Telegram-herald., 1888-12-17
A HOPELESS WRECK
FAMOUS sANX wascNeR HARPER
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CoiLNsUs. o.. Dee l5.-E l. Harper. the
Nspoison of Ilsace. shoss history Gas al.
lr4elsa ~ much zGlsnti0E Ia ooBnscsi0n
vlth tie i4iars u TIE Fidelity B4ak Of
Clncinnafi and ne great Cascsg0 wheat
dsal today losi his reason. His memory Is
a t0lal blank. and vii remain 80 unless
there should Dc some miraculous ch.nss IN
his condition.
Harper las not been well for little over
a week. bul Friday his silmsnT was looked
upon as Only temporary oy the officials OF
tie Ohio reuitentATy. where he has been
Imprisoned FOR . year. lie complained Ia
Lis cell thursday night OF feeling III, and
the warden was informed. bat delayed
going 70 him I'LL morning. when be vas
informed that Harper Was worse. Prepara-
tons we're made 70 remove him from the
cell 20 the hospital when 10 was found that
he was insane and talking Ia q rambling
manner.
HIS insanity assumed the religious phrase.
lie claimed 10 be Ia communication with
splrts and refused TO move or DO anything
unless God commanded him 20 do 50. The
officials occupied more than two hOcrs in
would stop every lev feet and refuse 10 90
on without The command.
He was engaged ia fOrteliing what was
HAPPENING Ia connection with his case. and
those " ho heard him we're Interested with
him. Ben HOpklns, who Is on hls DEATH
bed IL the hospital, he Insisted died al il.Zo
=. Ia. and that District Attorney BurEet
died AZ the same time. When the officials
undertook 10 disprove these things he
would violently say that they were lying.
Frequently ne would assume the attitude
0f prayer IL his petitions TO a higher power
for a command 10 move ami do certain
things. Before reaching the insane depart
meat he nad a runner about the prison get
on his knees, fold his hands eud then
observe the angels which were coming.
These. he said, be was Ia communication
with
While Harper did not cease talking bis
words wsre all of an sirnless character
clearly showing that he had become hope
lessly insane. He displayed much nervous
less. which was strangely At variance with
| bis great nerve. which has been displayed
since be arrived at The prison. In appear
ance be IS the perfection of manhood and
shows little signs OF wear outside of being
pale and having a disturbed and painful
/ look IN the face. The form OF his insanity
Is attributed TO his reading since he has
been in prison. which has been almost
entirely of books on opiritualism.
Among bis other statements were that
President Cleveland had DaIdoned him and
| that be had died Immediately afterward
/ IL is thought the controversy over the par
| don of Hopkins. which has been before toe
| President Tor the last few days has worked
| heavily on HaTper's mind. Ii is known
| that he expected 10 secure a pardon also il
| Hopkins was allowed 10 70 tree. Harper
| aud Hopkins are relentless enemies, al
! though they have kept up communication
since they were in prison. Last week Dis
| tfict Attorney Burnet had talk with Har.
| Der. and IL is stated that il was not satisfac
| tory 10 the after, who expected TO get some
promises from the attorney in regard to
recommendation for pardon. Since tha
| time Buroet has stated that he did no
think that the term of Harper was half lone
| enough.
Hsrper's wife left him Yesterday and re
| tarned 10 her home in Cincinnati The,
had long conversation and il was notices
| after she was gone that Harper WIS great,
| depressed. Mrs. Harper was informed O
the condition of her husband and returned
TO the city this evening. When asked il
regard to his wife and if he would like /,
see her he broke down 10 tears and elaine,
| that he knew exactly the minute sh
would arrive. and that the President of th
United States had placed special train q
Aer disposal.
Under the circumstances. of course, th
prison physicians are slow to make an
statement about ta9 case as - whether the
DoDsNier il a hopeless one. While they de
not doubt the genuiueness of The case the,
30 not want TO take TIE chances of beiny
imposed upon.
HarDer had been in the prison one yea
today and this was bis fortietb birthday
He had been employed as book-keeper il
the secretary's Office and had done ex
cellent work. He has been accorded privi
leges which were not rendered to any Othe
prisoner. He ate by himself and had
large and weli-furnished cell with rich sur
| roundings brought from his home. IL
was sui restless and wandering tonigh
aud the physician expects TO be cOmDelie
TO make BIN sleep by using a drug unles
he qBiets down.
A peculiar vein OF ill-luck seems 10 fol
low the officers Of the late Fidelity. Brigg
Swift barely escaped indictment and i
wrecked IN mind and body Vice -Presiden
and General Manager T.. l.. Harper is in
sane. Cashier Hopkins has died from 70
morse. and Benjamin Hopkins. Assistan
Cashier, - on bis dead bed at the prison.
For the present Harper will be kept 9
the prison. Should his insanity continu
be Viii be placed ia an asylum.