The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-09

Channel-~He had, he Said, Attended
Burial at the Asylum Wednesday
Afternoon, and the CIOds Falling
Upon the Coffin Sent Him Upon His
Frighttul Journey.
| Special to the News and Observer
N0REHEAD CITY, Aug. 8.
At twelve O'Clock last night, Mr. W.
r. Crawford, Steward of the Raleigh
| Asylum for the insane, accompanied by
a reporter for the NEWS AND OBSERVER,
went to the home here of Mr.. Willis and
took in charge Mr. John G. Davis, a luna
tic who on Thursday last had escaped
from the asylum.
! Mrs. Willis is the sister Of Mr.. Davis
| and he said ne had arrived in MOrehead
| By the train which comes at seven. Ac-
| cording to his story he had come from
HayeI0ck, a station 20 miles away. To
| that station from Raleigh, he had walked
| and run, covering since the day of his
escape distance of nearly 200 miles by
crook and by turn and by many wander
ings, according to his story,
For this morning, he could tell his
story, and did, but last night-then, he
was desolately torn awry with soreness
and lameness and wild imaginings, and
had to be soothed to bed with sleeping
powders. This morning, the clouds
broke away from over the little harbor of
Beaufort. and Davis's face, too, wore the
look of some refreshment.
he told his story calmly and comment
ed with seemingly sane word upon his
insane self Of a few days back, He said he
knew it was ali wrong; that he rad mis-
treate1 good DR.. Kirby, who, be hoped
would forgive him; that this was
the gTi5v0u8 burden now upon his heart
the moment Of the picture that, accord
ing to his story, had led him away from
his present home through that tumul
tuous night Of last week.
Tt was the picture Of his mother.
John was always a noble boy to his
mother, said ex-Judge Allen to-day, and
then the Judge drifted into reference to
the time when Davis used to be young
lawyer in Wilmington, of promising
practice, taking great interest in religious
work and finally being mainly instru-
mental in building the Fifth Street Metho-
dist Church, which is now one of the hand
some edifces of that city. He spoke of this
in the presence of the insane man who
nodded assent as Judge Allen proceeded.
Then Judge Allen was prosecuting at
torney and his duty led him into legal
examination Of Davis who had been aim
lessly giving mortgages on land in order
to raise money for that same church.
The examination developed the insanity
of the man whom everybody trusted, and
who had by his own efforts grown from
a boy in cotton factory to a bright
lawyer and litterateur.
But for that matter, so many, so
many know Of the career Of this man who
still looks young.
"And, too" continued Judge Allen
with tone of affection for the man be-
side him, John had chimes put in the
church, the only chimes in the State,
perfectly equipped in every way"
And there is no note of d1scord in
these chimes, these glad Sabbath morn
ings-away up there in the steeple
It was Wednesday last when, accord
ing to Davis's story, one of the inmates
had been buried and he had attended
the burial, "and," said he, when /
heard the clods breaking on the cofia,
thought Of my mother" that same
mother, the sweetness of whose picture
had but added pain to the despair OF
poor Cowper.
The thought of his mother pursued
him like the note of a mission bell, even
after its tongue is still. And then he
fingered Wednesday, listening to the
echo of these clods, and Thursday after
noon came.
He was troubled.
What was he to do to right all the
wrong things in him2 Would he go to
her, he continued. Yes, he would go,
but then another thought came: he said
he had been a close Bible student, hav-
ing committed to memory all of Genesis
and many other parts of the Good Book.
And the story of Abraham was sweet
one to him. when the old man had offer
cd up upon IN altar all that was dearest
to him to get the blessing Of the Lord.
Just here Judge Allen interrupted again
speaking of the handsome and complete,
and voiuminous library Of John, and
how he used 10 90 to his office for ref
ereuce,
Yes, " said Davis. chow | loved those
books. and he bagau .olI;ne how be had
be-. recently gagged IN going over MS
iGa3 and refreshing himself in the
classits He told h0w DR.. Kirby had
| warned him that his brain vas not yet
able TO stand the strain; and how the
Doctor had tried 10 keep him at open air
work.
Among his books were Fox's Marty rs,
the Bible, and several books of sermons,
among them the sermons of Munsey,
of Vim. E. Munsey in whose soul
for time sang together those harmonies
that many remember so well Many,
too, remember that sermon on the crea-
tion Of man, aud Davis here spoke OF
the flight Of Munsey, wherein he had
said ''and the morning star came from
her boudoir and standing before God,
said make man like mel But God