Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-27
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE,
INSANE YAGARIEg.
Frank E. Stevens Singular Ideas and
Self-Aecusations

INSANE YAGARIE7.
Frank +. Stevens Singular Ideas and
Self-Aecusations.
About 4:30 A. NJ. yesterday Deputy
Sheriff McManus responded to vigorous
ringing Of the bell at the gate of the county
jail, and found there large man of good
appearance, about IS years of age, who was
laboring under much excitement of mind.
and stated that he desired to surrender
himself. The officer wished to know what
he had been doing, to which he received
reply that roll of manuscript, which was
handed over, would explain all. After a
little more conversation, McManus decided
that hls visitor was insane, and took him
inside. He gave the name of Frank 4.
Stevens, piano-tuner by occupation, who
has been doing some work in this vicinity
lately though his home is in Chico. where
his wife and child reside. He desired that
the manuscript should be sent to the
RECORD I MON for publication in that
mornings issue, and, on being told that
the paper had doubtless gone to press bv
that hour he expressed confidence that the
editors after reading the document. which
he styled his confession, would issue an
extra edition.
Tor papers in different sections of the State
under the nom de plume of g Ezra and
recently he submitted to the citizens of
Chico proposition to double the popula-
ton OF that town within a short time if
gwen q certain sum of money. His con-
teSslon' commences What is one mans
lie and honor compared with the good of
all! one life IS but breath of air, which
yanisheth away and is heard of no more. |
hnz asai1 g. 49,
pulse beyond my control until after |
wrote my letter in regard to doubling the
population of Chico. Since then | have
been gradually getting my eyes opened,
not only TO the wrong | have done but to
the great good have accomplished in doing
1t and while ] knew it will break my
heart to unbosom myself and tell my his
tory, yet viii l do it,
Starting from his birth at Bethel, Conn,
IN 1850, he proceeds to give history of his
life, relating large number of instances
in which lie did wrong, commencing with
the theft OF So when boy of 10 or II
years, for which he was sentenced to the
reform school for four years, and including
IN his 1henses petit larceny. grand larceny.
forgery, embezZlement, seduction. bigamv.
and the incuTring of debt almost every
where before he came to California. lie
does not accuse himself of misconduct
life here is an open book. In speaking of
his crimes and their punishment. he makes
some queer and sarcastic notes relative to
the laws under which he was convicted
But for the explicit manner in which he
mentions places and occurances. the
reader Of the " confession = would be apt
TO believe that nearly the whole matter
was an hailucination, and his recent writ
lngs on other subjects lend color to such
belief. His confession was written under
the conviction that an unseen power di-
rected him to make it, no matter what
might be the result. 1t concludes as fol-
lows
1t costs great deal to redeem a nisspent life.
but am going TO redeem mine and do you ali
good IN doing so. want to 90 East and pay my
debts both of honor and other damage | wish
to go tonight Why should you seek to do me
harm when only do you good must go and
redeem myself to save my soul, and when |
come back then VIII l be an honor to you all
Tor why should a man be so disgTaced by his
brother as to dishonoT all? You put a man in
prison for small oiiense, and hold him in con-
tempt ever afterwards. Every criminal prosecu-
ton IS commenced in the name of the State
State.
one day last week Mr.. Stevens visited
the RECORD UNION Office, and submitted a
proposition to annul the boycott" for
$4,000. His plan was for every man boy
name of his city or county-that is, Mr.
Doe would thereafter announce himself on
his sign and in advertisements as Sacra-
mento, No. l, and Mr.. Roe as Sacra-
mento, No. ,, and so on by which
means he declared, the boycott would be
rendered imperative, and the city would be
so thoroughly advertised that it would be
known all over the world. A day or two
later he sent in the following communica-
ton
EDS. REcoRD-UNIoN: had to stay in Sacra-
mento Il day or two longer, because l did not
like to ask the c. i. for pass to go home on
and have been thinking that l have already
advertised Chico all over the world. and can
safely say that | have increased the value of
every BIZ OF real property in the town at least 3
per cent, and that means that | have added
TO their wealth at least million OF dOllars-and
here / am without money enough to get there
/ don't think that is giving me n fair show and
| propose to stop right here, and without doing
anything 20 inJure them, go to work for some
one else. This is larger city than Chico, and
you understand more fully than they do the
raiue OF the work have done. A man Increases
his business by advertising. There is no reason
why town should not do the same; and ben
eft TO one town is of great value to all the rest
of the State. ! would advertise this place on a
larger scale than did Chico; and I can do more
for you than did for them. ! ask fifty thousand
dollars to double the population of Sacramento
in two years. Will raise it myself in such a
manner that you viii not feel it very much. |
want ten thousand dollars left for me at the
Sacramento Bank by F. NJ. to-day. Let every
property-holdeT in the city leave ONE DOLLAR. l
propose TO invest one-half of the amount in real
estate IN this place, so that in working for you,
will also be working Tor myself, and use the
other half in the work. Don't be backward.
You viii never invest a'dOllar in anything that
viii bring yon IN more money. / viii raise the
balance Of my salary in the same way.
FRANK E. STEVENS.
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