, 1892-12-13
PURSUED BY A MOB.
RObinSons Appeal to the Sheriff
for Help.
The Unfortunate HaIIucinatiOn of
"a Stranger From CentraIIa.
Thought the Web wanted 10
Hang HIm-Sent 90 the Asylum.

"a Stranger From CentraIia.
Thought the Web wanted 10
Hang HIm-Sent TO the Asylum.
Sunday evening Sheriff Prince and Dep
uty Sheriff Fred Northup were accosted on
Main street near Giles butcher shop by an
ordinary looking man with a heavy, droop-
ing mustache, who appealed to them for
protection.
He said that mob OF twelve men were
pursuing him for the purpose of hanging
him. He explained that the mob had
boarded the train when he did and that he
had stopped off in Olympia for the purpose
of evading his pursuers, but that they had
also left the train and were lurking about
in Olympia for the purpose of killing him.
The sheriff invited him to go to the jail
and stay over night, but he protested
against enjoying the hospitality of the
county, and upon promise that he would
at once go to a hotel and 60 to bed he was
permitted to depart. The officers, how
ever, watched his movements for sometime
afterward.
Yesterday he was seen aimlessly wander
ing about the Streets looking backward
now and then as If expecting the mob to
suddenly rush upon him. The deputies
kept close track of his movements al day,
but as he behaved himself in spite of his
yagaries he was not taken into custody.
Last night the mob gained upon him
and he started in search of Sheriff Prince
to implore his protection. While trying to
find the sheriff he called at the residence
of w. t. Cavanaugh, on Adams street,
south of Union, where he was directed to
Sheriff Princes dOmicile, on the corner of
Ninth and Adams streets.
The worthy guardian of the public peace
and welfare was not at home and the un-
fortunate object of a mob's hatred went
away. He returned at midnight and
poured forth his tale of woe and pleaded for
protection from the twelve blood. thirsty
man who we're so close on his trail
The sheriff urged him to 60 TO the JEFF
ferson hotel and call upon him at his Of
ice in the morning, and he would see
what could be done to restrain the mob
from its bloody purpose.
He failed to keep his appointment this
morning and Deputy Sheriff Northup was
instructed by the sheriff to apprehend the
man and take him into custody. NOrthup
found him at the Olympic hotel and took
him to the sherifi's Office.
At 10:30 o'clock he was taken into the
presence of Judge Gordon. DR.. George s.
Armstrong and Or. Hal Wyman were pres
ent as physicians TO pass upon the mental
condition of the unfortunate man.
He gave his name as Richard r. Robin
son and stated that be had lived at Cen.
tralia longer than at any other place. He
said he was cook by profession, but that
he had combined that occupation with
prospecting tours in search of hidden gold.
He repeated the same story that he had
told to Sheriff Prince. He spoke without
any hesitancy and never varied a hairs
breadth from the original assertion that he
was being pursued by a mob of men who
were determined TO kill him. 1t was devel-
oped during the hearing that Robinson car
ried pistol with which to defy his pursuers.
At the Olympic he produced his revolver
and told the landlord that if the mob found
him that night there would be at least two
dead men in the morning. With the ex-
ception of a dreamy expression in his eyes,
Robinson appeared perfectly sound men
tally. He was adjudged insane and ordered
to the asylum. He was taken to Steilacoom
this afternoon by Sheriff Prince and Dan
Shaser.