, 1884-02-09
A LIVELY LUNATIC.
His Imaginary Wealth and WIckedness
the Burden Of his rawlings.

Bergman, Of the Laramie county pro-
bate court, a Jury composed of the fol-
lowing named gentlemen, to-wit: J..
M. Tompkins, ]. E. Tuttle, t. W.
Rutledge, a. W. Haygood, H. a. FL
lis, John F. Jenkins, E. W. Whit
comb, j. W. Hammond, A. Gilchrist.
A. d. Ballou, Lou Ashfelter and D..
Mcnvane, was sworn and impaneled in
the matter Of the inquiry into the
mental condition of John Tatro.
Tatro, as heretofore mentioned in
this paper, had on Sunday last been ar
rested by Officer Smith under what af-
terward proved to be the mistaken sup
position that he was drunk. On Mon
day he was brought before Judge
Fisher on the charge of drunkenness,
and pleaded guilty. The court lined
him 81 and costs, and it was not until
then that it began to be apparent to
the court and officer that he was in
sane. He stated that he had been to
see Jesus Christ, and that Christ had
called him into his service.
He was remanded to the calaboose,
however, until 1t could be determined
what ought to be done with him, and
four days ago was taken to the county
Jail, which was a much better place for
safe keeping.
By direction of DIR. Maynard, the
county physician, who thought there
might be some change in his Ease for
the better, the necessary legal steps for
a legal investigation were not taken
until yesterday, The first witness ex-
amined was Sheriff ~Sharpless, who
stated that he had been in a wild and
raving condition since being incarcer-
ated in jail. He did not appear to be
rational and he had in many ways
given evidence of a distracted condi-
ton of mind,
Smith Bonser testified that the man
had been for some time in his employ
and about ten days ago began to show
signs Of insanity. He would at times
weep and seem respondent and told
NOOaS Liz ia bOsbAhb aAfOlSO bOh1
him, and also that he had lost some
valuable mines in Central Park, Colo
RADIO, through a drunken partner, who
sold out the mines and kept the money.
This was what seemed to be preying
mostly upon his mind, and he finally
became violent and would threaten to
kill his fellow laborers. He had not
been much of a drinker, but after he
became so excessively respondent, took
to drinking very badly. Finally, Tatro
left his employ and commenced peram-
bulating around the city with his lath
Ratchet in his possession.
Marshall Schnitger then gave his tes-
timony in regard to his actions while in
the calaboose. They were at all times
will and incoherent, so far as his ut
terances were concerned, and kept
tearing into shreds the blankets and
everything else he could get hold of.
He had no liquor while in the Gala
bose.
DIR. Maynard was then called and
testified that the man was positively
insane, but that he did not consider it
a case If alcoholic mania. He was not
prepared to say that the man was hope
lessly insane, for a cure might be effect
ed, yet he pronounced it a very grave
case.
Captain Smith was the last witness,
and his testimony was to the same eff
feet as the witness that had preceded
him. He found a Ratchet in Tatro's
possession when he arrested him, and
the man among other things stated to
him that he was worth S25, Oo0, 900 and
had considerable property besides.
At the conclusion of the taking of
the testimony, the Jury, accompanied
by DIR. Maynard and the LEADER re-
porter, were conducted into the Jail by
Sheriff Sharpless to take a look at
Tatro.
He was let out into the corridor of
the Jail and was as wild as a hawk, evil
IDENTIFY being dreadfully alarmed at see
ing SO many people staring at him.
DR.. Maynard, however, soon quieted
him, and his confidence in the doctor
was such that he LOST all fear as soon as
that gentleman began to converse with
him. He said he had a valuable mine
in Central Park, and that it was solid
gold all through; In fact, he was well
fixed in all respects and said he was all
right as far as health was concerned,
and his head was Just as clear as a
bell.
There were eleven policemen, he
said, that got after him, but he killed
ten of them with an iron bar. He did
not bury any Of them, and considered
that someone else ought to do that. He
had done a good work, he thought, in
killing so many, and it would be appre-
ciated by the public. His native land
was Canada, and while he had done
considerable preaching, he did not care
TO deliver a sermon just then.
Finally he became wild again and
actually climbed clear to the iron root
of the cage on the bars Of the same.
Altogether he was a wretched object to
behold.
He is a small nan with dark, pierre
Ing eyes, and his movements were
quick and nervous. After returning
to Judge Bergman's office and holding
a brief consultation, the jury returned
the following verdict: