Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-12
DIR. J.L. HOLINESS CURIOUS STORY.
An Artist and Lecturer-He Escapes from
West Virginia Hospital.

fCorrespondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
ScorrsyIILE, Va, March 10.-Much sur
prise was expressed on the streets OF our
willie yesterday when 1t was aseertained
that a letter had been received by the
Sheriff of Albemarle county authorizing
him to arrest one DR.. j. l.. Holmes, who
had escaped from the Hospital for the In
sane OF Weston, w. Va, on Saturday last.
During the summer of 1884 the Baptist
Association was held at this place and a
a number of visitors from distant lands
were present, among whom was a Mrs.
Holmes. missionary to China. and her
son. DIR. ]. L. Holmes, who was born IN
that country and whose father, also a mis-
sionary, was beheaded there during an out
break.
While here DR.. Holmes displayed con-
siderable intelligence both as lecturer
and artist, and made quite deep, impress
sion upou the people, especially the fair
ones" He was requested TO deliver lee
ture on China" which he did much to the
pleasure of a large and intelligent audi
ence. On the following day it was whls-
pered around that DR.. Holmes was ID
search of wife and he "sat IN state" as
il were. under the foliage of q large locust
tree in the church-yard while many OF the
fair damsels were presented TO him (some-
thing quite unusual in this country, the
majority of them by his mother who
seemed deeply interested in her boys
welfare. but alas! with all this array
of feminine beauty from the heart
of "Old Virginia" the American-Mon
golian failed to catch on" and a few
weeks later we find him in Philadelphia
and married to lady he had never met
until the day before the ties we're bound.
Love moves in mysterious way and it was
| equally SO in this case.
MADE HIS ESCAPE.
Nothing more was heard of the Doctor IL
| these parts until yesterday, when IL was
learned that the following, letter was re
| ceived by the Sheriff of Albemarle county
"WEsT VIRGINIA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE,
| WESTON. VIVA. March 6. 1891.
Sheriff of ALbemarIe County. w.:
Dear Sir, lone DIR. J.L. Holmes, patient
| in this hospital. made his escape on last
| Saturday. After several days we got trace
of him and found that he was making hi:
way to your county. He and his wife anc
| mother are residents of Harrison county
| this State. but he has lived in Richmond
and at one time visited in AlbemarlC
county, in the vicinity of Scottsville. His
friends presume that he will 60 to that
neighborhood. ! request that you will
keep lookout for and arrest him II he
| turns up at any point in your county. You
| could have some one especially on lookout
for him in the vicinity of Scottsyille.
soIIcIToUs ABOUT HIN.
1--WE of course would pay all proper
| charges, etc. IL you find him please tele
| graph me Immediately. His friends are
| very solicitous about him and anxious fol
his return to the hospital.
| DIR. Holmes is about twenty-sever
| wears old; height five feet six inches
weight about140pounds; dark complexion
black hair; dark, small moustache; has
q peculiar nervous jerking of his head
| dressed in dark clothes with overcoat, and
usually wears gold spectacles. He is of q
modest, retiring disposition; is reticen'
| about talking; is not violently insane. Hi:
| insanity caused by excessive use of opium
| and he will probably resort to that drug
| or chlorai if he can get 1t. he is without
money. An early reply stating your willing
ness TO arrest HIM iffound in your bailiwicl
| will materially relieve the distress of Z
widowed mother and young wife. They
are anxious that no greater publicity bt
| given the matter than Is actually neces
sary. am very respectfully yours.
| u. s. LEWIS. superintendent
GLIDING FROM HIS PORCH
| On Thursday night last Mr.. w. s. Beal
q prominent merchant and citizen OF THU
place, was startled as he came out Of HI:
house from supper by a man gliding from
under the front porch. Mr.. Beal, sup
posing he was tramp or burglar, remon.
| strated with him and informed him h,
must leave the premises at once, to which
| tho man replied in modest though EN-.
phatic manner. /" certainly" and passed
| on out OF the front gate. A gentleman
met him at the corner and said he was GO
ing 1t at o rapid rate Of speed when he cav
him last. and from the description Piver
in the above letter Mr.. Besi is now sure i
was DIR. Holmes. Nothing as yet has beer
heard Of the stranger.
PERSONAL
Superintendent Powers has been com
PEELED 70 discontinue his yisits TO the DIFF