St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-01

bridge, etc, until the batch of papers
were disposed of. Aid. Sanborn moved
the committee adjourn sine die, and the
| m emberS walked off arm in arm ito see
a man," just as if they hadn't had bit
Of fun with one another.
TO THE ASYLUM AT LAST.
"Holy Joe's" Vagaries Land Him
at Rochester.
Joseph Rebel, generally known as
''Holy Joe, "has at last, in response to the
demands of public sentiment, been taken
in charge by the arm of the law. Joe
and his brother, Francis, have attracted
more attention for the past two or three
years than any other two people in st.
Paul: They are Bavarians, and came
to this city several years ago, taking up
their abode near the end of the Missis-
sippi street bridge, where they occupy
three small shanties., One of the shan
ties is devoted to what they call church
purposes, another is sleeping
apartment and the third is used
for kitchen purposes. There have been
many stories circulated as the cause for
the ecceDtricities which they have mani
tested by parading the streets balenead
and often barefooted, but no one has
been able to ascertain their true story or
succeeded in getting them to converse
on any subject. "Holy Joe" has been
more noticeable than his brother, be-
cause he carried his eccentricitieS
little further than his brother. He has
been in the habit of frequenting the
most public streets, and even when the
thermometer was verging towards zero
his head and feet were bare, while the
rest of his person was clad in neat and
expensive broadcloth. In this condition
he would walk back and forward for
hours at time in the middle of the
street or diagonally across the
corner of Wabasha and Seventh
streets. This is the most frequented
portion of the city, being the intersec-
ton of nearly all the street car lines.
At times he would carry his shoes and
hat in his hands; at others he would
carry three large tapers, or piece of
bread. At other times his hands were
clasped and raised to level with his
head. At all times his lips moved as if
in prayer. He never seemed to notice
any one but avoided being run over by
cars and teams by stopping until they
passed him. NIischief-loving boys
would strew tacks in the path he fire.
Quented, but he would procure broom
and sweep the courses he habitnally fol-
lowed and then resume his perambula-
tions. The police eXpOStulated with
him, but to no purpose. He was arrest
ed two or three times and threatened, but
without avail. He has lately become
more persistent. He would go to the
WabaSha and Seventh street corner as
early as $50 in the morning and walk
back and forth until alters. By o'clock
in the evening he would go back and
keep up the same practice until the
streets would be practically deserted by
the people, which is generally after the
theaterS are out. He was arrested at z
O'clock Yesterday morning, and as he
would not promise to cease his Pc
euliarities, an information of insanity
was lodged against him in the probate
| court by Lieutenant of Police Cook. 1t
| may be said that number OF people
| have feared that the mild form of in
sanity might develop into some violent
| form and that the man might do an in
| Jury to some one. 1t is also true that
| his own health has been impaired,
and he ran the risk of being
injured by passing vehicles. He was
taken before Judge Morrison at o'clock
| Yesterday afternoon, and while waiting
for the committee of physicians to ar
rive several persons tried to draw him
| Therra newspaper reporter, who prideS
| himself on being an expert interviewer.
and who doubtless has had experience
as successful lightning rod agent, APP
preached s'Holy joe" and drawing a
seat up close, sat down and explained
who he was with a friendly smile and
| started a whirlwind of questions.
"Holy Joe" opened his eyes, his lips
ceased to move, but he did not unc lasp
| his elevated hands or utter a sound.
| His eyes closed i'll second and his lips
| again began to move in silent prayer,
| while the reporter bluShed and left the
| court roum without word.
The subsequent examination by the
| Judge and committee of physicians did
| not succeed i'll elicting much informa
| questions as were directed to him
| touching his name, relatives or manner
| of life. He did converse some, how
| ever, in German to one of the physic
| iaps. from which it was learned that
| his hours of prayer were for people in
| genel al, and that souls might be re-
| leased from purgatory. He said the rea-
| son he does not work is that he doesn't
need to; he brought some money with
| him to this country and is eXpe ct
ing more, but he would not
| answer any particular questions
| on that subject. He said he had eaten
nothing since the previous day. While
confined in the central station and in
| Jail yesterday he refused to take food.
He persisted in his right to walk the
streets and to pray as he had been in
the habit of doing. 1t was stated that
he would go to communion several
times a day, but he denied that he went
more than once daily. 1t is understood
that he has been refused communion at
| the cathedral because of the opinion
/ that he is insane, but he has gone else
ference between the judge and the at
| tending physicians, an order commit
ting Rebel to the asylum was made out.