New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-08-11
The Dangers Of Practical Joking.

Cured in Chicago for many years, saws
the Tribune, and it does not relieve the
painfulness of the sad affair that the
death of Mr.. Gould was not the result of
malice, revenge, or evil intention. On
the other hand, the circumstances make
II even more sorrowful than if it could
De attributed to any of the above-men-
toned motives. With the testimony be-
fore them, about which there could be
no question, the jury of inquest could
not do otherwise than justify the homi-
eide and discharge the prisoner, as no
blame attached to him in the premises.
This testimony shawcd that Mr.. Gould
and his friend, Gen. Waite, belonged to
that altogether-too-numerous class in
the community known as practical iok-
ers. Visiting the rooms of the latter,
they conceived the idea of playing q
practical joke upon his major-domo,
Winn, who had stepped out for a mo-
ment and carelessly left the door open,
by making him think n burglar had been
through the rooms. They disarransed
various articles of furniture and cloth
ing, and then went into the bathroom
and shut the door, to await the
result when Winn should return.
What the horrible result was is
only too well known. Winn came back,
and, finding every thing in disorder,
naturally concluded that thieves were in
the apartments, and, securing Gen.
Waite's pistol, he commenced a search
for them. Finding that the bathroom
door, though unlocked, would not open,
and that some one was standing against
{, he demanded Of the occupants that
they should come out. Had their prac-
teal joke ended at this point-had they
opened the door, or had one of them
spoken-the fearful catastrophe might
have been averted; but they only kept
silent and resisted Winn's effort to open
the door. Finding that he could get no
answer from them, and that he could
not make them come out, he drew his
pistol and fired through the door, tho
bal! entering Gould's head. Gen. Waite
then cried out in alarm, but it was for
ever too late. The leaden messenger
had done its work. The practical joke
had resulted in the almost instant death
of Mr.. Gould.
AS we have said, no blame can attach
to the colored man. Had the two men
been burglars in reality, he would have
been considered hero. As it was, he
proved himself q courageous man, and
only did what he imagined to be his
duty, and what he was warranted
in considering his duty, in defending his
employers property from the depreda-
tons of thieves.
There is not y phase of this affair
that is not more than ordinarily painful.
Mr.. Gould was in the very flush of
manhood, a great favorite in society,
prospercd in his business, and with
bright hopes for the future before him.
In an instant of time, and in the midst
of his hilarity over what was a very silly
Joke, he was sent to his grnHe, and his
friends and relatives arc plunged into
grief over the needless, foolish, and
even foolhardy manner in which he
came to his death. There is nothing in
this homicide that can mitigate its hor-
ror. There is not an association con-
nccted with it that does not tend to pro-
duce a lifelong regret. The man who
shot him was an honest, faithful servant,
who only did his duty, and yet must
forever regret that he did it. Though
Gen. Waite did not propose the joke,
he must forever regret that he did not
oppose it, or at least that he did not end
it before it had gone so far. The death
of his friend does not lie at his door,
though he was a party to the joke; but
the regret will remain there all the
same; and that regret will be so keen
and SO poignant that it will be forever
solemn lesson.
In the midst OF so much grief, and in
considering an event so mournful and
at the same time SO unintcntional in it's
consequences, it is hard to make harsh
criticism, but it is none the less de-
handed. The fate of Mr.. Gould ought
to be solemn warning to all practical
jokcrs. 1t is only one more entry in the
long catalogue of pain, misery, and
death that has been caused by this very
questionable form of diversion. Over
and over again have long and painful
sickness, insanity, and death been
caused by this thoughtless and foolish
practice. The joke of Mr.. Gould and
his friend was not whit less reprehen-
siblc than that of the idiot who points
what he supposes is an unloaded pistol
1T his friend, and finds out his mistake
by the death of his victim, or of the
Joker who palms himself off as a ghost
upon some timid person, and frightens
her into insanity. There is no harm in
on innocent joke, provided it is done in
the proper place, at the proper time,
without intention of injuring a person
or exposing him to public ridicufe, and
without the objact of playing upon his
fears, his sensitivencss, or his personal
pcculiarities or beliefs. No practical
joker can be excused for playing his
pranks upon one who does not enjoy
them or appreciate them, or whose feel
ings are wounded by them. 1t seems to
be the peculiar belief of this class that
any one can be the victim of their fun
and has no reason to complain Of the
discomfort caused him. If practical
jokers would conlinc their ''put-up-
jobs'' to those of their own class, there
would be no grounds for criticism; but
they are not warranted in going any
further. If they do, they must not COM
plain at the consequences.
The Clean On. ~ Times records q
most SINGULAR case H. ia tho turninr