The Iola register., 1882-03-10
Frightened Into Hopeless Lunacy.

A most remarkable case of insanity result
ing from practical joke has just come to
light in this ty, but as yet little or no pub
licity has been given the matter. Living
about two miles from town is a family BY the
name of Waters. They are Yelto-do, plain
country people, who enjoy the respect of all
their neighbors, and have a large circle OF
friends an 4 relations. The family consists OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Waters, now well advanced in
years; two dne-appearing 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-
stricted to single visit to Cleveland at the
time Of the Garfield funeral obsequies He
was much given to reading light literature OF
the blood and thunder kind, and his associates
say he was very superstitious, and had at va
rious times expressed himself IS believing in
spirits an their visioned terrors. In fact,
these strange fantasies had SO worked upon
his simple nature that he always slept with
large, old-fashioned 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, .
scheme to frighten him with q make-believe
ghost at midnight's evil hour. A night was
set for the perpetration OF the joke, and 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-
turbed, and placed the weapon back in its ac-
customed place. Henry retired as usual at
half past eight, and about midnight, just as the
moon was throwing dim ray of light across
the floor, one Of the boys, clad in ghostly at
tire, stealthily entered the room and stood
with outstretched arms, slowly muttering un-
ineligible sentences.
With an awakening tremor, Henry convulsive-
ly grasped his revolver and sat upright in bed,
dumb through fear The ghost advanced
step, the mutterings continued, till Henry,
wrought up to almost frenzy, drew to an
aim tue weapon he supposed was charged
with death, and stammered: eff you are
man shall kill you; if you are ghost this
won't hunt you;'' and with that the loud re-
port of his pistol startled the nights still
ness. There was q quick motion Of the
shrouded arm, and the bullet was thrown
back, striking the head board at Henry's
side. lhl6 sent q cO!0 chill through ms frame,
but second time he took deliberate aim at
the figure and fred. Again q motion as if
catching the bullet, and it was thrown back
upon the bed.
Almost paralyzed with fear, Henry fired .
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 if transixed, gazing with
mute bewilderment, when, with wild shrek
If terror, he fired the last blank cartridge and
hurei the pistol at the ghost.
With merry laugh, the ghostly visitor
threw off his flowing garments, and through
the door came those who had gathered with
out to join in the sport, when, to their horror,
they saw depicted on the face of Henry an ex-
preston which told the sad story that the r
joke had, alas been too well pla ed. His
mind could not stand the strain. He was a
raving maniac.
The saddest 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 .
cad story and frightful warning to practical
jokers.- Youngstown co., Special (Feb. 23) to
Cincinnati Enquirer.