-
oned lunatic. This floor was made of
rough oak slabs.
When the officials arrived they were
met by Joseph Sechler, brother of
the lunatic. He pointed out the way to
the dungeon, near the foot of the mount
aims. The man in the hut beat the
timbers of the sides of his fearful abode
with his hands when he heard the noise
of the approaching footsteps. The
clumsy, heavy oak door was unbarred,
and the sight presented on the inside
was fearful to behold. Crouched down
on bed of filth was an old man. His
gray and shaggy beard extended to his
thighs. His body was nude and brown
with filth. His eyes glistened and his
black teeth were firmly set. A heavy
chain ratified on the filthy floor; one
end of it was fastened to staple in the
middle of the floor and the other was
bound to one of the legs of the nude
maniac. He was violent. His long
confinement had made him as vicious
and as wiry as bulldog. He was
savage. The officials tried to coax
him, but they might as well have en-
deavorcd to make peace with an angry
hyena. The ferocious being shrieked
out series of oaths and unintelligible
words and beat his prison house with
his black and bony fists. 1t was ter
rible moment. Quick as thought the
poor lunatic was overpowered and
ironed. The heavy chain had become
so rusty that a blow from a heavy
sledge was necessary to break it. The
iron band about his ankle had to be
filed off by the blacksmith of the Aims
House when they arrived with the I'm.
fortunate at that institution. When the
officials took the poor man out of the
dungeon he looked about him as if he
had been suddenly transformed into
another world. For twenty-seven years
the sun had not shone upon him. In
all that time he had been neither
washed, clothed or shaved. His
brother stated that he had always given
him plenty of food. This was showed
into his cell like animals are fed. The sides
were black with filth and from the roof
dangled cobwebs and the nests of bats
There was little or no ventilation and
the stencil was unbearable. The officers
tried to get the poor man to tell his
story, but his reason was gone. He
was a mental wreck-more brute than
human. Filth had been so completely
rubbed into his skin that the body was
like that of the most filthy animal. He
made violent efforts to free himself,
but could not.
Thirty years ago he was a young man,
strong and vigorous, with a clear mind
He worked on farm that his father
owned. On a very hot day, and when
his system was in high state of exer-
ton and perspiration, he jumped into a
stream of cold water. After
that bath his mind became affected
Finally he became deranged. His father
died and left the property to his two
sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph
saws that he did not desire to put Ben
jamin into an insane asylum, so he re-
solved to keep him until he died. He
thought his death would take place be-
fore great while. Instead of this the
poor man lived on, and finally he be-
came so violent that the brother says he
to build the strong cabin and
chain him. For twenty-seven years the
horrible Imprisonment continued. What
the poor man endured may
be more easily imagined than described.
His fingers, tipped with long black nails,
looked like the claws of wolf His toes
were matted together with filth, more
hoofs than feet. He slept
on loose straw like common animal.
When he arrived at the Poor House he
was thoroughly washed. 1t will require
weeks before he can be made thoroughly
clean. His long beard was cut off, and
it was some time before he could be in
duced to submit to being shaved. His
hands and feet were first firmly bound.
Then his hair was cut short and his
scalp thoroughly cleaned. He was then
dressed in a cool and comfortable suit.
The best attention is being given to
him, and it is believed his mind NAV
possibly be restored. There is consid-
cradle money due him from his fathers
estate. which will enable the authorities