The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-02-01
HENRY MEISS INSANE.
After an Examination He Is Committed
to the Napa Asylum.
He Attempted to Kill His Son With a
Ratchet - He VIII Have
Guardian.

Henry Meiss, ST., the well-known
farmer of this county, has at last been adj
judged insane and committed to the Napa
Asylum.
The old man was badly injured in Sep
tember last by falling over steep grade
near his ranch, and since then he has
never seemed to be right mentally.
Several weeks ago he became so violent
that his children, who are all grown, de-
cided that it would be best to have him
cared for and kept from doing himself or
others harm. When the case came up in
the Superior Court an unexpected oppo-
sition was met with. Ex-Judge S. Scion
Holl appeared in court and announced
himself as the old mans counsel. He
said he had known Meiss a great many
years, and was prepared to prove that
Meiss was perfectly sane and only acted
in an unusual manner when intoxicated,
as any man was liable to do under such
circumstances. Though making no di-
rect charges, Judge HolI intimated
strongly that the MeiSs children were
not doing right by their father-that they
were anxious to get rid of him.
DENIED BY THE CHILDREN.
The children repudiated this imputa-
ton, and dropped further proceedings
against their father.
Within the past fortnight, however, it
is said that the old mans symptoms be-
came unusually violent, and he en-
deavored TO kill his sons on various
occasions. Nothing would pacify him,
and again the authorities were appealed
to.
Doctors White and Bruno assisted
Judge Catlin at the examination yester-
"A hnf Of ltr,nS
ined, who gave testimony regarding the
strange antics INDUCED in by the elder
MeiSs of late. Two of the Meiss bows
also testified rather reluctantly that they
considered their father too dangerous to
be at large. Henry Meiss, Jr., told of a
recent attempt on the part of the old man
to murder him with a Ratchet, and he
said that had he not defended himself
with shovel his father would no doubt
have succeeded, as he is a much larger
and more powerful man than the son.
A young man named Compton testified
that the old man had threatened several
times to kill him and feed him to the
hogs"
LAID IN BED.
Eyes, you bet 1 did-and would, too!n
calculated the elder Meiss, rising from
his seat, and shaking his finger at the
witness. Say, look here" he continued,
why didn't you get up the other day
and feed those hogs when | told you tor"
As Compton made no reply the old
man turned and addressed the doctors
and others sitting near him. ''Do you
know what this fellow done?" he asked.
''Why he was laying in bed at 10 O'Clock
in the morning, and wouldn't feed the
hogs, and | had breakfast ready for him
two hours"
Compton replied that since he had been
employed on the ranch, nobody had ever
fn no ir,h off EN,a
the morning, including Sunday morn
ings.
ooh, there was no Sundays about it,u
reioined Meiss. you fellows all think
Pm crazy, don't your"
After several other employees of the
ranch and neighboring farmers had testi-
fed, the court and doctors decided that
the old man should be sent to an institu-
ton where he would receive care and
treatment.
guardian will be appointed for him
next week.