The herald., 1895-08-26
He Has Some Varied Expert.
ences at Highland
HE WANTED TO GO AWAY
Willie Went to San Bernardino AMI
Got Drunk,
And Was Committed a. . Crazy Mamie
Tells Something Of His Experiences
While He Was Incarcerated
Bill Nye has been in the insane asy-

Not Bill Nye the humorst., but Bill
Nye OF Los Angeles Bill-Willie-the fell
low with no hair on his head, no teeth
in his mouth and no his in his vocabu-
larry.
AS far as a general knowledge of the
world and some lively experiences are
concerned. Willie is prolific. but he has
just passed through a short patch in his
career that even he acknowledges is far
ahead Of anything of which he ever be-
fore ran afoul. 1t is an event, and when
Willie terms proposition an event vol
umes are conveyed-to those who know
him.
Aside from the possible state of his
mind, one of the Immediate causes OF
Willie's incarceration was, his attempt to
leave Los Angeles for pastures now.
Since Willies first arrival in this city he
has tried on various occasions to get away,
but each one has resulted in his return
ing, if possible, more broke than before.
And now that his last trial has met with
failure he will probably become resigned
TO his fate and will probably remain here.
When Willie started away he had Chi
cago as an objective point. Having read
that 'great oaks FROM" etc.. he did not
wait until he heard the gladstone chink
of lucre in his pockets. but memorized
that biblical verse and let his purse do
what it found to do. He possessed enough
to get to San Bernardino, and As he
hoped the cars running east from there
were provided with brake beams. pur"
chased the ticket and opened an acc cunt
with Kind Providence & Co.
Willie stepped from thel train at San
Bernardino Sunday one week ago, with
exactly 20 cents in his jeans. This did
not discourage him, though as he had
been there several times before. Indeed,
he felt reasonably affi uent. Not wishing
to own the town at once, he decided not
to register at the leading hotel, but
looked around for less pretentious place.
He finally located a hook and attached
him self for the balance of the night.
From the early hour he arose it appeared
as though Willie intended to run in op-
position to the tabled early bird. But
this was wrong. He was after bigger
game and he got it later in the day.
Willie soon located some of his friends
he has them in every place where the
rel of monkeys was tapped. The friends
were flush; the day hot; Willie was thirs-
ty; the snakes we're out to sun themselves
and it was but natural consequence that
the combination should get q place.
Willie carried loads of stuff, and he got
o place--in the asylum. 1t was the short
est time between drinks known since
San Bernardino has had town pump.
AS the town marshal sauntered down
the street., oblivious to the cares and dan
gers of his Office, no saw large crowd
gathered at one of the prinpcipal corners.
For an instant the thought of cravat
parity flashed through his alert mind, but
as his eyes fell upon the object of the
crowds attention all power Of thought
departed.
On his knees was an egR-facsd, attenu-
ated looking individual with stray bits
of haii sticking from pink skin.
This unknown was so loosely hung that
his joints resembled spavins on Wilson's
Peak burro. So earnestly did the un-
known exhort his listeners to come into
the gutter with him and get sanctified
that the hard heart OF the marshal arm
ed. When the egg-fuced unknown began
have been the first convert had the ex-
horter not risen up and begun to sing
him hymn, accompanying the alleged
tune with SO wide swaying movement
that even the marsuaIs suspicious were
aroused. The officer told the unknown
to move on, but the latter vociferated,
"pll not. l am Jesus Christ ana am
in it. you bet" The marshal was greatly
surprised. but with what the motel
bill'' took the unknown to jail by the col
lar.
But why, gentle reader. should you be
kept so long in suspense. though you may
have guessed already? The egg-faced un-
And drunk? Well. Willie himself mod
estly admits that it was peach At
all events Willie was taken into court
and examined by the insanity commis-
sion and ordered committed to the asy-
lum at Highland. They drove Willie over
to the institution. where he was taken
into the Office of DR.. Dolan and put
through a series OF questions. Willie
still adhered to the cognomen of Jesus
Christ Jerome, and in reply to the first
question if he was crazy replied in the
negative. If, the doctor had had any
doubts before. this turned them into GER
tainty. Any man blessed with face like
Willie's and then assert he was not insane
would not be secure in the padded cell.
The first process to which Willie was
subjected nearly ended the poor fellows
life. They made him take bath. Will
lie says he WAS taken up stairs to ward
where two patients grabbed and undressea
and thrust him into tub of hot water.
They laughed ana acted in a very strange
manner, asserts Willie, bnt then he does
not perhaps realize how closely he resem-
bles an unpeeled skeleton.
After this, as il to Heap insult upon
injury, they encased Willie in a clean robe
de mutt and tucked him into bed. Here
Willie stayed for four long tedious days.
He had company, though his companion
was but poor excuse, as he was deaf
mute. Strange as 1t may appear, there
is a certain consistency observed at the
institution. even II it is an insane asy-
lum. and Willie's case was an exempllfi-
cation. Believing that he had gone crazy
on the subject of religion. the attendants
confined him with man who had been
received from San Pedro and who sup
posed himself to be the second Christ
As Willie had given the name of ''Jesns
Christ Jerome'' it was thought they were
probably members of the same family. SO
were put together.
The San Pedro man was very Jealous
and Willie says he had to labor for days.
to square himself and persuade the fellow
there was no opposition intended. A
brilliant conversation was maintained