Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-01-30
A Little More Lehman.

letter, Written Dy ". n. paiucti,
Snpt of the Hospital for the Insane.
located at St. Peter, Mimi, in answer to
an inquiry from DIR. Van Buskirk, was
handed us this week by B. X. Wood.
For the benefit Of our many readers who
are interested in the case we publish
the letter in full. II reads as follows
HOSPITAL, ST. PETER, MNY.,
Jan. 18th, 1892. !
J. VAN BusKIRK, NJ. ID.
DEAR SIR:-Yours concerning one
John B. Lehman came this morning.
We bad patient ny the name of Gustaf
B. Lehman committed from Wiaona
county, Mimi, July 1868, and discharg-
ed (recovered) Way 3rd. 1869. His mid
die name was Benjamin. He was ad-
mitted again from Blue Earth county.
Mimi. March 9th, 1872, and again Gis-
charged as Improved" August 3rd.
1872. He was employed for while by
the contractor to work on the hospiHl
then in process Of building Siase tht1
/ have not heard anything from him
that can recollect. In his history it is
stated that his grandmother was insane.
| think this may be the manlyou have,
as so slight change Of name is not un-
common in the records of the names of
patients committed to the hospital. The
papers OF commitment are frequently
wrong in the spelling, and sometimes
the name will be different in different
parts OF the same papers. think your
man should have a chance to prove his
residence IN the hospital. ! dc not think
he was ever employed here as cook. but
he might have worked with the cook in
the kitchen while staying here. There
is nothing bad Ia his history as patient
while here. Respectfully,
&. X. BARTLETT, Supt.
The contents Of the letter as given
above, are not altogether a surprise to
those who are acquainted with the case,
and who have known anything of the
past history OF the man Lehman. His
peculiarities and eccentricities as ex-
hibited since his residence in Custer
county. at two different times have
made him a subject Of examination by
the Insane Commission, and each time
he was discharged. Consequently it
would not seem strange that at one time,
twenty odd years ago, he was considered
insane, and temporarily confined in an
asylum. 1t will be frankly acknowledg
ed that the facts as related in the letter
from Supt. Bartlett would raise a qnes-
ton AS to his sanity at the time ne mur-
dered James Burns, but they would
certainly have little weight as compared
with the evidence which was introduced
before the three juries, each of which
passed upon this question, and without
hesitation pronounced the defendant
sane, SO far as his responsibility to the
law was concerned. These three juries
were composed of honest, fair minded
men, who represented not any particular
section Of the county, but every section,
and in making their decisions they were
guided by the evidence and the law,
and at the same time voiced the senti-
mepts Of the great majority Of the citi.
zens of Custer county. We haye reason.
to believe that the people are of the
same opinion still, that Lehman is guilty
of heinous crime and should be pun
ished as the law provides. There has
been nothing developed in the last two
years to alter that opinion. Severthe-
less they are open to conviction, and if
there are facts which will prove the
and go to show that Lehman
is an innocent man, no one will be more
ready TO receive them than the CHRoN-
IcLE and the people of Custer City, and
We hope they will be quickly produced.
However, we reiterate, there is no ap-
parent reason, not the slightest, for be-
lieving that such facts do exist, or will
ever be brought to light, for there Ger
tainlv has been no change in the situa-
ton since the first conviction over two
years ago. Vague rumors, unsubstanti.
ated reports. and gauzy tales, won't 90.
Facts are wanted, and unless they can
be offered. we hope sincerely that the
senteuce of the law will be executed on
the 10Th of next month.