The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-02-23
A CHARACTER DEAD.
GOVERNOR" SAMUEL poNAuaHEY
H'dsly'Raomn aud Eccentric Patient at tho
"saton Asylum-Sone Peculiar Traits OF Il
bis Character and lnteresting Incidents
OF his Long Residence at Weston.

"f''tN SoHSPVhutIictVi iHe lWfAiIcltcr ISL u.
WESTON. W. Va, February 2l.-samucl
Donaughcy, n patient at the Hospital for
the Insane, died to-day a! aboat halt.rast
ten o'clock, supposed to be about eighty
years OF age. Governor" Sam, as he was
iamiliarly called, was probably moro OK.
teasivoly known than any inmate OF tho
Asylum, on account Of his eccentricities
and his long residcnce at the institution.
He was brought here fscm the staunton,
Va, hospital by DR.. Kells, when tho asy-
lum was first opened for tho reception Of
patients. lilo was never dangerous or vic.
lent, and was FREQ 10 roam whittier hc
would about the town, and from tho
grotesqneneBs OF his dress, often
composed OF various kinds OF gaudy
colored goods, his always ready wit
and quick answers, always acting
courteously and honorably towa,1
all, he had acquired many friends, md
was known by aud poinled on. to visitors
as all such thing be pospible-iuoael
crszy person and an object Of exceptional
interest," He would 30 on errauda, or make
small purchases for either the a,tend3nts
or officers, and was careful 10 carry out hin
instructions even to tho minutsst detail;
as, Tor instance, II he wGs sent with pack.
age or note 10 M individual he wor!d give 4
1t into the hands Of no other than the ono
addressed. 9s. 4 5laa.-'' ~
About tho only noticeable evidence OF
insanity apparent 10 tho average observer
in his conversation would be noticed when z
any reference was made 10 the action OF I
the ollie,s in bringing him here from Vir-
ginia, at which he generally became .exoit-..
cd and declared tho action illegal and tho
papers fraudulent. And at such timeB ha
always talked about getting lis discharge
and leaving, but it became cenera,ly (
understood that the "Goyern0t" had b.. (
come 80 attached to the great stone mail
sion for tho States unforlnnasss that he t,,
wouldn't leave il opportunity offered. =,
In proof Of this prevalen, idea 1t is only \.
necessary to relate an incident. Some Z
yeara ago, when the stage line exiat-
ed between this place and Clarkshurg, that
cumberous vehicle OF GLOW loco&lotion Z
halted one day at the hospital for pasSen- &
gers: "sam" WIS standing by, heSailing
the fact that his discharge was not made
out 80 he could so along. Whereupon the
utINCA AculhI Ecu t!lhL ue Iau Tue pHpeTS I'LL
fixed out in his pocket, and grabbip. tho nd !.
gentleman by tila arm hall Nl;ed him into
ne ssaga:" l;ut the agile old feilo.,', ',decar.
ing tllat he had never seen and sigued the
discharge, and that it wasn't lawful,
bounced out on the other. eide OF the vehi-
Gle and beat hasty retreat. And it is re-
lated that it was months aitcrward before {
he said word about leaving.
Samuel Donaughcy wss born at Harris.
burg. Pa, and in his day was man OF
ability, having been acquainted with Pres.
ident Buchanan and others cf that time.
1t is said tina! in one Of the 40 campaigns
he was making stump speeches in the then
West, and met with al accident which
caused his insanity.
He wished to be buried in the new csme-
terry which waa rCGently opened to. tho
public here, md frien3s ate making mr.
rangements 10 comply with. his dcsi.e.
There are many in tho State who have
visited tho institution, and formed his nc.
quaintance, that will regret to hear OF tho
demise Of "Governor" Sun.
]. j. Williams and Pas Casey, special
officers, lodged Norris CUMMING in jail hara :
to-day. He was q former resident Of
Jane Lew, this county, and was arrested in
Pennsylvania on charge Of embt zzemcnt
made by J. E. Williams. ..a