The times., 1897-05-07
CLERK LAFITTE'S SAD CASE
He Knew Insanity Threatened Him
and Fought It.
Other Members of His Family Al
fIictcd Similariy-very Popular
Among His Fellow Clerks.

Ulysses p Lafitte, the Treasury Depart
ment clerk who was taken violently an
sane Wednesday afternoon and confined
at the Twelfth streee station, was taken 10
St. Elizabeth's Insane Asylum yesterday
at noon.
DIT hewitt held second examination
late yesterday forenoon, but finding that
the man had not improved he notified
Sanitary OFFICER Frank, who at once or-
dered lis removal to the asylum.
Lafitte was very popular among his
fellow-clerks In the Treasury Depart
ment and they feel for him in his sad
afflictton. Although the attack OF insan-
ity was sudden, it was not entirely an-
expected among those who have been in-
timately associated with him.
He had been exceedingly nervous for
several days, and complained to several of
the clerks that he was unable to sleep He
said he had peculiar heavy sensation
about the head, and Thought his excessive
smoking might have caused it. He deter
mined To stop smoking, which he did last
week
All the clerks with whom Lafitte bad
been associated were unanimous OF the
opinion that there was little in the theory
of his having been in love with little
Annie Colletse.
MI Billings, who knew Lafitte inti-
mately, says that he was almost fanauc
on the subject of religion, and that he was
devout member of the Catholic church.
He thought he might possibly have made
an effort to induce the young girl to Join
the Catholic church, but he was confident
that there was nothing more in the matter,
Lafitte had been clerk in the Treasury
several years and has an excellent record
He was a college bred man, anh was con-
sidered exceedingly bright His home
was at Pancourtville, in parish LaFour-
che, La. He has mother and two Sis
ters living there, and they were notified
of the young mans condition yesterday
morning by telegraph.
In conversation with Druggist Sholl,
OF the Garfield Pharmacy, Sunday, Lafitte
said:
Il am afraid l am going crazy, but am
irving to fight it off. / have a strong viii
and believe l can do it. Ali my family
are subject to temporary fits of insanity,
and believe inherit it, too Ny mother
has frequently suffered this way, but she
has always recovered after a time In the
night / lie awake thinking OF the danger
which threatens my reason, and cannot
rest
George Mercheosse, another insane man,
was arrested yeste r1ay morning by Police
man Bovcc, at the corner OF Ninth and
streets northwest, where he had attacked
child and badly frightened the little
one He was taken To No. i station and
locked up. and he made several attempts to
commit suicide while confined In cell
He had tied his handkerchief tightly around
his neck and would have strangled 10 death
but for the fact that Detective Sutton dis
covered him at an opp0rtnne moment. He
then tried to hang himself with other
garments. and also with his shoestrings,
until il was necessary to remove nearly all
his clothing from him.
Mercheosse is = French negTo, and speaks
several languages, and continually talked OF
war in Cuba and Greece. He claims toiiye
In this city. but none of IDS relatives could
be found yesterday, and he was committed
20 ST Ehzabeth's Insane Asylum
A midGse-aged woman, who gave her
name as Bridget Walsh, was found W ander
ing about the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road station yesterday in an insane condi-
tion. She was placed under arrest by
Officer Hayes and conveyed to the sixth
Precinct station, where her rawlings be
cana SO violent that IL was found neces-
sary TO confine her in a strong cell During
her sane moments the woman stated
that her home was IN Santa Fs, n. NJ,
and that she mad started East two weeks
ago To visit her sister in Astoria, y Y.
On, of her yagaries is that she killed
her husband a short time ago, and she
imagines that her punishment for this act
is to consist of immersion in a pot of
boiling water.
.Dr. Hiokiing examined the woman last
night and she will probably be sent to
st Elizabeth's today.