The Washington times., 1895-05-16
.LUNAT|cS SHIPPED HERE
Maryland and Virginia Make Us
Bear Their Burdens.
LEMUEL ALEXANDER'S CASE
He Was Found Roaming the Streets
and Armed With a Big Club-He
Has Twice Been Sent Here, Once
From Rockville and Last From
Alexandria.

Several OF the surrounding counties of
Maryland aud Virginia have commenced
to unload their spriug crop of lunatics on
the District OF Columbia. As result
Sanitary officer Frank has been kept busy
attending TO demented customers ever
since the commencement of the present
month
The number OF insane persons handled
by my office during the past fifteen days
in May" said Mr.. Frank, last evening,
"has been greater Inau fof any full month
during the year 1895 We have had
twenty luuatics 10 provide FOR in one way
or another since May L."
Mr. Frank is aware of the prevailing
practice in nearby states of transporting
their paupcr insane to Washington. Those
authorities send their crazy people here
because they believe they will be picked up
aud provided for at the Government insane
sylnm
HE'S A TYPICAL CASE.
Sanitary Officer Frank cited typical case
to The Times reporter, whichwill be brought
to find comfortable quarters, where no
lice court this morning. IL is that OF Lem
uclAlexander, "a Virginian, fort seven years
of age, who was locked up yesterday at
No. police station in Georgetown. This
man, who is wild-eycd frowsy headed
crank, with long reddish whiskers, and
carries a big club, was found by Policeman
Passau roaming about the streets muttering
to himself and otherwise acting as
counterpart OF the wild man from BoFneo. y
He was locked up on the charge OF insanity.
Alexander had sense enough, however,
to say that Uncle Sam owed him living,
and as this is his favorlte city he came here
to find comfortable quarters, where no
labor i S required, at st. Eliza beth's.
Officer Frank, however, is determined 10
fool Alexander, and will bring him before
Judge Kimball this morning under the
vagraney act.
The result may besthat he will have TO
do some heroic workSwigh pick and shovel
in the chain gang.
EXAMINED BY EXPERTS.
Alexander reached Washington last sun
day from Rockville, said Mr.. Frank He
was sent here by the Maryland sheriff at
that place, because he was liable to fasten
himself upon that community as pauper
as well as a crank. HIS nome is at Roanoke,
Va. A few hours after his arrival here
he was picked up by the Sixth precinct
police and reported! TO The sanitary Of
ficeT as case OF insanity.
Alexander was eXamiDed by Police sur
geons Nevitt and HickGng, who decided
that, while the man vas a crank, he could
not be regarded as "a dangerous lunatic.
AS he was from Virginia, OFFICER Frank
offered to give him transportation 10
either Roanoke or Richmond But as
he had been driven away from those cities
by the police authorities Alexander de-
clined positively to be sent back To either
place.
He finally agreed to go to Alexandria,
and was sent there at tue expense OF the
District The Alexandria authosities,
however, declined to allow the demeuied
fellow TO remain there, Notwithstanding
the fact that he was a Virginian, and
properly belonged in the State Lunatic
Asylum. He was tllereupon promptly ar
rested by the Alexandria police and shipped
back TO Washington. After having figured
in this game OF sbuttlecock aud battledor
Alexander was again arrested and will
now be treated as a vagrant.
Sanitary Officer Frank said he is con-
sideriug the best plan for preventing the
wholesale deportation into the District
from the surrounding States of paupers,
sane aud insane, and will no doubt soon
present some suggestions on the subject to
the proper authorities.