The Republican journal., 1881-07-14

"Cranks" is the name by which the
Washington police force designate the &C.
centric and wholly or partially insane per-
sons who turn up at the national capital.
Some have been we'll known characters
there for years, and others make their
appearance during times of excitement.
They have not heretofore been regarded
as dangerous, although no one could tell
what little thing might make them so.
AS an attache of the Washington police
department remarked to New York
Herald correspondent, "Ther minds are
not balanced and they are liable to 90 off
like a sky rocket on the slightest pre-
tence." The officer said further
At the inauguration Of Mr. Garfield four insane
men turned up here who wanted to be naugurated,
each claiming to have been elected Seven
arrested on the day Mr. Hayes inaugurated.
An equal number wanted to take General Grants
place at the first and nearly dozen the
sion of his second inauguration Don't you
member what an excitement the marriage of
Nellie Grant created Well, five or six "cranks'
one of whom pad about sou for his railroad ticket.
ranging in age from thirty to sixty years
here, each claiming to be the groom. Two of them
were sent to the insane asy lum the same day III
the same ambulance. and they fought all the way
over as to which of them was the real groom.
During the excitement that followed the Nathan
murder mystery sixteen persons in all i'll different
parts OF the country confessed to being the muir
derer In the excitement that took place during
the consideration of the Initiation bill as it was
called, we had over dozen linar clal 'eranks to
come, and over a hundred already here.
They all kept reasonably quiet except demented
New York Congressman, who rode about the
streets increasing the circulating medium by
throwing greenbacks out of his carriage i'll the
streets In the insane asylum there are four men
who claim to be Presidents one or two kings, one
queen and three men who have financial theories
that they claim will save the country.
At a meeting last week Of the creditors
of Mrs. Sarah Z. Howe, late President of
the detunct 'Ladies' Deposit" Of Boston,
the assignee presented a special report,
from which it appeared that, up to date,
9:H claims, the face value Of which is
1886, OOo, have been presented, 10 which
! latter sum must be added interest of "a
claims, amounting to + ll23,I9, making
total gross liabilities, SE}6, i23.49. From
this must be deducted, by rebating inter
est Oh - claims, in accordance with an
order Of the court, Sl3, EO.2O, leaving
the net liabilities up to date, 500 ,693.29.
There are Ia claims for costs in suits
which, as proven, amount to $oSS.;E}. \
number Of claims to the face value of
about $1,000 are still held in allegiance for
! investigation. 1t was ordered that Il diyi-
dend of 5pcr cent. be paid on all approved
| claims, Of which creditors VIII receive
| printed notice by mail This is probably
all the victims of Mrs. Howe will recover
The following is an Illustration Of the
swift and terrible punishment metcd out
to assassinS in the past In 1881 " illiam
of Orange, the liberator of Holland, was
lssassinated 10y Gerard, who was Cath
Government. He represented himself Il
Hugunot refugee, and thus obtained ac-
cess to the Prince, whom he shot as he
was leaving the dinner tabk. The victim
lived but a few minutes. The murderer,
who was not Of a sound mind, was con
demned to the most barbarous death.
His right hand was burned Oft with red
hot irons and bis flesh was torn from his
bones with pincers in six different places,
He was chartered and lisemboWeled alive,
his breast was torn from his bosom and
flung in his face, and finally his head was
cut off. He sustained this frighttul or
deal with perfect calmness.