Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-02-16
a Human Gobhler.

| ABOUT Twelve miles north of Lawrence
burg, Ind, in Manchester Township, on 8
dreary road which is rarely trod by any.
body but paupers, and which, if it leads
anywhere, might lead to the mythical sec.
ton OF Hades familiary known as the
''Haif-acre, is located q lot of dilapidated,
broken-down, rookish old buildings which
taken together, constitutes the County In
| Urinary. In the rear of this forsaken spot
stands an old stone-pile, covered over Dy a
roof, under which existed q being which
resembles masculine humanity, but which
exhibits all the traits and characteristics of
turkey gobbler. This ''thing' is called
Bradley, and has probably existed about
forty years. The antecedents of the crea-
ture are unknown further than that 1t was
picked up in Lawrenceburg Township
some fifteen or twenty years ago, nd car
RED to the Intirmary and thrown into cell
IN the stone building dedicated 10 the hope
lessly insane. When seen by the writer
bradley was sitting-or rather, roosting-
on cot, which stretched across his cell
He was squatting, and appeared to rest en-
tlrely upon his Ieet, while his body swung
between his legs, his head nearly on par
allel with his knees. This" said MIR.
Duncan, the Infirmary Superintendent, "s
his uniform posture when not moving. In
the position you now see him he will re-
main for halliday and even day at a
time" Bradley was dressed in simply a
blue drilling loose slip made in the shape
of a bag. From his mouth protruded
handful of tobocco stems, all of them eight
or ten inches long, and in his hand he held
another bunch of stems Of the same weed.
de was surrounded by lot of tin cans and
cups, from which he never parts; no more
does he part With his tobacco stems. With
them perched upon his cot he toys constant
ly and, save when eating, he never ceases
to wobble in his mouth the stems. In
few instances the experiment has been tried
of deprivlng hIm OF his toys Instantly
the creature has become wild, and making
a noise precisely like a turkey -gobbler, he
has dashed about his cage furieusly, but
ting his head agains. the wall, as if intent
on self destruction. The experiment has
always had the same result, and when again
in possession of his trinkets and stems
Bradley has invariably assumed his accus-
toned roost and become calm. Save the
noise OF gobbler no sound has never come
from the creatures throat. During the
cold weather, because of his neager dress.
Bradley Is always kept confined. When
summer comes, however, he ID occasionally
trusted out doors. On such occasions he
uniformly wandsrs Of into the lots adjoin-
ing the lnhrmary climbing trees and fences
and balancing himself on q limb OF board,
and, squatting down, roOsts there hour
after hour, frequently uttering the singular
''oblety goblety" sound His tin-cups and
tobacco stems he always carries with him
on these expeditions.
In speaking of this singular specimen of
the human, Dr. Kyle, who for years has
been the lnfrmary Physician, said: 81
have again and again seen Bradley, while
of in lhe fields, get frightened, and then
seen him In q STOPPING posture Che has
never been seen erect), with his traps gath
cred upon his arm, the stems sticking out
Of his mouth, run as no dog anywhere In
this whole region can run. When he comes
to fence he runs up over il, using his
elbows and feet, and in the operation is
almost instantaneous. In speed the crea-
ture can almost outstrip q fast horse"
Bradley has very coarse hair all over bis
face. He ebeys only few commands, but
does not recognize his name. When slowly
moving over the ground he frequently
hops, instead of planting one foot after the
other In his habits he Is as helpless as
baby. His food is principally granivorous,
he rarely eating anything other than that
food made from grains. BY everybody
who has seen Bradley here it Is regarded
as one of nature monstroslties-