The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-14
WASHINGTON CRANKs.
MIR. Blaine's Horror of Crazy PeoPi"-Iiow
the Dangerous Lunatics Are Treated.

MIR. Blaine's Horror of Crazy PeopIc-lIow
the Dangerous Lunatics Are Treated.
Washington Letter.
Mr. Blaine, ever since mis- experience il the
Garfield assassination, has had perfect horror
OF the roaming cranks of Washington 1t is
doubtless one Of the consultations so him that at
least he now win escape the attention of the
crazy people who swarm hero at all times of the
year. There was a man who used to haunt the
walks in Lafayette Park last summer who bid
fair to follow in the tracks of Guiteau, so far as
some high official WAS concerned. Hewas a tail,
red, frowsy- bearded man, with a most powerful
figure, clothed in the shabbiest of clothes lie
was formerly mail contractor and had come to
Washington TO collect claim against the Treas
ury. OF course he lad not succeeded Tho III
justice, his failure and dreadful poverty were
not long in unhinging his mind. lie used TO
send to the World correspondent the longest of
incoherent letters, picturing the terrible in
justice of the Treasury officials He used TO
walk in the park late at night mutterine and
threatening. l remember his coming W to me
one night and telling that Jesus Christ had an
peared to him the night before and had directed
him what to do If he had IN one of his inspired
mood removed the Secretary of the Treasury
it would not have been surprising. Mention
was made to one or two officials one day Of this
man and a day or two afterwards he disap-
peared. never knew where he went hut il is
probable that he is now an occupant Of one of
the wards in st. Elizabeth's Asylum.
II is astonishing how easily this asylum can
be made to open TO inclcse any eccentric mdi-
vidua who in al unguarded moment makes
threats. 1t is always easy enough to get
certificate from half dozen of tho physicians
whose clientage is largely among the official
class. All of the justice offices are appointive
and directly controllablo by the powers above
them. Suffrage is banished in the District IL
you, as an individual, are wronged, you will
have to hunt long time for redress If YOU are
in conflict with the official class
And one would laugh at TIE idea of the lettre
de cachet under our institutions But some Of
the ncarcerations here in the Government
asylum have had the look OF the most arbitrary
tyranny. There was the case of BigCins, vino
had the idea that Grant had destroyed his do
mestic happiness by seducng his wife. He was
sane upon every point but that and he was
thought to be sane upon that point until he ap-
peared before a House committee and said his
wife had been seduced IN spirit, One day Big
gins disappeared 1t was afterward found that
he was first shut up in the asylum. and after a
time taken to Europe in charge Of two govern
ment agents. He was left in England and freed
upon his promise never to return. This was the
strangest part of the performance, TO release an
insane man upon his word. After time Big
gins came home and is now carrying on sue
cesstul grocery business in the northwestern
part of the city.
Naturally one might be inclined to ask whero
the money came from to carry Off man TO
England and to pay the expenses of the agents
An investigation of the secret t-servlce fund Of
the Treasury Department might throw some
Light upon the subject For this Office 500 000
year has been appropriated for long period