The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1882-07-29
LOCKED WITH A LUNATIC.
How "a Physician Was Request
ed 10 Drink Poison. With ~
MndInan's h uife as an
Argument.
A HAIR-cURLING EXPERIENCE.

curiosity 10 Ine lalty ana STUDY TO
the medical profession for years, and
almost daily some new prank of a
diseased Imagination is made public.
Strange and thrilling experiences
sometimes occur to those who have
to do with the insane, but the follow
ing story from prominent physi-
clan has probably not an equal. A
Louisville Courier Journal reporter,
in passing up Jefferson street last
night stumbled on well.known doc
tor and prominent member of the
Board Of Health, from the East End,
and in the course of pleasant con
versation the subject of insanity was
brought up. Il had an experience
once" which | can never recall with
out having chill crawl up my back
and which was the closest shave of
my life"
Being prevailed upon to relate
the incident, he led the way to his
office, and settling himself comfort
ably in his arm chair began
"ln 1877 just five years ago, the
incident occurred. There was at that
time a young photographer in this
city, who by genius, hard work and
application, made quite a reputation
for himself, and was well known by n
large number Of persons in the city.
Some time before the incident OF
which | speak occurred he met with
an an accident which caused him
great pain and
FINALLY DETHRoNED HIS REASON.
He suffered patiently for some time
and the first evidences of insanity
were noticed one day while he was
out in the country photographing
some fine race-horses. The first
freak that came upon him was a
strange one. and he imagined that he
would like to become a horse. For
some time after his return home, with
a lunatie's cunning, he concealed his
hallucination, but finally his mind
gave way, and ! was called in to pre-
scribe for him. The injury he re-
ceiyed was in one of his limbs and
was the thing which troubled him
most, so / mixed up q solution of
sugar Of lead, to battle the injury
with. This preparation makes u
white composition greatly resembling
milk, and is a deadly poison if taken
internally. ] heard nothing more of
the case until the next day about
noon, when one of his friends came
running into the Office and said that
lie had become very violent, and was
smashing things up in his room. |
went over to the room, asking one Of
the men to 90 up with me, rs / felt q
little afraid of entering alone. He
consented, and we went up to the
room and found the door locked on
the inside. i called to him and he
recognizing my voice, opened the
door and told me to come in. | did
so and the young man who came up
with me attempted to follow, but the
crazy artist shut the door in his face
and said that he wanted to see me
alone. AS soon as | entered the room
he coolly turned round and locked
the door putting the key i'll his
pocket He then deliberately seated
himself on the edge of the bed, and
in loud whisper, began to tell me of
plot which he thought his relatives
had formed against him. He had a
heavy insurance on his life and they
were
TRYING TO POISON HIM
to get the money. AS he proceeded
he grew very much excited and
worked himself almost in frenzy.
Suddenly sitting up erect in the bed
he exclaimed. i tell you the poison
is everywhere; it is in my milk and
in my food, and here is whole bowl
full of milk which is poisoned point
ing to the solution, and if it don't
kill you then / can drink IT, This
was getting things rather warm and
| tried to change the subject, but he
persisted and again grew excited.
At length in fit Of desperation /
picked up the poison and pretended
W JdSOc III, DuO uc WIS lioI W NC uc-
ceived and commanded me to drink
half Of it. l positively refused and
he said very quietly, if you don't /
will kill YOU at the same time walk
ing to a small stand and opening a
drawer took out large knife before
] knew what he was doing, and con-
fronting me with the weapon in his
hand repeated the words If you don't
drink it / will Kill you 1t was then
for the first time that / was really
and no possible means of
escape presented itself. The door
was locked, and escape from that
quarter shut off, the room was in the
second story and to jump out of the
window would be certain death. while
to drink the poison was equally dead
ly. In this position / stood and
trembled; in my hand | held the
bowl of poison and directly in front
of me stood the mailman, with the
knife clutched in his hand. / knew
it would be foolishness to attempt to
close with him, as he was three times
as strong. and in this dreadful pre-
dicament | hesitated what to do. My |
caona1 RI anraro him, |