The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-06

Iibrsum-Wore Long Hair TO Keep Mos
quitoes From Biting His Neck and that
Made People Question His Sanity.
Fred Kobler was tried for insanity
IN the probate court yesterday and for
convenience and his own good, was
found to be insane.
Six men sat in row with a Demo-
crat on one end and colored man at
the other end, and with grave and dig
pffied demeanor heard the evidence and
passed judgment on Fred KoDler.
The accused is a native of Switzer-
land, but glance at him wauld shatter
the ideals Of high school graduate
4 who has, ever and forever, in his minds
eye, Winkelreid and Tell as the types
of the sons of the bold, craggy, patri-
otto republic. Fred Kobler is neither a
Winkelreid nor a Tell but, with all due
Fepects 10 the poor fellow, looks more
like the wild man Of Borneo.
He may be wild but he is not crazy
The trial OF a man charged with in
sanity IS very funny to an outsider, if
not so funny to the man charged. Some
Of the queerest things are brought up
against him-things that never seem alb
surd until 1t is alleged that an insane
man performs them. Grover Cleveland,
the prince Of Wales, Gladstone, Bis
marck, or Emperor William may do a
thing and IL is considered wise but If a
crazy man who is charged with insan-
fly does the same thing it becomes the
talk of the neighborhood. Old women
shake their heads any young women
giggle; old men talk about 1t gravely
with other old men and young men say
he has wheels. The officials take it up
and with long faces say poor fellow,
poor fellow, he must be taken care of.
As an instance, Fred Kobler, in his
hermitage on the island was frequently
seen reading book The story went
abroad that he was a scholar; after
that the story went out that he was
reading strange and mysterious book,
on the heels Of that went the story that
he was reading a strange book that was
scared with age, then ii was reported
that he was reading a wonderfully an
cient history of some kind. The whole
neighborhood was on the tip toe of
curiosity. They couldn't find out any
thing about that book and as a solution
of the mystery they considered Fred
Kobler insane.
Now, then, during all this time Fred
was reading the bible. That was the
mysterious old book brown with age
and the peculiar ancient history they
talked and thought about. Fred lived
In shanty of smoke and darkness and
a bible whose pages were scared was
the proper thing. He would have been
more insane If he had in that shanty
$50 bible with gilt edges and a golden
clasp. The world has come TO
peculiar condition when man cannot
read the Bible by the lamp light without
being considered insane
Back in Switzerland 1t Is nothing
strange to see rustic cross on the side
OF the road or in secluded spot where
a man could go quietly, kneel down and
spend a half hour in contemplation and
prayer. Fred is a Swiss Catholic and
on his lonely island he erected a cross
made Of two pieces of trees ard plant
ed it in a nook in the woods where he
occasionally went and prayed. He was
seen at this practice a few times and
the word went around that he was
insane
One day Fred talked scripture with
some Of his neighbors. He said that
the American people went q great deal
on the teachings of Paul He said that
Paurs teachings and letters were direc-
ted to a certain class of people and that
they were adapted only to the habits
and modes Of living of those certain
peoples Willie Mathew, Luke, JOnn,
Mark and the other evangelists directed
their teachings more especially to all
the world. He said that while the
American people made a great adoo
about Paul that the teaching of the
others were better adapted to Ameri-
cans. This reasoning was so peculiar
to his neighbOrs that they at once re-
garded him as hopelessly insane. An
American divine of note could go on
the pulpit and reason along this line
If he were eloquent, and make a hit
that the press and public might talk
about.
The next reason to suspect the in
sanity of Mr.. Kobler was that he pet
ted a pole-cat, that is he threw corn 10
him and encouraged him to stay about
the shanty. OF course pole-cat is not
desirable pet but Fred says he was
favorable TO his presence as ii secured
away or anihilated the rats and mice
If this is an evidence of insanity the
whole state of Missouri could DE sent
10 an asylum for they not only believe
that a skunk is the mortal enemy Of
rats and mice but that he improves the
health of a sickly neighborhood.
The next evidence OF insanity was
that Mr.. Kobler allowed his hair to
grow down over his shoulders. Custer.
the poet scout and great many other
smart men do this and with less reason
than Fred Kobler. THEY allow the hair
10 grow long as a fad. as is evidenced
10y Paderewsi1i, but AIr. Kobler does ii
for an entirely different and more sane
and sensible reason. He wears his
hair long TO keep the mosquitoes from
biting his neck.
Another reason why Mr.. Kobier was
considered insane is this. A doctor
went over from Derby and gave him
some medicine and after taking one
dose OF II he threw the remainder away.
He might have been very wise in doing
this; at least 1t is done by some mighty
bright Wichita people every day and
nobody charges them with insanity for
doing 50.
Evidence was also introduced 10 the
effect that Fred ate corn and IL dis
agreed with nj m. He was foolish TO |
Go this but the evidence is that he had |
nothing else to eat.
Still another reason why Fred was
considered insane is because he prevent |
ed a fellow from hunting on the island |
because he says shat the law is against
Il and when the man drew shotgun