The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-04-06
Driven Mad.

/ YoRETowN, O., Feb. GA most re-
n1arkable case Of insanity resulting from
practical joke has just come TO light tn
this city, but AZ yet little or no publicity
has been given the matter, Living about
| two miles from town is family by the
name OF Waters. They are wejt-to-do
plain country people, who enjoy the res
pect Of all their neigt1bors, and have q
| large circle Of friends and relations. The
fa NJ consists of Mr.. and Mrs. Waters,
uoa' I'll 5anced in years; two fine ap~
earring and sensible daughters, both
gross ~, and one son named Henry, who IL
q hands 11c, manly young fellow Of TWEEN
ty-thsne, whose pleasant face has made
many friends. *.-..1.
Henry had been brought up On a farm,
and his experience beyond the limits Of
his home and the neighborng towns has
been restricted to single visit 10 Cleve~
laad at the time OF the Garfield funeral OBJ
sequies. He was much given 10 reading
light literature Of the d-and-thunder
kind, and his associates say he was very
stlperstitious, aud had at various times eX~
pressed himself as believing in spirits and
their viaioned Eerrors. In fact these
strange fantasies had so worked upon his
simple nature that he had always slept
with large old-fashioned Colts revolver
at the head Of his bed where he could
place his hand upon it in al instant.
Knowing his weakness, some OF the
neighborhood boys planned, in the best OF
huu1or, scheme to frighten him with q
make-heieye ghost ut ulidnight's evil
hour. 4 night was set for the preparation
OF the joke, and during the afternoon Ole
Of the young men carefully drew all the
bullets from Henry's pistol leaving the
powder In each cartridge undisturbed, and
placed the weapon back in its accustomed
place, aud about midnight, jua5 AS the
moon was throwing dim ray Of light
across the f1oor, one Of the boys, clad in
ghostly attire, stealthily entered the room
and stood with clltsrretched arms, slowly
munering uninrelligible sentences.
With All awakening tremor, Henry co1~
vulsively grasped his revolver and SAT up-
right in bed dumb through fear The
ghost advanced step the mutterlngs con"
tinued, until Henry wrought up TO almost
a frenzy, drew to an aim the weapon ne
supposed whas charged with death, ano
atammered: eff you are Il man shall KILL
you; if you are d ghost this won't hurt
vou:'' and with that the loud report OF his
pistol startled the nights stiffness. There
was a quick motion OF the shrouded arms
and the bullet was thrown back, striking
the head-board ar Henry's side. This
sent cold thrill through his frame, buta
second time he took deliberate aim aC the
figure and fl sed. again = motion as If
catching the bullet, anditWaa thrown
back upon the bed.
Almost paralyzed with fear, Henry fired
q third, fourth, and fifth shot only to have
the bullets hurled back with noiseless mo-
eion from the ghostly figure. Then, fora
brief moment he sat sif transftxed, gazing
with mute bewtlderment, when, with a
wild shrek Of terror, he fired the last
blank cartridge and hurled the pistol at
the ghost.
With merry laugh, the ghostly visitor
threw of his flowing garments, and
through the door came those who had
gathered without to join in the sport,
when, to their horror, they saw depicted
on the face Of Henry an expression which
told the sad story that their joke had,
alas been too well played. His mind
could not stand the strain. lie was a rl~
wing maniac.
The saddest part OF the story IL that, al
though several weeks have elapsed since
young Waters was frightened, he has not
shown the least signs Of returning sanity;
and, while not Violent il constantly
shrieking out and pointing to imaginary
ghosts. It ii a sad story and frsghtfnl
warming TO practical jokers.-CInctnnott
Enquirer.