Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-09

THE xEwrowk SLEEPER.


~
vstmes's Dsy.
A Newsown. Conn.,. special says: One Of
The strongest Of the many strange charac.
tess which this "land OF steady hsbite"
bas given to the world wss resident Of
this delightful little town, IN Fairfield
county. Iiis name was sherman W. Plat,
and be was known throughout the State NJ
"The Ntwtown sleeper" He was SOM
nambulist Of somnambulIsts, and the pecu-
liar form which his mslsdy took made him
sn object Of general curiosity, az wen as
one Of special interest. to the medical OK.
psrts Of the county. Young Plat lived
with his father, weIl.to-do farmer, In the
little hamlet OF Dodgintown, in the south
western pasl Of this town. He was never
q particularly brilliant child. but be was by
no mesne q duIlard, averaging in intelIi-
gence about with the ordinary New Eng
land farmers boy.
The strange somnolent states which
brought to him so unenviable notoriety
were frat noticeable soon after he passed
into his t" teens" and they continued near
ly up TO the time Of bis sudden and - vet
unexplained death. when the disease--for
II ia generally considered among physicians
that he was the victim OF some strange and
hitherto unknown intermittent malady--at-
tackled Plat he'd 10 TO bed aud be at once
wrapped In the soundsst OF slumbers. Ei-
foiis 20 thoroughly arouse hin by 8. aking,
dcusing with baths OF cold water, the ap-
plication Of electricity, and treatment OF
similar nature were always unavailing.
He would rema n IN his transelike condi-
tion sometimes for only few days, but
oItsner the sleep would lengthen ont into
weeks. and sometimes even into months,
his "best record" In any one OF these
frances according to generally accepted re-
port here, being within few DAYS OF five
months. During this long period he seemed
TO have lost all power OF intellectual effort,
and WHEN he recovered from such an
attack the period OF his sleep was
all blank TO him. instinctively. IL seemed
10 those who watched him, be would ris3
from bus couch at irregular intervals and
partake OF the food or drink that was con-
stanily rept in bIs room 10 supply his wants.
When hunger and thirst were abated he
would at once return to ms bed ard con-
tinue his sIumbers. When he arose al such
times he would speak 10 no one, would an
swer no questions, pay no attention TO any
interference. and was seemingly Obvious
Of the fact that any one was near him. A
singular fact In connection with the case
was that he did not seem 10 lose either
health or strength during these prolonged
sumbers, which IL was naturally expected
would wear out his vitality. Physicians
who were called in, from Bridgeport first,
then from New Haven, and finally from
New York. could give no explanation as TO
the cause OF the strange disease. nor could
they suggest any remedy that was sufficient
10 effect cure, though many tried their
skill.
About year ago, Plat having begun to
Brighten his parents hy taking short walks
out Of doors while in his somnambulistic
state. his father applied 10 the Probate
Court OF this district. and Piatt was sent TO
the asylum for the insane at MiddletowD.
Application and commitment were on the
theory that his peculiar malady was some
form Of insanity. He remained in that in-
stitution. where there were few but short
occurrences OF bis somDolency, until the
Goth Of last month, when he was discharged
and returned to bis home here. iieseemed
much depressed in spirits, and his mind
seemed to wander at times. On the Mon
day following bis return he wandered away
from his fathers house and no trace OF him
could be had until the succeeding Satur-
day. On that dry his body vas found by
one Of party OF searchers in Saudforc's
II WIS pNi''ttf tuis
added 10 the mystery OF his death. The
theory was advanced that he had been
drowned while bathing, and this was very
generally accepted ut first as the solution TO
the way in which he met his death, as there
were no marks OF violence on his person.
Search was made all along the banks Of the
pond for his clothing, but it could not be
found, as it was argued II certainly would
have been had he been bathing in the pond.
1t Is possible that tie clothes had been |
found and appropriated by tramps, who |
frequent the shores Of the pond. |
1t is thought now that he committed sui |
eide, becoming Respondent because Of the /,
incurable malady with which he was
afflicted. This theory is borne out by the
fact that some Of the people living near the
pond remember having seen man acting
somewhat strangely near there Oh the dry
after bis disappearance.