Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-07-28

l
ing the president. One day he got
by the door somehow, and ! met him
up stairs. What do you think allied
him? Why, he believed he was elect
ed President of the United States, and
he had come to give President Grant
notice to quit He appeared to be a
harmless lunatic, so | coaxed him out
by telling him that President Grant
would be ready to vacate the next day.
1t was long time before ! saw him
again but when he finally made his
way to the place again he had not for
gotten my promise. Singularly enough
he had not noticed the lapse of time,
but spoke of the promise as having
been made yesterday. | got him away
again quietly and never saw him again.
l think it was the next day that his
sister in-law called here and asked me
to get the president to put Joltz into
the insane asylum. She said his disap-
pointme nt at not being inaugurated had
made him violent. She knew he own
ed gun and she feared he would en-
deavor to use it to kill the president
who had usurped his chair. He was
|
"Were there any attempts to assass-
mate President Grant ?"
"No, not exactly; but we are never
altogether safe from crazy men. In his
second term big wicked looking
negro-he was over six foot and built
in proportion--came to me and asked
me to let him see the president He
was an evil-disposed looking william and
had trick of showing you only the
whites of his eyes. suspected he was
not all right and questioned him pref
ty closely. While was talking to him
! noticed that he kept his right hand
in his left breast-pocket, and l was
afraid he had revolver there
made an excuse and got away
so as to call officer kearney, TO
whom impaired my suspicious. The
officer under the pretext that he would
lead him to the president, enticed him
from the house and Gagged him in the
police station. Search showed that his
left breast-pocket contained loaded
revolver of large size. Idon't remem-
Der his name or what was done with
him.
care there many who labor under
the delusion that they have been elect
ed to the presidency"
ooh, yes; two or three every year, at
least. They are generally harmless and
go away without much trouble. Then
there is another class of lunatics, also
humorous. They believe they own the
white house, the capitol, the treasury
department, and all the other public
buildings, and come here periodically
for the keys. We generally send them
to the capitol, where they wander
around till they get tired. One morn
ing woman who had gone crazy be-
cause of the loss or abduction of her
daughter, came here to accuse Presi-
dent Grant of the crime. After
she had butted her head through
two or three panes of glass we gave
her into the hands of epolice. A very
frequent nuisance at the white house is
the praying lunatic, harmless poor
devil who has gone crazy on religion
We had one the other day who kneeled
on the porch and prayed quite eloquent
ly for President Garfield. They are
generally harmless, and we let them
have their pray out so long as they do
not make too much noise"
Can you remember any other crazy
mem"
"Not by name. Well, yes: have you
ever heard of John Biggins9 No? Well,
he was a big Irishmen, about six feet
four, and as strong as yoke of oxen.
He was a rough looking chap, too, and
had hand like leg of mutton. He
was as crazy as loon, but only on one
point, and that he never showed until
the occasion arrived. He was one of
President Grants visitors. One day he
called looking as sober as judge and
as quiet as lamb, and asked to see the
president his name was sent up stairs
and after waiting awhile he was shown
into the presidents reception room.
"What can ! do for you, Mr.. Big
gins?" asked the president.
president Grant" said higgins, his
greatness breaking out for the first time,
Il wish you to understand that | don't
want you peeping through the keyhole
of my bedroom door any more. If you
do it again I'll shoot you dead, as sure
as my name is higgins.
$50 would l if l were you, replied
President Grant, not a muscle ofhis face
moving; and | can assure you it will
not occur again"
1.-THE GOODNESS Of the president prob
ably saved his life, for higgins was
armed and desperate He is now in
an insane asylum"
| 1870 -