The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-03-04
Awful Warming to Practical Jokers.

A most remarkable case of insanity result
Ing from practical joke has just come TO
light IN this C ty. but a yet little or no pIb-
lyity has been given the matter Living
about two niles from town is a family b. the
name Of Waters. They are we lto-do, pl in
country people, who enjoy the respect of all
their neigabors, and have a large circle Of
friends Tala ons. The family consists OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Waters, now well advanced in
years; two fine appearing and sensible 3augh-
tiers, both grown, AMI one son named Henry.
who is a handsome, many young fellow Of
twenty-three, whose pleasant face has made
him many trends.
Henry had been brought up on the farm,
and his experience beyond the limits of his
home and the neighboring towns has been re-
str.cted TO a single visit 10 Cleveland at the
time of the Garfield funeral obsequies He
was much given to reading light literature OF
the blood and-t un ler Kind, and his associates
say ne was very superstit:ols, and had at va
rous times expressed himself as believing in
spirits ana their visioned terrors. In fact
these strange fantasies had SO worked upon
his simple nature that he always slept with a
large, old-fashioned Colts revolver at the
head OF his led, 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,
scheme to brighten him with a make-beleve
ghost at midnight's evil hour. night was
set for the Preparation Of the Joke, an dur
ing that afternoon one OF the young men care
fully drew all the bullets from Henry's pistol.
leaving the powder in each cartridge undis-
tarbed, and placed the weapon back in its ae-
customed place. Henry retired as usual at
ftsGf asrrf HI, IA.
moon was throwing a dim ray of Ii ght across
the floor, one of the boys, clad in ghostly at
tire, stealthily entered the room and stood
with outstretched arms, slowly muttering UNI
ineligible sentences.
With an awakening tremor, Henry convuIsive-
ly grasped his revolver and sat upright in bed.
dumb through fear The ghost advanced a
st p the matterings continued, till Henry.
wrought up to almost a frenzy, drew to an
am e weapon he supposed was charged
with death, and stammered: If YOU are a
man shail Kill you; if YOU are a ghost. this
won't III yoa;n and with tn Il the loud re
port of his istol startled the nights still
ness here was quick motion of th+.
shrouded arm, and the bullet was thrown
back, striking the head-bnard at Henry's
site n sent a cold C ill through s frame
tut second time he took del berate aim at
the figure and fired. Again a motion as if
catching the bullet, and it was thrown back
a most paralyzed with fear, Henry fired a
thlrd fourth and fifth shot, only TO have the
ul.ets hurled back with noiseless motion
from the ghostly figure. Then for brief mo-
Inept ne sat as II transixed, gazing with
mule 5eTiiderment, wien, with a wild shrek
OF terror, he fired the asst blank cartridge and
hur the pistol at the ghost.
With merry laugh, the ghostlv visitor
threw off b S flowing garments, and through
the door came those who had gathe ed W It'll
out 10 Join in the sport when to their horror
they sav depicted on The face of Henry an ex-
press on which told the sad story that the
Joke had alas. been too well pla ed. His
mind could not stand the strain. He was a
ravlng IN mac
Tie saddle part of the story is that, al
though several weeks have elapsed since
young Waters was frightened, he has not
showed the least signs of returning sanity;
and, while not violent is constantly shrieking
out and pointing to imaginary ghosts. 1t is a
ssa story and fri9htful warning to practical
JoSers- s. lonagsfosea (0.) SPECIAL FEB. 81 to
Ctsacisaadti Enquirer.