Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-10-16

'"O ohu vi tuo HuliWu1.' lHcSC Ho
needed, for it was bitter cold night in
midwinter With his file he worked
the wood away from the locks in both
doors, got his clothes, ovorcoat and all.
and soon was tramping through Dayton.
He went direct to the depot and got
on top the last car OF the midnight en-
press bound for Cincinnati. So thought.
ful was he that he inquired as to what
stations the train stopped at, and when
1t left Hamilton he ran forward TO the
first car, and when the conductor
passed through he clamberod down on
the top while the train was running
thirty miles or more an hour. and took
seat In the warm car. as independ
emily as II he was the President OF the
road. The conductor did not come
through tho train again. for Hamilton
was the last stop before reaching Gin
c.nnati, and Charley, insane as he was
seemed to understand that he was safe
inside the car after 1t left Hamilton. for
the train, making no stops. could of
course, not take on any passengers
That he remained on top tho car in the
bitter cold until tho train reached this
point is evidence conclusive that he
knew exactly what he was doing.
He reached Cincinnati without any
trouble, went straight to the Gibson
House and registered. AS luck would
have it, tho next person toregistor who
stepped up to the counter not ten
minutes after he left 1t. was an aclna mt
al hiu from, hio k,,,,,A fNl,n
met his eye. and after speaking 10 the
clerk he managed to catch sight Of
Charley as he came from the bath
rooms. The friend at once telcgraphcd
his folks, and they the asylum authori-
ties. The telegram they received was
the first intimation the officials Of the
institution had that any one had es-
capped.
Charley was busy playing Billiards
when, at ten clock the same morning
his keeper walkel into the hall and
slapped him on the back
"Hello. Tomr' was Charley's greet
ing. i've got sucker here" The
same evening he was again in tho
asylum. but it amused him for weeks
to think how no "wunt 10 Cincinnati
just to play game Of billiards." as he
put it. -..
II ever man had determined to die.
come what may that man was Francis
-, a powerful farmer from Au-
glaize County. He was one Of the few
farmers who take a great interest in
politics, and the first symptoms of in.
sanity in his case were noticed after he
was defeated for an Office at the polls.
Then followed financial revcrses, and
finally his mind gave way to the ex-
tent that he was determined on self-de.
struction. He was sent to this asylum
and placed with the other unfortunates
suffering from suicidal mania. He was
not by any means dangerous man.
but an eye had to be kept on him all
tho time to keep him from destroying
his own life in one way or another.
Tom. young but powerful man, was
his keeper. Besides Francis there were
twenty-four other maniacs in the ward.
and one can easily imagine what nice
time an attendant must have watching
and caring for these poor people. Every
keeper must shave his patients at stated
intervals. and one day when Tom had
one of his subjects in tho chair he com
planned OF the razor scratching him.
wheroupon Tom laid it on the window
sill aud got out another one. While he
was stropping 1t he noticed Francis
standing in the door. looking furtively
into the room. Before he could think
the maniac bounded bv him and had
the open razor which Tom had lad on
the window-sill in his hand. 1t was no
time for thought. bu. action was what
was needed. Turning quickly, Tom
graspel the hand in which the maniac
hold the razor. while he in turn. equally
on tho alert. grasped Tom by the wrist
Of the hand in which he held the open
razor with which he had been beating
the strop.
''Let go" yelled Tom.
''Let go yoursolf" retorted the
maniac, glaring savagcly at the attend
ant.
The next instant began battle for
life, The two men pushed. tugged and
twisted, but neither could be forced to
loosen his hold on the others wrist.
The third person sat quietly in his chair
as unconcerncd as il nothing unusual
was going on. Finally the insane man
got his feet entangled in an old coat
lying on the floor when the keeper
managed to throw him and wrench the
razor from him. Francis got up, gave
Tom terrible look and walked from
| the room, In few minutes he returned