Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-03-11
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Insanity from q Practical Joke.

mcst remarkable case of insanity resulting
from practical iak, has just c,ms to light in
this ci ,. Living shut two miles from town is
family by The name of Waters, plsiu country
people who etjoy the respect cf all their
| neiahbors.
The family consists of Mr.. aud Waters, now
Wsn advanced 10 years; two grown daughters
snd one son named Henry, tWenty-hroe years
old. Henry has been brought np 90 the farm.
ard bis experience beyond lhs limits of bis
home snd neiehbOriug towos has been restricted
to siogle visit to Cleveland ut the time of the
Garfield funeral ots .Quies. He was much
given to readlog light literature of the blood
aud-thuDder kind, and bis associates say ho
vas very suDerstilious. AID had at various times
expressed himself So believing 10 spirits and
helr sisioned terrors. 10 fact. these Btrsrg,
fantasies hsd 50 worked upon bis siurls nslure
thGt be always slept with large old fashioned
CCl. 8 revolver at the head OF bis bed, where he
con'd place his bsLd upon it 10 40 instant.
Ano"ing bis weakness, some Of the neighboG-
bood boys planned q scheme to frishten him
el;h make b'lrv, ghost. A night was set
Tor the perpolrssioD Of The j)ke, and du,ing
that Afternoon one ef the youtg man carefully
drew ell the bullets lr.m Henry's. pistol, Iesv-
ng the powder in each o'rricg, uudiatutbed.
aud plsc:d the pon back 10 lis accustomed
Dlaos. Henry retired as usual at hsll-p1st eight,
and shout midnight. 1st ss the moon was
thto~itg dim rpy of light across tho q ,or. one
OF the boys. clad 10 ghos ly attire, steal. hily en-
tered the room and stood with oustretched
arms. slowly nutteIing uninteIligible sentences
With an sw,kenir 6 trsmor, henry ooLviI-
si'ey, Rr.sped bis rtvover snd sat uorigds in
bed. damb through fear. The ghost advanced
q m 81
Wrdughi up almost to fretzy. drew to 90 aim
'hs w.sp,u be supposed was charged With
death. mu'terirg. IT you are mao. sbsl
kill you; II you sre ghost, this uon't hurt
you.' aud with hat the ltu1 reptrs his pistol
startled the pight's stlotss. Ih:re Was
quick motion If The sbroudsd arm, and the bol-
let was throWo hack, stiikitg the hsadb ,ard at
aeury's side. This sent cold chill through
bis frame. bat sec md tms he took deliberate
aim OF The 6sure sud fired. Again motion IS
it Ca ching the bullet, and il was thrown back
upou the bid.
Am0st par.'yz,d Wi.b fear, Hsnry 6r,d.s
tklri, fourth. aud fifth shot, only to h.ya
'he bullets hurled back with noiseles, motion
from the 6 b 3sty figure. Then. for b;ief nc
ment be Sat slf trsl s6xsd. e z ng With mute
blW!ds m nf, when. wuh Wild shriek cf ter
ror, be fired the last black car ridgs and hurled
he pistol st the ghost. With Q merry laugh,
the ghostiy visitor threw of his & wing g.l-
mems, and through the door csms those who
he'd gathered without to join 10 the sport, when
to b sir horror, they saw depio;ed on The fscs
OF Henry Az expression which told the sad story
.hs! thsir Ike had, aas been too Wall played
His mind could not staLd the ssraio. BE was
rsVis 6 msniso. The saddest part of the Story
10 that. although several wseks have elapsed
siuce young Waters "; 8 frightened. he has DOT
showed the least slgls of rs.ur1ing sanity;
sud, while not sioIent, is constantly shtieking
out and pointing to imaginary ghosts. Il is q
sad story and frght'ul w.ralog to practical
j k'rs - Houngston % correspondents Gin
clnnatt Enquirer, February %.