Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-08-30
WAS COMMITTED TO THE ASYLUM
TO Escape a Term at the State
Penitentiary.

was held yesterday ana u
was decided that he was not insane.
He was sent to the asylum last April,
after an extended trial for robbing
bank at East Portland. A plea Of in
sanity was entered for him and by the
ir fluence of friends he was released
from criminal custody aud after having
been tried was sent to the asylum.
While that may nave been a merciful
act, the new superintendent, after con-
sulting with the medical authorities,
decided he was no longer insane and
40 he was set at liberty.
HIS COMMITMENT.
This document recites that he was
admitted April 70, 1895, by order Of the
circuit court, Multnomah county, Il.
A. stephen 9, judge, and states as fol-
lows: "Now ut this time comes the
state of Oregon, 10y w. II. Hume, die.
trict attorney, and the defendant
appearing In person In custody Of the
sheriff and by J. N. Dolph Of counsel,
end said defendant having been here
tofore duly indicted by the grand jury
of Multnomah county, state of Oregon,
on the 18th day Of February, 1895, Of
the crime of assault and robbery, being
armed with a dangerous weapon, COM
United In the said county and state on
the 9Th day Of February, 1896; and
said defendant having been heretofore
duly tried and found mot guilty Of
said crime charged In this indictment
o1 the ground Of insanity and it ap'
pearing 10 the court, and that the
defendant }. @. Read being at large is
dangerous to tho public peace and
safety, IL Is therefore ordered and ad-
judged and decreed by the court that
the defendent j. q. Read be committed
to the Oregon state insane asylUm at
Salem, Oregon, and there placed In
charge Of the officers having the
aforesaid asylum In charge until he
becomes sane, or be otherwise dis
charged therefrom by authority of
law"
1t will be seen that Rev. Reed was
not declared TO be of unsound mind In
commitment OF the court.
REV. READS CONDUCT
At the asylum during his entire con-
6nement there has been that OF per
fectly sane individual. The asylum
records make mention Of him az fol-
lows: HE was fairly we'll nursed,
seems to possess no delusion, eats and
sleeps well, converses with intelligence,
ls evidently of nervous temperament
and complains OF loss Of memory. His
mother is said to have been melancholy
and demented before her DEATH" The
attendants at the asylum could not
discover In his case the least symptom
Of insanity.
REV. READ SEEN.
ReY. Read was seen at the early local
train as he was leaving for Oregon
City. He would not talk much but
expressed desire to go out OF the state
and said he would leave the mini TRY,
but would have to go into some other
calling. He thought he could do good
work In some church but this bank
robbery would always be brought up.
So today he went back to Oregon City
where he will remain for the present.
Rev, Read IL about 40 years old and
has been u Baptist minister Of consider
able ability. He is tall, smooth
shaven, clerical looking man Of COM
manding presence and still wears the
clerical garb. He said he knew just
what he was doing when he entered
the East Portland bank In the middle
OF the day and drew revolver on the
cashier, but he was impelled by an
Irresistible power that had taken
possession OF him for several days. The
money was all he wanted and II was
rather amusing to him to see the man
vince when he held the revolver at
him 10 the bank, though he said he
had not the remOlest idea of injurlng
him. Read is very intelligent acting
man.
A few years before a similar impulse
took possession of him. He laid his
Clothes on the bank of stream, made
all the movements of man who had
himself, aud skipped out for
the East. HIS disappearance caused
greatlexcltement,. but he returned, was
forgiven and restored TO the ministry.
He has served In some Of the largest
churches In the West. Aside from these
two lapses of a most remarkable nature
his career has been a successful and
NhIIdYan Hpv for