Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-04
CRAZED BY THE GRIP.
A Wealthy Young New Yorker
Spends the Night in Cell.
HIS ACTIONS ARE SUSPICIOUS
Until Explained by Some of His Friends,
Who Say He Is ALI Right.
CAME HERE TO SEE HIS SWEETHEART

II. L. Meeke, young member of one Of
the wealthy families of New York, spent
last night in Central police station. The
charge against him was only drunkenness,
but some of his actions were of such char
acter as to make an investigation apparent
ly necessary. 1t was not until late at
night that anything like an explanation was
obtained Then it Was developed that a Sc
we're attack of the grip had temporarily un-
balanced the young mans mind.
Meeke is about % wears of age, well
dressed and not unprepossessing in appear
ance. When he entered Central station
yesterday afternoon he had a half dazed ex-
preston on his face which at first was
thought to be affected. He told Detective
Robinson he had been relieved of his gold
watch, and wanted to pay $50 reward for
the arrest of the man who took it. As proof
of his good intentions, he produced check
on a New York bank for s92, payable to W.
l.. Leonard and signed by himself. The
officer tried to get something out of him as
to who he was, but with little success.
Signed Another Mans Name.
Finally Meeke asked for a pen to indorse
the check. On being accommodated he as
tonished everybody by writing Leonard's
name across the back of the paper instead
of his own He had no explanation for this
except that it was customary with him.
Detective Robinson began to grow
suspicious, but this did not disconcert
Meeke in the least, for he proceeded to give
the officers a specimen of high kicking. He
said he had been an actor, and was quite ex-
pert at such things. BY this time every
body about the station was satisfied that
either Meeke was out of his head or was
trying to palm off a worthless check. The
young man overheard an insinuatiOn, and
at Once offered to bet $50 to $40 that the pa
per was good.
However, having failed to show why he
signed another mans name to acheck, he was
put behind the bars with little protest. He
simply declared he was all right and walked
quietly into his cell, where he lay down
and was soon asleep. 1t was decided to
hold him until this morning, when his case
will be investigated. Late last night sew
eral friends of young Meeke called at Gen.
tral station to inquire about him.
Came to See Hi. Intended Wife.
They said he belonged to a welI-known
New York family. Recently his father
died leaving him large fortune. Meeke
mas relatives mere, ana also proInlSeu
bride. whom he came especially to see this
time Among the callers was Mr.. Leonard,
who apparently had no objection TO Meeke
signing his name to paper. He declared
the young man was all right and he would
be responsible for him.
According to his friends statements,
Meeke was recently suffering from severe
attack of the grip, which had so affected his
mind as to make him erratic at times Yes
terlay he was given considerable whisky to-
drive out the ailment, and as a result he
had become somewhat intoxicated. He
evidently did not know what he was about
Meeke will probably be released this morn
ing