The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-09
ESCAPED FROM
NAPA ASYLUM
Frank R. Laumeister at
Liberty for Nearly
Three Years.
Has Been Working in the
Mines and Peddling Since
Then.
His Arrest for Drunkenness Led tc
His Arrest for Drunkenness Led tc
His Identification and R'arrest
Yesterday.

Frank r. Laumeister, peddler and
cousin of ex-Sheriff Laumeister. is in a
padded cell in the Receiving Hospital, and
this morning he will be taken back to the
asylum at Napa.
Laumeister was committed to the asy-
Ium in March, 1885, Since then he has
made his escape three times. The last oc-
casion was in May, 1894, and it was by the
merest accident that he was recaptured
for the third time.
For the past eighteen months he has
been living on the San Bruno road under
the name of Frank Miller. He carried on
the trade of peddler, and had horse
and wagon which he drove around the
country with his wares.
On Monday night he was attacked by
six young hoodlums on the San Bruno
road, and was wounded on the scalp. He
defended himself with all iron bar, and
succeeded in driving them off. The en-
counter upset him, and he drank some
liquor to steady his nerves. He came into
the City and met Policeman ID. Brown on
Valencia street, who arrested him for
being drunk. When asked his name AT the
seventeenth-street station he repli" d
Frank Laumeister, forgetting that he was
known as Frank Miller.
He was discharged in the Police Court
yesterday morning, but soon afterward
the name was recognized and the police
notified the Sheriff that he was probably
the man who escaped from the Napa Asy-
lum. Under Sheriff Clack and deputy
went out to the San Bruno road and ar
rested him. He admitted mis- identity and
was taken to the Receiving Hospital. The
Napa Asylum authorities were notified
and reply was received that an officer
would arrive this morning to take him
back.
Laumeister tells an interesting story of
how he managed to escape from the asy-
lum and his experiences since that time
Il made up my mind to escape again,
he said, land prepared tor the event.
told the gardener that ! would get away,
but he laughed at me. / made two keys,
one out of my comb and the other out of
spoon.
"Iwaited till a night when there was a
ball at the asylum. | dressed myself and
covered myself up in bed so that when the
Waterman made his rounds he thought /
was undressed and asleep. AS soon as he
left l opened the door OF M cell with one
OF the KEYS had made, and before l got
outside had TO open three other doors.
No one noticed me and got clear away
Il went to Sacramento and then to the
mines in Amador County, where | worked
for some months under the name OF Frank
Miller. Then / went to Colusa and
worked there for few weeks till / broke
my arm. After my arm was better l
thought 1 would go back to San Francis
co, where no one would recognize me, as
my appearance was a good deal altered
and l called myself Frank Miller.
when | got here l bought horse and
wagon and went into the peddiing bust
ness. l made money ct it and was getting
along all right. as nobody seemed to rec
ognize me as Frank Laumelsier.
Last night the hoodIums attacked me, /
think to rob me, and foolishiy gave my
name as Frank Laumeister at the police
station. Now they have me here and |
suppose will send me back to Napa. am
not crazy and if DR.. Williams had been
alive would not have been taken back"