The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-27
TO BE TAKEN BACK TO GERMANY.
Insane Jacob Franck Given Passage
to His Native Land.

Insane Jacob Franck Given Passage
to His Native Land.
Jacob Franck. the lunatic who in his
frantic moments makes night hideous for
the jewellers in the neighborhood of the
Chatham county jail. may be taken away
to-day.
The captain of a vessel to leave Savan-
nah has consented to take the man across
the waters to his native land and the
county commissioners will fork over the
cost of the transportation, which will
be about $45.
The movement to have Franck removed
from the Jail, where he has been impris-
oned for several months, was started
several weeks ago by several ladies' who
reside on Abercorn street and who were
charitably disposed in undertaking the
work
The county commissioners were appeal
ed to by the ladies and asked if they
would furnish the funds necessary to pay
the passage of the unfortunate man to
his own country, where he can be placed
in an asylum for the insane and given
treatment. 1t was first ascertained that the
German government of which Franck is
a subject would not consent to pay his
way, but by an order from Baron Theil-
man, consul general for the imperial gov
eminent at Washington, authority was
granted for the consul here to allow him
to be sent to Germany in case the money
was forthcoming to pay his way.
When the county commissioners agreed
to pay the passage it was believed that
the entire matter had been arranged but
another difficulty soon arose in the re-
fusal of all captains of German vessels
which come to this port from time to time
to take the lunatic as a passenger.
There are two vessels which will clear
to-day for Rotterdam and the captain of
one of these has consented to take
Franck, though he says he will not be
responsible for him, further than to offer
him a place on the vessel.
Franck's case is one of unusual sadness.
He is a native of Germany, and came to
Savannah as a sailor aboard a German
vessel. He was suddenly seized with in
sanity and was found lying in front of
the Cathedral on Abercorn street He was
taken to jail, and Judge Hampton Ferrin
was appealed to for some action in the
matter, but owing to the fact that Franck
was not a subject of this country and not
a citizen of the state. the ordinary could
not legally have a commission of lunacy
but Judge Ferrill interested himself per-
sonally in the case, and a fund was raised
to send Franck to a private lunatic asy-
lum.
This fund was contributed to freely by
fellow countrymen of the unfortunate,
who reside in this city. When the money
gave out Franck was brought back to Sa-
vannah, and has been confined in Jail at
the expense of the county ever since. At
times he gets frantic and screams at all
hours of night for mercy and help This
is very annoying to those who reside
close to the Jail The movement was start
ed by the ladies in order to get Franck
back to his own country for the reason
that he cannot be admitted to any of the
public asylums IN this country for treat
ment
1t is hoped that he will land safely in
Germany and will be admitted to one of
the asylums there, where he can receive
such medical treatment and nursing as he
may require 1t is believed that as soon as
he gets aboard a vessel he will be con-
siderably improved. and at least pacified.
having lived his whole life as a sailor.