The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-19
AN UNUSUAL CASE.

An unusual case came before Judge
Buckner several days since, which at least
speaks very well for the insane asylum at
Ossawatomie. In 1870 Charles Williams,
from County Cook, Ireland moved to In
diana with his family. Shortly after this
he became involved in domestic troubles
which resulted in a separation from his
wife This blow nearly unseated his rea-
son but he recovered and bringing his two
chilren, now married, came to Wichita
He invested in farm property and became
a fairly prosperous farmer. In 1877 he was
arraigned before the probate judge charged
with insanity and was eventually sent to
the insane asylum where he has been ever
since. His mania was on religious sub
jects, while on all other subjects he was as
sound as a dollar.
While at the asylum he managed his
own business affairs and his guardian was
merely such in name When it seemed to
be to his interest he was permitted leave
of absence and frequently came to Wichita
to visit his relatives and attend to his bus
mess, always coming and going unattend-
ed. This condition of affairs remained I'M
changed until the 2nd of April. last, when
one day he came TO Judge Buckner and
requested another trial for his sanity. He
was entirely rational on all points save re
liEion, which concerned no one but him
self and the court saw no better course
than to find him sane and discharge his
guardian. He Immediately began TO inn
prove quarter section of land near the
city which he owns and his actions and
business transactions were all perfectly
rational The Judge was somewhat sur
prised when only a few days ago he came
into court and said he had gotten his af-
fairs in pretty good shape and wanted to
be sent back to the asylum. As he was
determined on the point there was nothing
to do but to give him another hearing and
under the circumstances the physicians
felt perfectly free to pronounce him insane.
A reporter hunted him up and in an
swer TO questions learned the following:
After having lived twelve years in the
asylum with ali its conveniences he fOnni
farm life a little too rough for him. He
said I an upwards Of % and arm not any
longer able % follow the plow and do other
hard work. thus my income is too limited
10 give me the comfort I am used TO- At
the asylum I have work 10 do but il Is
suited 70 my ability and strength and /
Get proper food and care and feel good all
the time. At home people regard ne curl
ouslv which is natural enough, and I get
So lonesome in the evening" that 7 take 20
drinking With my income. it costs the
state very little TO keep me and my free
dom Is irksome to me,
That event
Rc=ained ny freedom with q sigh"
He bad very little complaint TO make
against the outside world but said the
doctor at the asylum was the only one able
to understand him. He is very iiijterate,
speaks with a pronounced bro-ue. and can
neither read OF write He Is quite familiar
with the bible. quoting from II fuentIy
and appropriately and has his mind stored
with poetical quotations from the standard
authors. Upon being asked how be had
become acquainted with the bible h-
said with considerable emotion. twas read
to me years az0 but don't talk 70 me
further on that point.
Thus far his coversation seemed quite
rational but as soon a. religion was men
TONED he talked rapidly, strugiug q lot Of
vorL. together without meaning until j.
was mere JorEol- lie has evidently
framed these sentence himself. attribgt-
meanings % s.t-.A1 a--all f-3
long u them aud maze him appear ia the
light Of a perfect innate GA tL-s one sub
fecr. His religious belief a. could b-
learned hv cross questioning j. -ltl~talu
italy Is follow be doe, not believe .n
g b. bible literally bur taxes IL AL iu fg-
urative sense He does not believe that
Christ literally came into the world. but
z hat the story of His birth life and death
j. typical ~ the life and death ~ every
child born into the world OrherTise h--
beliefs arr nearly liz accord with the
doctrines Il natural religion IN closing
Lbs conversation he said, am told that II
I avoided the subject - religion 10 one
would rhtuE me insane There. ss5d n.
pointing 10 a prominent attorney. j. a man
-ls- s.evotes all II his waking hour - tue
study and practices n Law, YET 10 ore
rhsuEs him insane WATs beeauze 3. j.
,le subject which uo-r nearly asF=rts Bis
temporal welfare <aw have no teul-
r--aI welfare. al 81 my hepes and SIN
t5.-.sa- are buried ia tae vFe:eha1 pa-e
uaeainr remains 80 l1e bus sae hope ~ ga
immortality gaa1 tae grave zaa So. alE.
eoruted Insane as-eaga-e I devote ur time
10 tbs discovery u . lle2Es o. gEzo-