Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-09

emily Sane-It Is Hard TO De'SCI
and Difficult to Cure.
Not long ago an old man, looking
like rich, retired merchant or banker,
walked into the Office of one OF the
foremost publishing houses OF New
York and asked to see the head Of the
firm. That gentleman recognized his
caller as q nan who twenty years ago
had been the junior member OF great
Wall street firm. He also remembered
that the senior member had been one
of I.incoln's most trusted advisers in
financial matters The eX-banlzer said:
''You will remember that my partner,
who died about six months ago, was
very prominent during the civil war.
EVERYONE in New York knows that
lincoln many times followed his coun-
- Now, / have in my possession
rs and memoranda showing how
,arv much Lincoln was indebted to
him. This information is OF a deeply
interesting, and, might say, OF a
startling character. | thought, per-
haps, we might make some arrange
unent TO write a memoir. feel certain
that it would pay, besides being a fair
tribute to my friend and throwing much
light on history"
The ex-hanker went on to tell that
lie had proof that his partner drew the
original draft of the emancipation
proclamation. besides doing many other
things o. vital importance. The pub
Usher was delighted, and made arrange
:acnts fer a writer to call at the ex-
bankers hCa52 on q certain day and be-
gin WORK. Thc publisher talked with
the cx-ban!zcr for IN hour or more, and
they separated, equally well pleased
At the appointed time the writer called
ald began to discuss the forthcoming
book. After some time The ex-bana.cr
said:
There is one thing I have not yet
told you, and it IS the most important
Of all His voice sank to a mysterious
whisper: MY partner assassinated Mr..
Lincoln"
No" said the writer, drawing back
and looking at the ex-banker in an as
tonished way.
Yes said the ex-banker, ''he killed
him" And then he proceeded to relate
wild and rambling story. The writer
questioned him, and was soon satisfied
that he was stark mad. On all other
subjects re was perfectly sane. On this
one of his partners connection with the
Lincoln administration he was insane.
Instances of this kind are not uncom-
mon, and yet it IS form of insanity
that is almost incura bic, and IS liable
to become dangerous at any time. 1t
was this form of mania that possessed
DOugheTty, who murdered DR.. Lloyd
Generally, however, it Is content with
manufacturing a great hoax and stir
ring up an excitement.
A few years ago the police of New
ark had an experience Of this kind,
about which they decline to talk even
yet. One dag a man of respectable APP
pearanee walked into police head
quarters at Newark and said: Il am
dry goods merchant from Chicago.
was passing through here and stopped
off at the station. had a valise with
twenty-seven thousand dollars in bills
waiting room while stepped out for
moment. When | came back it was
gone. | am fortunately not entirely
without money, as l happened to have
a few hundred dollars in my pocket. "
The police were at first inclined to
doubt, but when the man told of two
men who had followed him from Chica-
go and acted syispiciously, the chief
was interested. lie ordered diligent
search for the robbers. Circumstances
came up which verified the mans story,
and the result was 4 great hue and cry.
The man went to hotel to await de-
velopments. He spent his own money
freely, and encouraged the police in
every way. Several days passed The
story and the descriptions of the sup
posed robbers were telegraphed all over
the country. Would-be detectives in
small towns made arrests. The news
papers were full of it and the mystery
grew each day. Finally the man from
Chicago took one of the detectives aside
and said to him:
Perhaps should have explained one
have an important bearing. The fact
Is l am Jesus Christ. | think these rob
bers may have been the devil in dis
Guise."
The detectives stared at him and then
called in other detectives, who put the
man under arrest at first it was
thought that the loss of the money had
turned his head But it at last came
ont that aside from the fact
that he was a Chicago merchant the
story was false in every particular.
The police were enraged, and locked
the ho3xcr in an asylum as soon as pos
sible. They still remember the great
laugh that arose all over the country.
Inspector Byrnes tells story of the
same nature. A merchant who lives
here ana is reputed as sane as anyone
could be came to him one day and said
that his wife was being annoyed by
anonymous letters from a woman who
was trying to blaclmal him. He went
on to tell all about the contents of the
letters, and the inspector began to feel
greatly interested IN the case, which he
realized was difficult At length he
said:
Il can see only one way. We must
bring this woman face to face with
your WIFE
mo, no. said the merchant, that
would never do. You see my wife is q
woman She can read PEG
pies thoughts She can look right into
my mind and see what is going on
there. All she has TO do is to take hold
q nv great toa. Thea che Fesds ~