The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1882-03-10

A most remarkable case of insanity result
ing from practical joke has just come 70
light in this city, but - yet little Or no pub
LEFTY has been given the matter. Living
about two niles from town il family by the
name or Waters They are we.l-to-io. plain
country people. who enjoy the respect ~ all
their neighbors, and have 4 large circle ~
friends an relations. The family consists 81
Nr. and Mrs. Waters. noN well advanced IN
wears: two fine appearing and sensible daugli-
tiers, both grown. and one son named Henry.
who Is handsome. manly young fellow q
twenty three, whose pleasant face has made
Henry had been brought up on the farm,
and his experience beyond the limits Of his
home and the neighboring towns has been re-
stricted 70 4 single visit 20 Cleveland at the
time Of the Garfield funeral obsequies He
was much given % reading light literature q
the blood nd-thundcr kind, and his associates
say he was very supcrStitlons, and had ~ w
ri0us times expressed himself q believing IN
spirits and their visiouci ferr0rs. In fact,
these strange fantasies had 20 worked upon
bis simple nature that he always slept with Z
large, oli-fashsoned Colts revolver at the
head Of HE he'd, where be could place his hand
upon Il III en- instant.
Knowing hIs weakness. x ne 81 the neigh
borhood boys plannoi m The lcSt Of humor, .
scheme 70 brighten him with Inakc-bclicvc
ghost ~ midnight's evil hour. A night was
sct for the preparation Of the Joke, and dur
ing that afternoon one q the Young men care
fully drew All the bullets from Henry's pistol,
leaving the powder IN each cartridge undis-
turbed, and PLACED the weapon back IN IL C.
cusfomci place. Henry retired ~ usual q
half past eight. ana about midni0htyjnst Is the
moon was throwing dim ray 81 livht across
The floor, one Of the boys, clad Ia ghostly a.
tire, stcalthily entered the room and stood
Nth ns.f ~ arrns sIosxIv rnutfrriuc nm
intelligibie sentences.
with anawakcning trcmor. Henry convlleive
" graspcd his revolver and Sal upright In bed,
dumb through fear. The ghost advanced I
step. the mntterings continued. MI Henry,
wrought up 20 almost frenzy. drew 70 an
with death, and stammercd: :" II you are q
man shall Kill you: II you are .ghoet. this
won't hurt YOU " and with that the loud re-
port Of bis pistol startled the nights still
ness There was q quick motion u IN,
shrouded arm, and the bullet was throw
beck, striking the hcai.board q Henryl
side. This sent cold chill through Biz frame
but second time he took deliberate aim Al
| the figure and fired. Again q motion q 1
catching the bullet, and u was thrown bacl
upon the bed
Almost pAralysed with fear, Henry ared
| third. fourth and fifth shot. only 70 have III
! bullets hurled back with noiscless motion
1 from the ehostly figure. Then for brief mo
! mcnt Ne sat as II transtixed, gazing will
4 mute bcwildcrment. when, with wild shricl
4 u terror, he fired the last blank cartridge an,
1 hurled the pistol a the ghost
| With . merry laugh. The Rhoetly visito
| throw on his Rowing garmcnte, and through
| the door came those who had gathered with
4 out 70 Join IN Che sport, when. 70 their horror
4 they saw depicted On the fate 81 Henry IN e.
/ precision which told the ead story that the
4 Joke had, alas been too well pla "a. ia
mind could not stand the strain. He wa
I! ravinR maniac
young Waters va frightened, Ne has no
showed the least signs d returning sanity
and, while not violent, u constantly ahriclkin
out and pointing % imaginary ghosts IL q
~ story and frixhtful warning 70 practic1
1okers. YosNgstosW (u) Hpeciof ~. ~
CIsctnnatt En3sir~.