The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-20
HIS MIND FAILS.
D. T. Palmer, a Topeka News
paper Man,
Seized With DelusionaI InSan-
ity Last Evening.
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
By the Police at the Request OF
His Wife.
The Unfortunate Man Will Be
Examined Today.

D. T. Palmer, who has for years
been employed on Topeka newspapers,
was this morning taken to the police sta
ton by Police Officers Wellman and
McElroy, suffering from delusional in
sanity.
Mr.. Palmer's family lives at 1910 To-
peka avenue. and Mrs. Palmer is
eacher in the Topeka schools and a most
estimable lady. The complaint to the
police this morning was made by Mrs
Palmer, who said that she was afraid of
her husband He submitted quietly
when the police appeared and walked
10 the station without protest He was
left in the court room in charge of an
officer to await an inquiry as to his
sanity.
Last night Sergeant Donovan was in
charge at the police station when the
telephone rang. He was asked to send
two men to Topeka avenue and Thir-
teenth street at.once as there we're burg
lars in a house. 1t was Mr.. Palmer
swered that he would go Immediately.
He did so, and when he reached the
corner of Huntoon street and Topeka
avenue he saw Palmer standing farther
down the street gesticulating wildly for
the officer. to make haste.
When Sergeant Donovan came up
Palmer said excitedly: "Ihere is bur
glar up stairs in my house. 1 saw him
in a closet when 1 went up and I want
you to get him"
The officer searched the house. but
failed to find any one, and he told Palm
er the result of his search. The unfor-
nate man then told the sergeant that the
real trouble was that there had been
terrible fight next door and he didn't
-
geant Donovan inquired next door at the
house occupied by w. c. Ferguson, who
is employed in the Office of the state
treasurer. Mrs. Ferguson said there had
been no trouble at her place but she told
the officer that she had noticed Mr..
Palmer out in the yard all afternoon and
that he said that some one was looking
for him and he wanted to keep out of the
way.
Mr. Palmer was then turned over to
DR.. T. ". Peers, who gave him some
medicine and remained with him part of
the night. All night he raved about
mob that was coming 10 take him and
this morning Mrs. Palmer concluded
that an examin alton should be made to
determine the extent of his insanity.
At the police station the unfortunate
man was under the delusion that he had
been attacked by mob. He recognized
his friends, but persisted that he hao
been followed by crowds of armed ene-
mics. At first he said that he and his
wife had been in a car and that a mob
tried to take him out, but he successful
ly stood them off and fought until they
let him alone He afterward said that
the mob had come to his house to take
him.
They wanted to take me-" he said
"and l only saved my life by my nerve.
l made them believe I had gun or they
would have shot me to pieces. They
could not scare me. There were only
about ten of them, and l don't know who
they were.
"They wanted me because of some
thing l know-something | saw at no.
tel or in a business house. had not told
a soul except DR.. Peers and my wife and
90 not see how in the world they found
it out. know why l have been arrest
ed and l want to have trial right away
and we will see what they can prove
The man rambles on this way contin-
ually.
Until a week ago last Tuesday Mr..
Palmer was employed on the CO. Opera
tor, Populist daily. He acted strangely
and quarreled with other employees and
two weeks ago he talked to some of his
friends about some trouble with the
paper and asked for help, though he did
not tell the nature of the trouble. Ga
February II, Col. Close discharged him.
Mrs. Palmer says that he has not drank
any liquor for six months and she insists
that his condition is not due to intoxica-
ton or the result of it. The police, how
Sunday under the influence of liquor.