Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-05
He Has a Claim.
AN INSANE MAN THINKS THE GOVERNMENT OWES
HIM SOME MONEY.

AN INSANE MAN THINKS THE GOVERNMENT OWES
HIM SOME MONEY.
Clarence V. N. Smith, a supposed crank, from
Mount Gilead. Ohio, is held at the third pre-
cinct station until his parents can be heard
from. The charge against him is insanity. He
came here two months ago. During his stay
in this city he has studied constitutional law
and purchased many books from an F-street
firm. He has been stopping at the boarding.
house Of Mrs. Brunch, No. 921 G street. He
has passed civil-service examination and has
been recommended for appointment. He
has conceived the idea that there is large
amount of money due him as a captain
in the navy, and yesterday he called on the
disbursing clerk Of the Navy Department and
made known the nature of his claim. He was
directed from one official to another and was
finally told to return at noon. Meanwhile the
police we're notified and when he returned he
was taken in custody and carried to police
headquarters, where he was interviewed by
Sanitary Officer Frank who learned from him
lum at Columbus, Ohio. He is twenty-eight
years old, and is a college graduate. When
pocket. He was anxious to get
released and offered to pay his fine. He was
sent back to the third precinct. and his father
health office, examined Smith, and found that
he was harmlessly insane, but thought that he
might return and attempt some violence on
the officials at the Navy department.
HIS APPEARANCE AT THE NAVY DEPARTMENT..
yesterday morning" said Navy Depart
ment official, ga neatly dressed gentleman, ap-
parently about thirty years old, entered the Of
fee Of Chief Clerk Hogg, at the Navy Depart
ment, and presented card, bearing the name:
&C. v. N. Smith, He explained that he had a
claim that entitled him to the rank of captain
in the U. 8. Navy and had come to make de-
mand for a conn iisslOn. Mr.. Hogg suspected
his mental equilibrium, and told him to pre-
sent his case to the judge advocate general. That
officer had not yet arrived, and after sitting for
quite a while in his room waiting, the claim
ant told Mr.. Hogg that he would come back at
noon for the departments decision. He then
formed Col. Remey Of the Incl
dent, and a paper was prepared
telling Mr.. Smith that as he had never been in
the navy and had no claim whatever upon any
rank or position in it now, his claim could not
be considered by the department. The police
were told that there would suspicious person
at the building at noon, and when the hour
came an officer was sitting in the chief clerks
room waiting for the w0uld-be captain. He
came in a few minutes. and was handed the
paper, which no read with flashing eyes. The
officer walked up behind him and waited.
Smith Indignantly, but quietly, told Mr. Hogg
that he was even then on duty on a court-mar-
tial at the Temple cafe in this city. He said
that he came from Ohio, but had
not lived there for some TINA. The officer
asked him to let him see the paper, and when
he had read it told Smith that he had made
mistake in the building, that if he would 60
apply. He scrutinized the officer closely, but
finally consented to accompanv him