The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-19
ING PRIVATE AT ST. JOSEPH'S
HOSPITAL.
TAKEN BACK TO SMELLING
ASA HOSPITAL PATIENT AND WILL
BE DETAILED FOR TREAT
MENT.
1t Is Likely That the DesertIOn Will
Go Unpunished, Douglas Evil
dently Being Insane

James Wallace Douglas, the ariSto-
cratic private Of Company D. Fort
Smelling, whose mysterious conduct
and disappearance after serving but
twenty-four days following his recent
enlistment, as has been told in the
G l o b e, has been discovered and TAX
en- back to the fort. Douglas is un-
doubtedly mentally irresponsible, and
it is likely that no severe punishment
will be inflicted in regard to his ap-
parent desertion from the army.
The finding of Douglas is due to the
efforts Of Capt Gerloch, Of Company
D. Third, United States infantry, to
whose company the gentlemanly ap-
pearing recruit was assigned upon en-
tering the service Of Uncle Sam. In
doubted refinement and rather mys-
terious bearing while at the fort, Capt.
Gerloch was Influenced in finding him
after his disappearance by letters from
relatives Of Douglas in the East, who
had written in response to a communi-
cation from Capt. Gerloch, that the
gentlemanly private belonged to
prominent family, but was insane and
should be confined in an asylum.
After tracing the missing man to
the Ryan hotel the day following his
disappearance, Capt. Gerloch was for
time at a standstill in his search. For
several days every inquiry resulted in
no trace Of the missing man, and it
appeared as though he had been swal-
lowed up by the earth. Yesterday,
however, Capt. Gerloch discovered
clue. A man answering the description
of Douglas. the captain learned, was
supposed to be at st. Joseph's hospital.
Going to the institution Capt. Gerloch
not long in identifying Douglas as a
private patient under the care Of DR..
Robert Wheaton. The man. 1t was
stated, had come to the hospital Of his
own accord and asked for admission.
He appeared to know Dr. Wheaton
and requested that he be sent for. The
physician responded to the call and
has since been treating Douglas for
insanity.
When he recognized Douglas, Capt.
Gerloch made arrangements with the
hospital authorities to return the man
to Fort Smelling and left the institution
to procure a carriage and attendants.
In some way Douglas learned Of this
intention and he evidently did not
fancy taking up the life Of a soldier
again, for when Capt. Gerloch came
back, he had left the hospital. No
one appeared to know in what direc-
ton he had gone. and it appeared as
though Douglas had added another
mystery to his erratic career Capt.
Gerloch;dh visited number OF
hotels and public places where he
thought. there might be a chance OF
meeting Douglas, and while standing
in the Windsor hotel, apparently at
the end Of his resources, was surprised
to see Douglas enter the corridor. In
a short time Douglas was the occu-
pant Of an army ambulance in the
care Of two soldiers and on the way
to Fort Smelling.
DR.. Wheaton, speaking of Douglas,
said the man was certainly insane,
though he was at a loss to define the
specific nature Of his arrangement. He
knew nothing whatever Of the man, Dr..
Wheaton stated, when he was called to
attend him at the hospital, but was
informed that Douglas had asked for
his services. He had learned how
ever. DR.. Wheaton said, that the man
belonged to a prominent Eastern FAM
lily, and that he also had influential
relatives in this city.