The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-03-04
Frightened Into Hopeless Lunacy.

A most remarkable case of insanity result
ing from practical joke has just come to
light in this city, but as yet little or no pub
hcity has been given the matter Living
about two miles from town is a family by the
name of Waters They are wel-to-do pllin
country people, who en- Oy the re spect Of all
their neighbors, and have large circle of
friends an relations. The family consists of
Mr.. and Mrs. Waters, now well advanced in
years; two Incorporating and sensible daugh-
ters, both grown, and one son named Henry,
who is handsome, manly young fellow of
twenty three, whose pleasant face has made
him many friends.
Henry had been brought up on the farm,
and his experience beyond the limits of his
home and the neighboring towns has been re-
strlcted 70 a single visit to Cleveland at the
time OF the Garfield funeral obSeQuiCs He
was much given to reading light literature of
tile blood-and-thunler kind, and his associates
say he was very superSttious, and mad at va
rious times expressed himself as believing in
spirits and their visioned terrors In TACT,
these strange fantasies had SO worked upon
bis simple nature that he always slept with a
large, old-faslioned Colts revolver at the
head of his bed, where he could place his hand
upon it in an instant.
Knowing his weakness, some of the neigh
borhood boys planned, in the best of humor. a
scheme to brighten him with a make believe
ghost at midnight's evil hour A night was
-
ing that afternoon one of the Young men care
fully drew all the bullets from Henry's pistol.
leaving the powder in each cirtridwe unds-
turbed, and placed the weapon buck in its ac-
customed place Henry retired as usual at
nall past eight, an about midni chit lust as the
moon was throwing dim ray of Ii ht across
the floor, one of the boys, clad in ghosty at
tire, stealthily entered the roo II and stood
with outstretched arms, slowly mutterng I'M
ineligible sentences.
a a "a IN from r1of,r
ly grasped his revolver and sat upri gnt in bed,
dumb through lear The guost a ivauced a
step the mutterings continued, till Henry,
wrought up to almost frenzy, drew to an
ann 'e weapon he su posed was ch ged
with death, and stammered: al you re a.
man shall kill you il YOU are ghost t iis
won't hunt yor; - and with tn tn loud re-
port of his pistol startled the nigh still
ness. There was quick mot ON of The
shrouded arm, and the bullet was thrown
back, striking the head board at Hen VS.
side. This sent cod cuill through b frame,
but second time he took del Iberia aim at
the figure and fired. Again D. ct on as if
catching the bullet, and it was thrown back
upon the bed
Almost paralyzed with fear, Henry fred
third, fourth and fifth shot, only to have the
bullets hurled back with noiseless motion
from the ghostly figure. Then for brief mo
ment he sat as II translixed, gazing with
mute bewiderment, whe l. with wild shrek
OF terror, he fired the asst blank cartridge and
hur e / the pistol at the ghost
With merry laugh, the ghosty Wis tor
threw OIL h $ flowing garments, and through
the door came those who had gathe ed with
out to join in the sport when to their horror.
they saw depicted on the ia of Henry an ex-
preston which told the sad story at the
Joke had, alas b zen too well pla ed His
mind could not stand the strain. lie was a
raving maniac.
The. saddle part OF the story is that, al
though several weeks have elapsed since
young Waters was frightened, he has not
showed the least gins OF eturning sanity;
and, while not violent, is cOnstan ly shrieklng
out and pointing TO imaginary ghosts. It IA a
sad story and frightfuI warning TO practical
lokers- Youngstown t0.l SpsciG! (Fso- az 10
Cincinnati Enquirer.