The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-08-26
In AN ENGLISH PRISON.
CASE OF DR.. MINOR. AN IN.
SANE ARMY DOCTOR.
Hunting Their Husbands Chase Acros,
Seas to Join Their Better Halves OF
Wives of Naval Officers Who Have
Been Ordered to Foreign Parts.

Instructions sent to Ambassador
Bayard to inquire into tho condition
of Capt c. w. Minor. United States
army, retired, brings to mind the
fact, remembered by few people. that
an officer of the United States army
is serving life sentence in an Eng
lish prison for murder.
| The case Is a most unique one. II
is not only unusual because of the
confinement in foreign prison. but
Is the only case on record OF MUIR
derer borne OH the rolls of the army
and drawing the pay of his grade.
10 be true the salary is not paid to
him direct, but it goes to his legally
appointed CONSERVATION. and he will
continue to draw it as long as he re-
mains alive.
| 1t Is in consequence OF the ques-
ton OF pay that Ambassador Bayard
Is directed to inquire into the condi-
tion of the murderer. Every few
years formal inquiry of this kind is
made through the regular diplomatic
channels in order that the war de-
partment may feel satisfied that it
is not paying a salary to dead man.
Quarterly certificates are filed by the
CONSERVATION bearing the signature of
the superintendent of the English
prison, or rather criminal lunatic
asylum. to the effect that Capt.
Minor is still alive, says the Wash
ington Post.
The last report from the superin-
tendent of the Broadmore lunatic
asylum tells the story of his crime
and confinement: ale was confined
in this asylum April II, 1872 His
offense consisted of shooting with a
revolver and killing man in the
Belvedere road, Lambeth.
The man was on his way to work
at the time he was shot Captain
Minor had been an inmate of an
asylum in America but had gone
over to England on leave of absence.
He labored under the delusion that
persons who were unknown to him
entered his bedroom during the
night for the purpose Of annoying
him, and in order to punish his sup
posed tormentors and also for the
purpose of proving to his friends
that he was right in saying that per-
sons did really enter his room, took
loaded revolver to bed with him,
intending, to shoot any of his tor
mentors in his bedroom.
One night he awokc with start
and fancied he saw a man at the
foot OF his bed. He took his revolver
from under his pillow, intending to
shoot this man. but he says the man
was too quick for him and ran out Of
the house. Captain Minor followed
him with ali speed, and, thinking
that man whom he saw in the
street was the man who had been in
his bedroom, ne fired at him re-
peatedly. and killed him. The man
was a laborer, on his way to work.
Captain Minor is still insane and
still has tho same delusion respect
ing persons coming into his sleeping
room at night. His bodily health is
moderately good.
For several years after his coniine-
ment the relatives OF Captain Minor
made strenuous efforts through the
state department to secure his re-
lease. The English authorities, how
ever. would not bulge from their
firm stand against allowing anyone
to come out Of the criminal asylum
alive As far as known no American
has ever been permitted to see the
murderer since his confinement.
Captain Minor is now 81 years Of
age. He was born on the island of
Ceylon. and appointed an assistant
surgeon from New York in 1866 He
was retired in 1870 on account of or
ganic lesion of tho brain consequent
upon sunstroke which he suffered
in Florida in line of duty.
The navy department has in the
past been much hamperod in many
ways, by the embarrassments arising
from officers having wives. Ere
quently il has occurred that impor-
tant orders have hung fire or been
delayed by the condition of an Of
ficcr's wife. and the presence of the
wives of the officers of q ship in a for
eign port has boen proven time and
again to be detrimental to the best
interests of the service.
A case occurred on the China sta
ton where an officer, knowing the
independent spirit OF his better half,
and aware that she possessed in her
own right the sinews of travel. urged
that she stay at home until his re.
turn.
II the idea of joining her husband
had not entered the lady's mind be.
fore it did now, and with such effect
that she arrived on the station on the
steamer by which the officer had
looked for written acqniescenco in
his views. The husband was duly
detached from his ship, but was not
ordered homo, SO, instead OF sailing
away for ''the land Of the free and
the home OF tho brave" this couple
concluded to enjoy the enforced
waiting orders" by tour through
Japan and the East.
After q few months of thorough
! on;oypont In .Janan China and nj hcr