The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-12
REERES TIE ASSASSIN

From all the testimony THE APPEAL has
been able TO gather relative TO the habits
and modes OF living that have character
lied Reeves, the assassin OF Father Ash
field, ho is insane His condition is some
thing similar 10 that Of the young man
Lane, 80 recently committed 10 the State
Insane Asylum by the verdict Of a jury.
lie is characterized by epileptic symp-
toms, whether induced by heredity or
persistent sei-abuse and by personal abase-
ment in n still lower degree OF oiotc in
diligence We can not say, but there can be
little doubt Of his utter responsibility,
nor Of the fact that his condition was
known 10 persons who should long ago
have insisted upon his permanent incarco-
ration in the asylum at Nashville. This
romissness reminds us that at the time
when Lane had done Mr.. Brown TO death,
DR.. Sims, in The Memphis Medical Monthly
stated there were then other insane per-
sons at large who should be
taken in hand by the authorities with q
view to protect the public from their
criminal tendencies. Whether Reeves was
one OF these we cannot say, but from his
conduct on the steamboat on which he was
bnrkocpcr, conduct that induced his
employer TO discharge him M insane, there
can be no doubt that he might aud ought
TO have been. Aud this brings Us face Ia
face with the very serious defect, not In
tho law, for that Is sufficient for all pur'
poses of protection for the public, but In
public opinion. There seems TO be an in
difference TO the freaks aud follics Of
such persons NJ Reeves until they cul.
inmate in dreadful tragedy like
that which yesterday staggered the com.
munity M blow that every one felt.
Men and women who arc serious abou,
other things, laugh at tho cratic doing
and sayings Of such persons, m II thcy
were the vcl.rchcarscd parts in n comedy
by man Of very comic tendencies, in.
stead Of being the prcliminaries Of one DO.
rcit Of reason, who is running headlong tc
the commission Of murder. Something
Of the feeling that prevailed hall cen.
tury ago and before DR.. Connolly innug.
uratcd his reform In the treatment Of the
insane still survives, that only the de-
mentcd Who are violent arc 10 be- taken
cogniznnco Of, aud the harmlcssly In.
sane arc TO be borne with ~
fools in their folly making laughter Tor ia,
million. Butitis the so-callcd harmless In
sane who are most dangerous and most :,
be- dreaded. Their moods arc IN many IA
those Of n cloudy day. Their ircpks and
iancies are often unaccountablc, ~ when
seized by the homicidal mania they ut.
tempt the life, or succeed. ~ in this in.
stance by Reeves, In numbering their hest
friend. Against such persons the commu.
nifty can have no security save In
the vigilance and prompincss Of the
relatives or friends Of persons thus az.
Gicied in giving them into custody
for safe keeping. II this Ia not done
In the future we may expect rcpo.
iition Of this awful tragedy, the details OF
which are not mon shocking than the
fact that the assassin took the life Of the
man who had bciricndcd him, whose
bounty he had enjoyed, aud removed from
lie Of usefulness one who had cndcarcd
himself to the community by his actions.
zeal aud fidelity a. u priest of the Catholic
Church.